The post Who’s Really Protecting Your Perimeter? appeared first on Zaun Limited.
]]>Why weld strength matters more than just wire gauge
In the world of 358 mesh fencing, not all panels are created equal. Many companies market panels by quoting wire thickness such as 3.9 mm, 4.0 mm, etc. But that metric alone doesn’t tell the full story.
We recently carried out a series of destruction tests on three 358 panels to compare real-world performance. The results show why relying on wire thickness alone can leave your perimeter exposed. We chose 358 as it is often seen as a High Security Fencing system and therefore a safe panel for many projects such as schools, transport and logistics, and commercial projects.
The Test Setup & Results
| Panel | Origin | Wire Diameter (mm) | Failure Load | % of Wire Tensile | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panel 1 | UK | 3.96 – 3.99 | 4.9 kN | ~75% |  PASS |
| Panel 2 | Turkey | 3.76 – 3.77 | 2.4 kN | 36.64% |  FAIL |
| Panel 3 | China | 3.86 – 3.90 | 0.8 kN | 12.21% | FAIL |
Panels 2 and 3 are currently being sold into the UK market, despite failing at less than half, and in one case less than one-sixth, of the strength of the UK-manufactured panel. How do we know? Because the manufacturers approached us directly and sent these very samples as their best examples. They even told us which UK fencing companies they already supply.
“These weren’t random imports. The manufacturers sent us these samples as their best panels to prove quality. They still failed.”
Why Weld Strength Is the Real Gatekeeper
“A mesh fence is only as strong as its weakest weld.”
1. The weakness is at the joints
In a mesh panel, the points where wires cross are welded. If those welds are poorly made, for example under-penetrated, porous, or inconsistent, they will fail well before the wire itself breaks. This is exactly what we saw in Panels 2 and 3.
2. Wire thickness ≠ panel strength
Thicker wire alone doesn’t always guarantee security. In our test, the Chinese panel used almost the same wire size as the UK panel, but it still failed at just 0.8 kN. The reason, its welds could not sustain the load.
3. Real-world loads demand reliable welds
From crowd loading to climbing attempts, fences experience repeated stresses and sudden impacts. If welds crack or shear under these loads, the perimeter is compromised. International standards specify testing because weld quality is mission-critical.
4. Quality control makes the difference
Strong panels require not just the right design, but also rigorous inspection and destructive sampling. That’s what ensures every batch performs consistently, not just on paper.
What to Ask Your Supplier
- Weld shear test data – not just wire diameter.
- Batch quality control – how often are destructive tests run?
- Standards compliance – do they meet BS 1722 requirements?
Watch the Test for Yourself
It is not the size of the wire that keeps a site secure, it is the strength of the weld. In our tests, the UK panel withstood more than double the destructive load of the Turkish panel, and over six times that of the Chinese panel.
The Turkish panel had the thinnest wire (average 3.765 mm), around 5.3% thinner than the UK panel (average 3.975 mm). It performed better than the Chinese panel (average 3.88 mm), but still failed at less than 40% of the overall tensile strength. The Chinese panel failed at less than 13% of the overall tensile strength. The UK panel passed at 4.9 kN, equal to 75% of the tensile strength.
You can see the results for yourself in the video below:
Final Word
Don’t be misled by numbers on a datasheet. A panel can look the same and feel the same but when tested, weak welds fail well before the wire does.
If you’re responsible for protecting a perimeter, insist on weld test data, not just wire thickness. It is the welds that stand between a secure site and a serious breach.
We invite you to visit our mesh manufacturing facility and see a destruction test in person. Contact us today to arrange your visit.
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]]>The post Airport Security – Driving Innovation in decarbonising physical perimeter security appeared first on Zaun Limited.
]]>The event and factory tour were arranged by The Black Country Chamber of Commerce to allow Heathrow to meet one of their supply chain members in the form of Zaun. Heathrow spends almost £100m every year in the West Midlands via their supply chain. Nigel was able to see how Zaun has been innovating and decarbonising physical perimeter security fencing and gate systems that are deployed at Heathrow.
From all electric Forklift trucks to a 330mw Solar Array and British Manufacturing, Zaun were able to share part of their journey to ‘greener security’. Nigel Milton said, “Heathrow relies on SMEs up and down the country, and it is fantastic to come out and meet with the companies that keep the UK’s hub airport flowing.”
The tour was hosted by Alastair Henman (Founder and Managing Director), Jack McGinty (Operations Director), and Steve Bailes (Business Development Manager) for Zaun. (Pictured left to right – Gail Arnold (Black Country Chamber of Commerce), Steve Bailes (Zaun), Alastair Henman (Zaun), Jack McGinty (front- Zaun), Dave Goss (back – Fernden Construction), Sarah Ralphs (Heathrow), Paul Bovington (Fernden Construction), Nigel Milton (Heathrow)
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]]>The post Physical Security Failures close both Berlin and Munich Airport appeared first on Zaun Limited.
]]>We were on the tarmac at Berlin and Munich #airports addressing the causes of climate change.
With fossil fuel subsidies for aviation, it would be easy to make local transport affordable.The police were informed in advance. There is no danger from us – but from #DeadlyPolitics! pic.twitter.com/KdZ9skrRlx
— Letzte Generation (@AufstandLastGen) December 8, 2022
On 26th November a group of six activists cut through the physical perimeter of BER Berlin Brandenburg Airport to gain access to the taxiways. In the 16 minutes that they had uninterrupted access before the Federal Police arrived, they managed to glue themselves to the tarmac. Their actions resulted in fifteen incoming flights being rerouted and five others grounded.
Two weeks later on 8th December, the same group carried out an identical intrusion into MUC Munich International Airport and again at BER. Gaining access again by ‘cutting through’ the active perimeter fence line allowed them to superglue their hands to not only taxiways but one of the active runways. Last Generation claims to have informed the Federal Police about their plans and documented the protest across multiple social media channels.
View this post on Instagram
In both incursions, the airport’s physical perimeter and detection systems failed to protect the airport from unauthorised access. Standard chain link fencing had been installed with barbed wire hostile security topping to prevent scaling. The threat from cut-through appears to have not been considered and so the adoption of tested and certified fencing systems such as LPS 1175, Secured by Design, or fencing ‘Approved for Government Use – CPNI’ seems to have been discounted in the threat analysis.
Zaun has worked with a number of major airports to secure their perimeters against attacks over the years. With this ‘proven’ disruption seeming to work in Germany, is it now time for other airports to readdress the threats to their estate from climate protesters?
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