How Does Mesh Fence Work?

26 May.,2025

 

How Electric Fence & Netting Works - Premier1Supplies

What is electric netting?

It’s an electrifiable, prefabricated, portable fence that arrives to your door as a complete roll with the line posts already built in. The fence’s “mesh” is composed of plastic verticals “welded” to electrifiable polywire. The net is supported by PVC (or fiberglass composite) posts which are spaced throughout the netting. Each line post has a steel spike at the base that’s inserted into the ground for support. A standard roll (164 ft) inclusive of posts weighs between 15–25 lbs.

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Electric netting is NOT physically strong. Rather, it relies upon pain and the animal’s memory. When properly energized, animals touch it, quickly learn the fence is painful—and then avoid it.

  • Temporary electric netting is your best choice for fast-paced rotational grazing set-ups, or for situations where you need to frequently move the fence.
  • Semi-permanent netting (e.g. PermaNets and QuikFences) can be used when you need the fence installed for weeks or months at a time. But they aren’t as easy to handle and will require more maintenance than permanent fences.

Consider a electric netting kit if you’re new to using an electric fence. Why? Because all the parts and pieces necessary are included.

How electric netting works…

The visual combination of a close mesh of vertical and horizontal wires encourages animals to touch it with their sensitive nose, ears or beak. The horizontal strands are conductive. (An exception is the bottom strand that rests on the ground.) When the fence is energized, a very brief, high-voltage pulse travels through the wires. When an animal touches the fence, they receive a painful shock—and learn to avoid it.

Factors that affect a pulse’s strength and shock effect…

  • Joules of output from the energizer equal the volume of electrons in a pulse. The more joules, the larger the potential shock effect to an animal.
  • Resistance of conductors, animal and soil. High total resistance absorbs more electrons and reduces the shock effect.
  • Electron loss via grass contact and poor insulators. Electrons that leak this way are not available to shock the animal.
  • Changing weather and seasonal conditions. Dew, fog, rain and general humidity will negatively affect voltage. The electric pulse will more readily jump (arc) from the hot wires to wet vegetation, which is more likely in the morning when the dew is still on.
  • Soil resistance. When the soil is dry, sandy or rocky, fewer electrons are able to be received by the ground rod, thus pulse strength is diminished.
  • Without proper grounding, the fence’s electrical circuit can not be completed. As a result, it will not be an effective pain barrier to animals.

The more power your energizer can put through the conductive wires, the more “problems” you can have with the fence and still maintain voltage on the entire length of the fence line. A good rule of thumb is to buy a larger fence energizer than you’ll think you need. When the fence pleases, most folks will buy more fence—and need additional output.

Electric Netting FAQs

Q: Will electric netting stop predators?

Ground-based predators such as coyotes, foxes, fisher cats, skunks, raccoons, opossum, weasels, dogs and even bears are deterred by electric fence. Aerial predators (e.g. hawks, eagles, owls) are the exception. When containing poultry, set up narrow runs to reduce flying predators’ swooping ability, or drape Aerial Protection Net over the enclosure.

Note: Lightweight garden varmints, such as squirrels and chipmunks do NOT make good foot-to-soil contact. As such, these critters won’t receive a memorable shock. Squirrels are especially cunning; they often jump onto the fence without making any ground contact. Without ground contact, an animal won’t be shocked. (This is why birds can perch on power lines without being electrocuted.)

Q: Do different animals require different fences?

Yes/no. Fencing for the hardest to contain animal will work for the easiest to contain.

  • Example 1: Chickens and goats—fence for the chickens
  • Example 2: Goats, pigs and cows—fence for the goats

Temporary fences that are not physically strong pose the greatest risk of escape (or entanglement) to newly acquired animals. It pays to train them first!

Set up a temporary fence alongside (1 to 2 ft away) a secure permanent fence that the animals can’t get through. Make sure the temporary fence is electrified—at least V at the end of fence. Introduce the animals to the fence and monitor for a few hours. That way if one were to get into the fence and get caught, you can turn the power off and get them loose.

