Electrified palisade fences

Residential Electric Palisade Fence in Johannesburg, South Africa. The top spikes are electrified while the bottom slats of the palisade are grounded

An electrified palisade fence is a steel or aluminium palisade fence used as a defensive barrier for the protection of property, particularly in isolated regions.

Typical construction

Electrified palisade fences are usually made from painted mild steel, galvanized steel, stainless steel or aluminium. Typically the fences are 2.4 metres (7 ft 10 in). All electric fences have energisers which send high voltage electric pulses through the palisade, usually at a frequency of 1 Hertz (one pulse per second).

Uses

The two most common uses of electrified palisade fencing is in protecting isolated property and in the defence of high security facilities. Palisade electric fences are used in most countries, particularly where there is little vegetation to short circuit the fence or where the costs of security personnel is high in relation to automated security equipment.

Isolated property is vulnerable in that it is difficult or time consuming to send security personnel to respond and so must be self sufficient with an automated security system. The electric pulse is a strong deterrent for criminals, while the palisade fence is mechanically stronger than a typical steel cable electric fence being able to withstand impact from wildlife, small falling trees and wildfires.

South Africa

Due to the high levels of crime in South Africa, it is common for residential houses to have perimeter defences. The City of Johannesburg promotes the use of palisade fencing over opaque, usually brick, walls as criminals cannot hide as easily behind the fence. In the City of Johannesburg manual on safety one can read about best practices and maintenance of palisade fencing, such as not growing vegetation in front of palisades as this allows criminals to make an unseen breach.