How to Choose Airport Perimeter Fencing: Zones, Fence Types and Gates
Choose airport perimeter fencing by zone and security level. Start with CommandFence 2D 358G or 3D 358G for the airside boundary and critical facilities, use 3DG for lower-risk landside separation, and specify vehicle gates and personnel controls separately. Add concertina razor wire only where the airport security assessment and local requirements permit it.
Start with the airport security plan
Mark the airside boundary, fuel compounds, navigation aids, public parking and every access point on a site drawing. Assign each zone a security objective before selecting panels: deter climbing, restrict unauthorized entry, separate public circulation or control authorized passage.
Requirements come from the national aviation authority, informed by ICAO Annex 14/17 guidance, including their Standards and Recommended Practices. Confirm the applicable national rules and approved airport security programme before fixing fence height, clearances or toppings. ICAO security oversight explains national implementation; ICAO Annex 14 addresses fencing.
Fence height and post installation
CommandFence manufactures to order: we can produce any fence height to your requirement. For most perimeter projects, we recommend 2.0-2.5 m. Set the airport fence height against the approved security programme and applicable local requirements.
We supply both embedded-in-concrete posts and base-plate (bolt-down) posts. The choice depends on site conditions.
Match the fence and gate to each zone
The following recommendations are starting points for project design; final layouts require site review.
| Zone | Recommended CommandFence product | Toppings | Gate type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airside boundary | 2D 358G or 3D 358G | Concertina razor wire where approved | TCG trackless cantilever or TSG tracked sliding |
| Critical facilities, fuel and navigation aids | 2D 358G or 3D 358G | Assess concertina against operational constraints | TCG or TSG; assess ACG for vehicle-impact requirements |
| Landside and car parks | 3DG V-Mesh Panel Fence | Normally omit for public-facing separation; assess risk | TCG or TSG for controlled vehicle entrances |
| Vehicle access points | 2D 358G or 3D 358G adjoining restricted-area gates | Coordinate with adjoining fence and gate movement | TCG, TSG or project-assessed ACG |
| Personnel access points | 2D 358G or 3D 358G adjoining controlled lanes | Keep passage and emergency routes clear | FHT Full-Height Turnstile plus a separately designed accessible route |
Airside boundary: prioritize anti-climb mesh
The 2D 358G combines welded 358 mesh with cold-formed I-shaped posts, dedicated interlocks and anti-theft bolts. The 3D 358G uses 358 welded mesh with V-bends and the same connection approach. Choose the panel form against the project drawings and installation conditions.
For these 358 panels, distinguish nominal 76.2 x 12.7 mm mesh from the produced 76.5 x 12.5 mm spacing; 100 x 12.5 mm is also available. Wire diameters are 4.0/4.5 mm. Put the selected production specification in the purchase schedule.
Walk the boundary to identify drainage crossings, changing ground levels and junctions with buildings. Detail these interfaces alongside patrol access and inspection visibility so that panel selection translates into a continuous perimeter.
Critical facilities: design each enclosure separately
Use 2D 358G or 3D 358G as the starting point for fuel compounds and other critical enclosures. Plan controlled maintenance access and emergency response routes before positioning gates. For navigation aids, obtain the responsible technical team's acceptance of fence location, material and geometry before ordering.
CommandFence concertina razor wire is available in galvanized or stainless steel, with single-coil, crossed-coil and flat-wrap forms. Select a topping arrangement only after assessing public proximity, maintenance access and operational constraints. Confirm its supports and attachment details in the complete fence design.
Landside and car parks: match protection to public use
Choose 3DG V-Mesh Panel Fence where the purpose is general boundary separation in a lower-risk landside zone. Its single-horizontal-wire welded mesh connects to I-shaped posts with dedicated interlocks and anti-theft bolts, and the system accommodates uneven terrain.
Keep pedestrian routes legible and preserve visibility at crossings. Where a car park edge also forms the restricted airside boundary, specify that edge to the airside security objective.
Access points: choose the operating arrangement first
The TCG Trackless Cantilever Gate is self-supporting and needs no ground track. Prefer it where avoiding a roadway rail is useful, while reserving the required gate travel and foundation space. The TSG Tracked Sliding Gate runs on a rail and uses a welded gate frame; include track drainage and cleaning in the operating plan. Both pages describe manual operation during power outages.
The ACG Heavy-Duty Anti-Collision Gate has a reinforced impact-resistant bottom beam and a fully enclosed gate leaf. Where vehicle-impact performance matters, request evidence for the proposed assembly, foundations and installation before accepting it against the project specification.
For staff lanes, the FHT Full-Height Turnstile provides bidirectional access control, single- or dual-channel configurations, and external electrical, fire communication and security alert interfaces. Define credential integration, accessible passage and emergency release with the airport team.
RFQ checklist
Send CommandFence a coordinated fence-and-gate package containing:
- A zone plan, measured fence lengths, gate locations and required security objectives.
- Selected models, panel dimensions, production mesh spacing, wire diameter, posts and fixings.
- Survey levels, ground conditions, drainage crossings, foundation requirements and design loads.
- Approved topping type, support details and operational clearances.
- Finish and colour. For the 358 powder-coated system, specify the galvanized base layer at 80–120 g/m² before polyester powder coating. This value is zinc coating mass per area. 358 finish specification.
- Gate clear openings, travel space, traffic patterns, power supply, controls and emergency operation.
- Required technical evidence, inspection scope, quantities, delivery destination and programme.
FAQ
Which fence should an airport choose first?
Start with 2D 358G or 3D 358G for restricted boundaries. Select the final arrangement through the airport security assessment and site design.
Does every airport fence need razor wire?
Assess toppings by zone. Public-facing landside separation and restricted critical compounds have different operational needs; confirm local permission and safe placement.
Should vehicle entrances use TCG or TSG?
Choose TCG when a trackless opening suits the site. Choose TSG when a maintained ground rail fits the layout. Check travel space and foundations for either option.
Does the ACG name establish a crash rating?
No. Obtain applicable test evidence and installation details before specifying any required vehicle-impact performance. The product name alone does not establish a tested rating.
Lead time, MOQ and samples
After order and payment, production typically takes around one month; the exact dispatch date is confirmed according to the current production schedule, and delivery time also depends on shipping to your port. Our minimum order quantity is 500 m. Samples can be sent by courier; the sample cost is deducted from the subsequent order, making the samples effectively free.
Send your site layout, fence height and quantity to get a quotation. We can courier samples first; the sample cost is credited against your order.