To reduce the risk of animals challenging netting:

  • Do NOT allow animals of the same species (i.e. sheep/sheep) to be on both sides of a net at the same time.
  • Never use netting to separate mothers from weaned progeny.
  • Never force animals against netting; give them time and space to avoid contacting it.
  • Keep netting energized! A common mistake is not electrifying it. Electric fence is a pain barrier, not a physical barrier. Use a high-output fence energizer to combat weed contact and intimidate animals.

Q: What is the effect of dry soil?

Moisture determines the conductivity (or not) of soil. Dry soil increases resistance and absorbs more electrons. A weaker, less effective pulse occurs that does not deter animals.

To overcome this, use positive/negative fences (Pos/Neg), wide impedance energizers, higher output units and/or more ground rods.

In order to receive a shock from a Pos/Neg fence, the animal must touch both a positive (hot) and negative (grounded) strand at the same time. This will deliver more pain to the animal than an all hot net (Pos/Pos) because moisture in the soil is not required to complete the circuit.

Q: I have more length than I need. What should I do with the excess?

An electric fence does NOT have to make a circle and the clips at the end of the net are not required to connect.

We recommend two methods for dealing with excess netting:

  1. Overlap the fences. As long as none of the electrified strands are sagging and touching the ground, the fences may be set side by side.
  2. Make a U-turn. This method involves a FiberTuff (or other insulated post) and results in a convenient gate:
    1. Insert one FiberTuff next to your starting post and construct your enclosure.
    2. When you return to your starting point, make a 180° turn around the FiberTuff, overlapping the excess net alongside the original. It’s okay if the conductors touch one another. (Pos/Neg netting is an exception. See below.) Try to keep all conductors from touching the ground—this will reduce the effectiveness of the shock effect.
    3. Secure the FiberTuff to the original starting post with the storage string to enter/exit the paddock.

Pos/Neg fences may be run alongside one another, but make sure to keep the fences at least 3–6" apart. If the metal conductors come in contact with one another, it will create a short.

Why Premier “knows” netting…

Electric netting has been in use at Premier for over 50 years (since )—longer than anyone in the US. We use miles of it on our farms year-round, in all weather. And, we talk daily to netting users nationwide — who let us know what they like and/or dislike.

Why users like netting so much…

It’s almost a mistake to call netting a fence. Why? Because the word “fence” suggests a barrier that’s costly, time-consuming and complicated to install and won’t be removed for decades. But netting is the exact opposite:

Complete
Netting is a complete fence on its own—lacking only a suitable fence energizer. Line posts are built in to each roll. FiberTuff™ posts can be used for extra support at corners and ends.
Simple (and quick!) to install
Netting doesn’t require a contractor to install. Very little “sweat energy” is needed and no tools! 600 ft can be moved or installed in an evening by nearly anyone over 12 years old.
Dependable
New users are often surprised that livestock and wildlife very quickly learn to fear the fence. When adequately electrified, netting is very effective. A roll of netting will last 8–10 years if used with care. Lawn mowers and ice storms are its worst enemies!
Adaptable
Netting is so easy to move that it’s often moved several times a season. Use it to fence around obstacles or dips and curves in difficult terrain.
Ships FREE to your door!

What users dislike...

  • The fence line must be mowed when green grass covers the lowest “live” strand. The alternative is to apply a strip of herbicide to kill weeds.
  • Ice and heavy snow can flatten and thereby damage it. That’s why most choose to store netting fences for the winter.
  • High wind can lean it over.
  • Electric netting will sag without support posts at corners and ends. “Plus” nets include additional line posts to reduce sag (in exchange for added weight.) For most, sagging net is a cosmetic problem, not a functional one. At worst, excessive sagging may reduce the “shock” effect when lower electrified stands make contact with the ground. SagStopper™ for 48" tall nets can solve both problems. Less sagging = more eye appeal and less ground contact.
  • Animals may become entangled in it—and die. On a % basis, entanglement is very rare, but it can and does occur.

To Reduce Risk and Liability...

Are electric fences a serious safety risk to humans?

