FACTS ON FENCES!

Electric security perimeter fences to be precise. We have received many calls from  readers enquiring about such fences and the legalities surrounding them here in Thailand. Bearing in mind that this type of product is fairly new to the country. If a person was to ask a local policeman or lawyer, if he/she was allowed to erect such a device around ones home then the answer would most probably be “NO”. The reason for this response is quite simply that most people unfamiliar with this technology assume that you are going to put wires around your property and plug them straight into the mains power supply. This indeed would be downright dangerous and indeed very illegal.

A wall-top electric perimeter fence is a series of 6 thin unobtrusive horizontal wires attached to small posts mounted on top of the perimeter wall. The effective height of the perimeter is thus increased by 600mm creating an additional barrier to intrusion. The wires are “charged” by an energizer with high voltage (7000V) pulses which do not in themselves cause injury but are strong enough to convince any would be intruder that they are in the wrong place. The reason
That this device is none lethal is due to the energy output. The amount of energy is measured in Joules. The amount of energy that our fences output is around 1.2 joules. The energizer also monitors the integrity of the fence and initiates an alarm should the intruder attempt to breach or interfere with it. Unlike individual house alarms which need to be deactivated when people are moving around inside the house, an electric security fence is energized 24 hours a day 7 days a week (24/7).

Although residential electric perimeter fences are new to Thailand, they are very common in many parts of the world and recognized as one of the most effective systems for deterring unauthorized access to a property.  In the UK, for instance, a number of electric fence suppliers have been accredited by, Secured By Design and the UK Police flagship initiative, supporting the principles of "designing out crime".

There are rules and regulations for the installation of electric security fences, which are laid down by the I.E.C (International Electrotechnical commission), headquartered in Geneva, of which Thailand is a signatory member.

For instance, one rule is that the electric fence should be separated from a public access area or neighbor, by means of a physical barrier. For wall a wall-top version, the barrier is deemed to be the wall, which should be no less than 1.5 meters from ground level. The maximum voltage allowed is 10,000 volts. The maximum output is 5 joules (the amount of joules required, really depends on the size and design of the fence). Another rule set out by the I.E.C, is that warning signs should be placed at least every 10 meters or where the fence changes direction

Electric security fences are not harmful to pets or animals, although sometimes large insects or geckos do become victims when they make contact with both a live wire and a post. Electric fences are unaffected by rain, but are affected by plants touching the wires in high winds causing false alarms. Banana plants are the main culprits for this, due to their high water content. As Phuket is a tropical paradise and decorative plants thrive here, usually a minimal increase in the level of routine landscaping is required.