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AS 4687:2022 has completely transformed how temporary fencing works in Australia, shifting from a simple product standard to a sophisticated engineering approach that considers your site’s specific risks. This new standard introduces Importance Levels based on potential harm to human life, mandates wind load calculations for shade cloth attachments, and requires site-specific certification from qualified engineers. Understanding these changes isn’t just about compliance—it’s about protecting your project from costly failures, legal liability, and safety incidents that can devastate your business.
The Foundation of Site Safety: Why AS 4687 Compliance is Non-Negotiable
Following AS 4687 isn’t paperwork—it’s your shield against lawsuits, insurance claims getting denied, and workers or the public getting hurt because your fence failed when it mattered most.
Before we dive into the nuts and bolts of compliant temporary fencing systems, you need to understand what’s really at stake here. This Australian standard isn’t some bureaucratic checkbox exercise. It’s the difference between sleeping well at night and getting a phone call that your fence collapsed and someone got hurt.
What are the legal requirements under the Occupational Health and Safety Act?
As a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) or site controller, you’re on the hook under laws like the OHS Act 2004. You have to provide and maintain a safe working environment without health risks. When your temporary fencing doesn’t meet AS 4687 standards, you’re directly violating this duty of care. This gets even more serious for projects next to public spaces, schools, or parks where someone could easily get hurt.
What are the risks of using a non-compliant temporary fence?
The consequences go way beyond getting slapped with fines. A security breach opens your site to theft and vandalism, which means costly delays and missing equipment. But here’s the real nightmare scenario: if a fence panel falls and injures someone, or a kid wanders onto your dangerous site, you’re looking at devastating legal and financial fallout. Many insurance companies will flat-out refuse claims when they find negligence like using non-compliant safety systems contributed to the incident.
Did You Know? Construction site theft costs Australia millions every year. A secure, compliant fence is your first and most effective defense against unauthorized access and expensive material losses.
Who is responsible for ensuring temporary fencing is compliant?
Responsibility flows through a chain, but the buck stops with the site manager or principal contractor. Sure, the fencing hire company needs to supply products that can meet the standard, and the installer has to put it up correctly. But you—the site manager—hold ultimate accountability. You’re responsible for making sure the system installed on your site matches the specific risks you’re dealing with and stays that way throughout your project. You can’t just pass this off to someone else.
A New Era of Fencing: Decoding the AS 4687:2022 Update
The 2022 update threw out the old one-size-fits-all approach and replaced it with a smart, risk-based system that actually looks at what could go wrong at your specific site.
The jump from the 2007 standard to the 2022 version represents the biggest shake-up in temporary fencing regulation we’ve seen in over a decade. The new standard finally acknowledges what everyone knew: no two sites face the same risks. Instead of generic product requirements, we now have a sophisticated, engineering-focused approach.
How is the new standard structured into four parts?
AS 4687 isn’t just one document anymore. It’s broken into a series that work together, giving you specific guidance for different situations. This structure actually makes things clearer:
- Part 1: General Requirements – The foundation document that applies to everything else.
- Part 2: Temporary Fencing & Pedestrian Barriers – Covers the typical mesh fencing you see on construction sites.
- Part 3: Hoardings – Detailed requirements for solid panel hoardings (Type A and B).
- Part 4: Temporary Swimming Pool Fencing – Specific standards for securing pool areas during construction.
What are the three new categories: Stability Class vs. Importance Levels?
This is the game-changer and the heart of the new risk-based approach. Instead of one type of fence for everything, you now have three tiers determined by what happens if things go wrong:
- Stability Class: Basic level designed for low wind speeds (54 km/h) and low-risk areas with no public access.
- Importance Level 1 (IL1): For areas with low risk to human life and low consequences if the fence fails, like a site perimeter away from public walkways.
- Importance Level 2 (IL2): For sites with medium risk to human life, such as fences next to public streets, parks, or schools. This level demands higher engineering standards.
Why is testing from both sides of the fence now mandatory?
Wind doesn’t just push—it also pulls. The old 2007 standard mostly worried about forces pushing against the braced side of a fence. AS 4687:2022 now requires fence systems to resist overturning from both directions. This fixes a common failure point where wind suction on the back side can yank fence panels right out of their footings, bringing down the whole system.
How does the standard now account for shade cloth and banners?
A fence with shade cloth attached isn’t a fence anymore—it’s basically a sail. The 2022 standard provides clear engineering guidelines for calculating the massive wind forces acting on fences with attachments like shade cloth, scrim, or advertising banners. What used to be a gray area now requires these “sail loads” to be factored into your bracing and footing system design, ensuring your fence can handle the extra pressure.
