When it comes to perimeter security, palisade and mesh fencing are two of the most common choices – but they’re not interchangeable. Each one has its place, and if you’re running a high-risk site, choosing the wrong option can leave you with expensive problems later.
The Case for Palisade
Palisade fencing has been around for decades, and there’s a reason it’s still used on everything from substations to railways.
- Deterrence by design: The vertical steel pales and pointed tops don’t just look secure – they are secure – making climbing and other attempts at breaching the perimeter extremely difficult.
- Built for abuse: Heavy-duty steel construction means it can take hits from vehicles, weather, and years of wear without losing strength.
- Customisable: You can go with different heights, extra pales, or even add toppings like rotating spikes for critical sites.
If your site is a real target – think utilities, data centres, transport hubs – palisade is often the right call. It sends a clear message that you take security seriously.
Where Mesh Still Wins
That said, palisade isn’t always the answer. Sometimes you want security and a friendlier look. That’s where mesh comes in.
- Good visibility: You can see straight through, which makes CCTV coverage much easier.
- Less intimidating: Ideal for places where staff or visitors shouldn’t feel shut out, like business parks or schools.
- Plenty strong enough: High-spec mesh systems are hard to cut and just as reliable for most medium-risk sites.
Choosing the Right Option
Deciding whether palisade or mesh is right for you comes down to a few things. We know it can be hard to decide which to choose, but fortunately there are many companies out there such as Lochrin Bain who can help recommend the most suitable option for your own use case.
Before speaking to your chosen supplier, here are a few different ways you can think about it:
- Go palisade if you’re protecting a high-value or high-risk site where deterrence is as important as access control.
- Go mesh if you need a secure boundary but still want the site to feel open and approachable.
In some cases, you might even combine the two – palisade on the back or high-risk sides, mesh where visibility and appearance matter more.
The Bottom Line
There’s no single “best” fence. It comes down to risk, location, and how you want the site to feel. If security is your number one priority and you need to keep people out at all costs, palisade is hard to beat. If you want something that’s strong but still lets you see through, mesh will do the job without making the place look like a fortress.