Because touching an electric fence is painful and the voltages are high, most assume that the risks from an energized fence must also be high. That’s a myth. Consider that millions of people throughout the world are “exposed” to millions of electric fences every day—yet they are involved in (but are not always the cause of) less than one human death or serious injury per year worldwide. Compare that to the number of annual injuries and deaths that occur from human exposure to tractors, skid loaders, ladders, PTO shafts, balers, mowers, combines, bulls, stallions, rifles, shotguns, knives, etc. This is not to suggest that there is no risk at all. There is, indeed, a small level of risk. And with risk, there is also liability to the fence’s owner.

For safer electric fences:

  • Make them visible to humans and animals. Visibility is increased by contrast. (That’s why many Premier nets are black and white in color.)
  • Educate. Hang warning signs on all electric fences. Tell children to never touch it. Everyone should avoid head and neck contact.
  • Allow space for people and animals to walk easily along or around it.
  • Avoid high-output fence energizers (greater than 8 joules) unless they include delayed pulse technology. It’s best not to use high-output energizers on short fences that have public exposure.

What NOT to do!

  • Never place your head or upper spine near an electrified wire. Accidental head or neck contact can occur when pushing a voltage probe into the soil. Be careful when doing so to avoid head-to-wire contact!
  • Never attempt to step over or climb through an energized fence of any kind.
  • Never encourage anyone to touch an electric fence.
  • Do NOT use an energizer that is labeled high impedance, continuous current, weed burner or weed chopper. We recommend only low or wide impedance pulse energizers.

Warning!

In an accidental fatality occurred when a young child’s head contacted an electrified fence while the child was crawling on wet grass. The fence was correctly installed and functioning properly. The energizer was a UL approved unit. As a result, Premier strongly advises against allowing toddlers access to any electrified fences. Also, due to this incident and others, experts now suggest that human contact by an energized wire to the head and neck may be the most dangerous point of contact. We urge all to especially avoid this kind of contact.

What is Mesh Fencing & How to Install It? | First Fence Ltd

What is Mesh Fencing & How to Install it?

Mesh fencing is one of our most popular products to date. It not only has a stylish design, but it’s also an extremely reliable security fencing solution.

So, in this blog we’re going to cover:

  • What is Mesh Fencing?
  • Types of Mesh Fencing
  • Mesh Fencing Applications
  • How to Install Mesh Fencing?

What is Mesh Fencing?

Mesh fencing is considered to be a commonly used security fencing system. It’s made to be durable and secure, as well as to maintain an aesthetically pleasing design. Whilst not compromising on visibility – making it secure and easy to overlook through CCTV cameras.

The fencing is made from high-quality steel. Which has a galvanised zinc coating to prevent weather damage & rusting. It can also be coated in custom colours upon request.

Types of Mesh Fencing

The First Fence mesh range includes 5 primary types of fencing. In this section, we’re going to explain the difference between them.

V Mesh Fencing

V mesh security fencing stands apart due to its ‘V’ shapes that are part of the panels. The unique design makes the fencing more durable, increases stability, and makes it significantly harder to climb.

Not only does V mesh fencing possess high levels of strength and longevity, but it’s also designed for permanent installation. Meaning that it’s a cost-effective solution.

For more Mesh Fenceinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.

Additionally, due to its see-through design, it tends to be used in areas where security & visibility is a requirement. Not to mention that it’s made from high-quality galvanized steel, with zinc coating. Which protects the fencing from weather & rust.

V mesh is available in different heights from 1.2m to 3.0m. And each kit comes with:

  • 1 x mesh fencing post (either dig in or bolt down)
  • 1 x mesh fencing panel
  • 1 x mesh fencing ribbed insert
  • 6 x M8 x 40mm Bolts
  • 6 x Mesh fencing clips

Twin Mesh Fencing

Twin mesh fencing's main purpose is to resist attacks and vandalism. It offers high levels of security as well as leaving a clear line of sight – making it easy to observe the secure area. It’s also made out of pre-galvanised and powder-coated steel.

There are two main types of twin mesh fencing:

  • 656 Mesh – it consists of 5mm diameter vertical wires, which are secured between two twin 6mm diameter horizontal wires. Which run parallel to each other.
  • 868 Mesh – it’s made of 6mm vertical steel wires, which run in between two 8mm horizontal wires. Due to the larger diameters, the wires appear thicker and become extremely hard to cut through, without specialised tools.