Durable Temporary Fencing Solutions for Australia and New Zealand
DB Fencing provides high-quality, hot-dip galvanized temporary fences designed to offer strong security and easy installation across construction sites, events, farms, and more. Choose from a variety of panel sizes and accessories tailored to meet your safety and crowd control needs.
Your Site, Your Standard: A Practical Guide to Assessing Wind & Risk
This step-by-step assessment framework shows you exactly how to figure out what your specific site needs, so you can have smart conversations with your fencing provider or engineer.
Other guides just tell you the rules. We’re going to show you how to actually use them. Understanding your site’s specific environmental factors is step one toward real compliance. This process will help you make informed decisions about your temporary fencing requirements.
Step 1: How do I determine my site’s Importance Level?
This question drives everything else. Take a walk around your site and look at your plans. Ask yourself:
- Does any part of my fence line touch a public footpath, road, or bike path?
- Is the site next to a school, park, or other place where people gather?
- Could someone get hurt if the fence fails?
If you answered “yes” to any of these, your site almost certainly needs an Importance Level 2 (IL2) engineered fencing solution.
Step 2: How do I identify my Terrain Category?
The area around your site dramatically changes how wind behaves. The standard defines four categories:
- TC1: Very exposed, open areas with no obstructions (think flat, treeless plains).
- TC2: Open areas with scattered obstructions (farmland, sparse development).
- TC3: Areas with lots of closely spaced obstructions (suburban housing).
- TC4: Areas with numerous large, tall, and closely spaced obstructions (dense city centers).
Getting your category right is crucial for calculating the correct wind pressure for your fence design.
Step 3: What is Shielding Class and how does it reduce wind load?
Nearby permanent buildings can shield you from the full force of wind. The standard lets you assess this shielding (Full, Partial, or No Shielding) based on the size and location of surrounding structures. Correctly identifying your shielding class can significantly impact your final engineering requirements, potentially reducing the bracing you need.
Step 4: Does my site have unique Topography?
Wind speeds up when it travels over hilltops or cliffs. This effect is called topographic acceleration. If your fence sits on or near the top of a steep slope, an engineer must apply a “Topographic Multiplier” (Mt) to the wind calculations. Ignoring this factor on an exposed hill is asking for fence failure.
| Assessment Factor | Your Site’s Classification | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Importance Level | e.g., Importance Level 2 | Adjacent to public road. |
| Terrain Category | e.g., TC3 | Located in a suburban area. |
| Shielding Class | e.g., Partial Shielding | Shielded by houses on one side. |
| Topography | e.g., Not applicable | Site is on flat ground. |
The Anatomy of a Compliant Setup: From Panels to Bracing
A truly compliant fence isn’t just a collection of parts—it’s an engineered system where every component works together to meet specific wind and safety requirements.
Under AS 4687:2022, you need to stop thinking about individual fence parts and start thinking about a complete structural system. Let’s break down the key components and how they work together to create a wind-rated, compliant installation that actually performs when tested.
What are the requirements for temporary fence panels and mesh?
A compliant panel forms the backbone of your system. Look for high-quality, hot-dipped galvanized steel for corrosion resistance. The strength of the welds and the size of the mesh openings are critical factors. Smaller mesh openings make the panel harder to climb and add to its overall rigidity, which helps transfer loads effectively to your bracing and footings.
Are all temporary fence feet the same?
Not even close. Those common orange, plastic-cased concrete blocks vary wildly in weight and quality. For an engineered system, the foot’s weight and design are critical. It needs to be heavy enough to provide a solid anchor and designed to securely connect with bracing components. A cheap, lightweight block often becomes the first failure point when high winds hit.
How do stays and bracing systems achieve wind-rated compliance?
This is where engineering becomes reality. Bracing—whether through angled stays, counterweights, or other supports—gives your fence the strength to resist wind loads calculated for Importance Level 1 and 2 sites. A compliant system includes specific documentation detailing the number and placement of braces required for your site’s wind conditions, including its ability to resist forces from both front and back.
What role do clamps and couplers play in structural integrity?
Clamps are the connections holding your entire system together. A high-quality, galvanized steel clamp provides far more secure connections than cheap, poorly made alternatives. For engineered systems designed to withstand high winds, the design may specify using two clamps per connection to provide extra rigidity and prevent panels from twisting or separating under load.
The Path to Proof: Navigating the AS 4687 Certification Process
Getting formal certification is the only way to definitively prove your temporary fencing system meets AS 4687:2022 standards for your specific site—everything else is just claiming compliance.
