If a permanent fence is going up later, a temporary one can feel like a waste. But on a construction site it is not a nice-to-have, it is a requirement. Australian work health and safety rules mean building sites, whether a house, a commercial build or a pool, have to be secured while work is under way, and temporary fencing is how that is done. The good news is that meeting the requirement does not have to be expensive.
Your options for temporary fencing
There are plenty of suppliers around, so getting a few quotes is the quickest way to find the right fit for your budget and purpose. The common affordable options include:
- Chainwire (chain link) steel panels
- Welded wire steel panels
- Polypropylene plastic mesh fencing
You can add shade cloth for privacy and dust control, or tamper-proof clamps to stop panels being lifted out. It is always worth asking a supplier what else they carry, as there may be a newer option that suits your site better.
Hiring versus buying
For a temporary need, hiring usually wins, because a fence you buy has to be stored and eventually disposed of. Hiring carries a modest ongoing cost for as long as the fence is up, and in return you avoid several headaches:
- No over- or under-ordering. Pay only for the panels you use, and adjust the count as the job changes. Buy, and you are stuck with a fixed number that is either short or surplus.
- Maintenance and replacement covered. Damaged panels are repaired or swapped by the hire company as part of the fee.
- No storage or disposal cost. When the job ends the fence goes back, so you are not renting a shed to store it or paying to get rid of it.
- Speed both ways. A professional crew has it up fast and down fast, which saves time as well as money when the schedule is tight.
Why the fence is worth it
Beyond being the law, and something some insurers require, temporary fencing is simply the cheapest way to keep a site safe. It keeps trespassers, both people and animals, off the site outside working hours, especially overnight. It keeps children from wandering in and getting hurt, which is a real liability if the perimeter is open. And it contains the genuine hazards of a build, exposed reinforcing, nails, sharp edges and any hazardous materials, so they stay behind the fence where they belong.
The takeaway: on a building site a temporary fence is never wasted money, it is a legal and practical necessity that costs far less than the incident it prevents. Hire rather than buy for a one-off job, spec it to the site, and it pays for itself in safety and compliance alone. For the event side of temporary fencing, see temporary fencing for sporting events.