Twin mesh fencing is perfect to use in areas that require a long-lasting security fencing system. For example, commercial buildings and industrial sites.

Prison Mesh Fencing

Prison mesh fencing, otherwise known as 358 mesh fencing, is a high-strength security fencing option. It’s probably the most comprehensive system on the market today. Not only does it have an anti-climb design, but it also doesn’t compromise visibility. So, using CCTV cameras is still a viable option.

The panels are made from horizontal and vertical mesh wires that are positioned close to each other. Making it almost impossible to fit fingers through, nevertheless, climb. It also can’t be cut without specialised equipment.

Prison mesh is a perfect solution for areas that require high levels of security & visibility. For example, prisons.

It can also be installed on both soft and hard ground, depending on your situation. Moreover, the fencing is sold with a polyester powder-coated finish, which gives the fencing a more aesthetically pleasing look as well as protection from weather and corrosion.

Safe Top Mesh Fencing

Safe top mesh fencing is best suited for low to medium levels of security. Considering its ‘rolled down’ top design – it has no sharp points or edges. Making it a safer fencing option, especially for places where children or members of the public will visit like playgrounds or parks.

The mesh wires are 5mm in diameter and are hard to cut without specialised cutting equipment. Due to the way the wires are positioned, the panels are strong and can withstand impact. It’s also climb resistant, as the gaps between wires are too narrow to gain a foothold.

868 Rebound Mesh Fencing

868 rebound mesh fencing is unique, as it was specifically designed for multiple-use games areas (MUGAs). It possesses high rebound properties, which means that it can withstand consistent impacts from a ball and deflect it back into play.

The lower area of the panel is reinforced with additional wires. Which in turn has high shock absorption and rebound properties. Since this area of the fence gets the most impact from games.

The fencing can come in a clipped or clamp bar fixing format. And is available in various heights (up to 6m).

What are Mesh Fencing Applications?

Mesh fencing has a variety of applications. Considering that there are different types of mesh fencing, each tends to be used in different scenarios.

Most commonly, mesh fencing is used to secure industrial sites, sports stadiums, schools, commercial buildings, and airports.

Whilst something like prison mesh fencing, as hinted in the name, is often used in prisons or high-security areas.

On the other hand, safe top mesh fencing tends to be used in low to medium security areas. Since it provides high visibility and doesn’t have any sharp points or edges – perfect for playgrounds where kids are going to be playing.

Additionally, 868 rebound mesh fencing tends to be used in multiple-use games areas (MUGAs). Due to its possession of high rebound properties, it’s perfect for areas where games are played with a ball.

V mesh and twin mesh fencing are usually used in properties with higher security requirements. Like commercial buildings and industrial sites.

How to Install Mesh Fencing?

Here are 4-step instructions on installing mesh fencing. Additionally, we’ve prepared a PDF installation guide.

Step 1: Install the Posts

There are two primary ways of installing fencing posts:

  • Dig-in Posts - Dig the foundation holes 500mm deep and 350 x 450mm wide for the posts. Ensure the holes are spaced a bay width apart. Now the posts can be set into the foundation holes.
  • Bolt Down Posts - Fix your Bolt Down Posts to the ground using the appropriate Through Bolts. Please note that the installer is responsible for choosing the right type of Through Bolts for Bolt Down Posts.

Step 2: Install the Mesh Panels

Place the mesh panel in front of the secured post and prepare the mesh clips for installation.

Step 3: Secure the Fencing

The clips are secured onto the fencing using the specialist bolt and Torque Screw.

Step 4: Final Checks

Check that all the bolts are correctly tightened. Your Mesh Fencing is now ready.

Final Thoughts

Mesh fencing is an excellent security solution. Perfect for areas that require a combination of high security and high visibility.

Due to its unique design, most mesh fencing types are climbing resistant & extremely durable.

Although, be careful when choosing which type of mesh fencing to order. Considering that applications for each type of mesh can vary significantly. For instance, rebound mesh is ideal for MUGAs, whilst twin mesh is more suited for commercial/industrial sites.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Noise Barrier Solution.