Many suppliers claim their products are “compliant,” but this statement often misleads people. The new standard focuses on the installed system at a specific location. This section cuts through the confusion around formal certification, providing the ultimate proof of due diligence.
What is a Certificate of Compliance for Temporary Fencing?
A Certificate of Compliance is a formal document signed by a qualified professional engineer stating that your temporary fencing installation design complies with AS 4687:2022. Different states may use different names, like a Regulation 126 Certificate in Victoria or a Form 15 in Queensland. This represents the gold standard for demonstrating site safety and is increasingly required for government projects and by careful principal contractors.
Who is qualified to issue an AS 4687 certification?
Only a registered professional engineer, such as a Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng), can perform the necessary structural analysis and issue a certificate of compliance. They review all site-specific factors—wind speed, terrain, importance level, and fencing components used—to verify that your proposed installation is safe and compliant.
What documentation do I need for the certification process?
To engage an engineer, you need to provide a complete information package. Being prepared streamlines the process. You typically need:
- The site-specific risk assessment you conducted (Importance Level, Terrain, etc.).
- A site plan showing the exact layout and length of the temporary fence.
- Technical specifications for all fencing components being used (panels, feet, clamps, bracing).
- Details of any attachments, such as shade cloth or banners, including their dimensions.
What’s the difference between product compliance and site-specific certification?
This is the most important distinction to understand. Product compliance means a component, like a fence panel, was manufactured to the specifications in the standard. Site-specific certification proves the entire installed system, using those products, is structurally adequate for the unique wind and risk conditions of your specific location. A compliant panel installed with insufficient bracing on a high-risk site creates a non-compliant system. The site-specific certificate is the only document proving your entire setup is safe.
Durable Temporary Fencing Solutions for Australia and New Zealand
DB Fencing provides high-quality, hot-dip galvanized temporary fences designed to offer strong security and easy installation across construction sites, events, farms, and more. Choose from a variety of panel sizes and accessories tailored to meet your safety and crowd control needs.
The AS 4687:2022 standard represents a crucial and necessary step forward for construction site safety in Australia. It moves the industry away from simple checklists toward a mature, risk-aware engineering approach. With the framework from this guide, you’re now prepared to manage your site’s perimeter with confidence. By properly assessing risk, understanding the components of a complete system, and pursuing formal certification, you shift from simply hiring fence panels to engineering a comprehensive safety solution. This commitment provides the best protection for your project, your people, and the public.
Ready to ensure your site is compliant? Contact our specialists today for a site-specific risk consultation and to discuss our fully-engineered, AS 4687:2022 certified fencing systems.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What is the main Australian Standard for temporary fencing?
The current standard is AS 4687:2022, titled “Temporary fencing and hoardings.” It’s a multi-part standard that supersedes the older AS 4687-2007 version, introducing far more detail on site-specific design, installation, and wind load assessment.
Q2: Does my old fence that complied with the 2007 standard still pass?
Not automatically. A fence system compliant under the 2007 rules may be insufficient under the 2022 standard, which requires site-specific engineering for different “Importance Levels.” If your site is now classified as Importance Level 1 or 2, especially with shade cloth, your old configuration likely needs an updated engineering assessment to comply.
Q3: What is the minimum height for a temporary construction fence?
While standard temporary fence panels are typically 2.1 meters high to create an effective barrier, the AS 4687:2022 standard focuses more on the overall system’s stability and performance rather than prescribing a single minimum height for all applications. The key is ensuring the fence effectively deters unauthorized access for its intended purpose.
Q4: How often should I inspect my temporary fence?
Consistent inspection is vital for compliance. Best practice includes a quick daily visual check for any obvious damage or tampering. A more detailed weekly inspection of all structural components—feet, clamps, and bracing—should be conducted and logged, especially following periods of high wind or other severe weather events.
Q5: What are the specific requirements for temporary pool fencing?
A dedicated part of the new standard, AS 4687.4:2022, now addresses temporary fencing for pools under construction or repair. This standard works with AS 1926.1 and includes strict rules designed to prevent child access, such as specific gap dimensions, non-climbable zones, and the mandatory use of self-latching gates.
Q6: Can I install a temporary fence myself?
While you can physically erect a fence, professional installation is strongly recommended to ensure compliance with AS 4687:2022. For an engineered, wind-rated system, the fence must be installed precisely according to the engineer’s design specifications. Incorrect placement of bracing or use of improper footings can cause catastrophic failure and will void its compliance.
