British Standards cover many aspects of fencing, including the manufacture and galvanising of wire, the preservation of timber and the methods of fence erection. These standards are mainly of interest to manufacturers of fencing materials and components, and to specifiers of fencing for building contracts, road schemes and other works. Fencing which qualifies for grant aid may need to comply with certain British Standards. The Norme Européenne (EN) system also applies to some fencing standards.

General information and a list of standards are available on the British Standards website, with further details available to subscribers. County Libraries should hold a copy of all British Standards, either in leaflet form, or on CD-ROM.

  • BS 1722 Fences
  • BS 1722-1:2006 Fences. Specification for chain-link fences
  • BS 1722-2:2006 Fences. Specification for strained wire and wire mesh netting fences.
  • BS 1722-4:1986 Fences. Specification for cleft chestnut pale fences
  • BS 1722-5:2006 Fences. Specification for close-boarded and wooden palisade fences
  • BS 1722-7:2006 Specification for wooden post and rail fences
  • BS 1722-8:2006 Specification for mild steel (low carbon steel) continuous bar fences and hurdles
  • BS 1722-9:2006 Fences. Specification for mild steel (low carbon steel) fences with round or square verticals and flat horizontals
  • BS 1722-10:2006 Fences. Specification for anti-intruder fences in chain link and welded mesh
  • BS 1722-11:2006 Fences. Specification for prefabricated wood panel fences
  • BS 1722-12:2016 Fences. Steel palisade fences. Manufacturing and installation. Specification
  • BS 1722-13:1978 Fences. Chain link fences for tennis court surrounds
  • BS 1722-14:2006 Fences. Specification for open mesh steel panel fences
  • BS 1722-16:2009 Fences. Specification for powder coatings used as a plastics finish to components and mesh
  • BS EN 10223 Steel wire and wire products for fences
  • BS EN 10223-1:1998 Steel wire and wire products for fences. Zinc and zinc alloy coated steel barbed wire
  • BS EN 10223-2:2012 Steel wire and wire products for fencing and netting. Hexagonal steel wire netting for agricultural, insulation and fencing purposes
  • BS EN 10223-3:2013 Steel wire and wire products for fencing and netting. Hexagonal steel wire mesh products for civil engineering purposes
  • BS EN 10223-4:2012 Steel wire and wire products for fencing and netting. Steel wire welded mesh fencing
  • BS EN 10223-5:2012 Steel wire and wire products for fencing and netting. Steel wire woven hinged joint and knotted mesh fencing
  • BS EN 10223-6:2012 Steel wire and wire products for fencing and netting. Steel wire chain link fencing
  • BS 5709 Gaps, gates and stiles
  • BS 5709:2006 Gaps, gates and stiles. Specification

Other relevant standards

  • BS 4102:1998 Specification for steel wire for general fencing purposes
  • BS 4008:2006 Specification for cattle grids
  • BS EN 12490:2010 Durability of wood and wood-based products. Preservative-treated solid wood. Determination of the penetration and retention of creosote in treated wood
  • BS EN 10244-1:2009 Steel wire and wire products. Non-ferrous metallic coatings on steel wire. General principles
  • BS EN 10244-2:2009. Steel wire and wire products. Non-ferrous metallic coatings on steel wire. Zinc or zinc alloy coatings
  • BS EN 10244-3:2001. Steel wire and wire products. Non-ferrous metallic coatings on steel wire. Aluminium coatings
  • BS EN 10244-4:2001. Steel wire and wire products. Non-ferrous metallic coatings on steel wire. Tin coatings
  • BS EN 10244-5:2001. Steel wire and wire products. Non-ferrous metallic coatings on steel wire. Nickel coatings
  • BS EN 10244-6:2001. Steel wire and wire products. Non-ferrous metallic coatings on steel wire. Copper, bronze or brass coatings
  • BS EN 10245-1:2011. Steel wire and wire products. Organic coatings on steel wire. General rules
  • BS EN 10245-2:2011. Steel wire and wire products. Organic coatings on steel wire. PVC finished wire
  • BS EN 10245-3:2011. Steel wire and wire products. Organic coatings on steel wire. PE coated wire
  • BS EN 10245-4:2011. Steel wire and wire products. Organic coatings on steel wire. Polyester coated wire
  • BS EN 10245-5:2011. Steel wire and wire products. Organic coatings on steel wire. Polyamide coated wire
  • BS EN 60335-2-76:2005+A2:2015 Household and similar electrical appliances. Safety. Particular requirements for electric fence energizers