External Works · 5 checks

Fencing & Boundaries
QA inspection checklist

Fencing and boundary installation quality audit.

Every check below carries what good looks like, when it passes, the standard it comes from and the defects that usually fail it. That guidance is what turns a tick-box into an inspection.

Installation

  1. 1.
    Fence type and height match specification
    What to look forFence type per design — close-board, palisade, weldmesh (358 mesh, V-mesh), chainlink, hit-and-miss, acoustic, or security (LPS 1175 rated). Height measured from finished ground level to top of fence. Top profile straight and consistent. Material grade and finish per spec.
    Acceptable whenPer BS 1722 series: fence height tolerance ±25 mm of design. Timber to BS 1722-7 (close-board), weldmesh to BS 1722-14, palisade to BS 1722-12. Security fencing to LPS 1175 SR1-SR8 if rated. Galvanising to BS EN ISO 1461.
    StandardBS 1722 series (12 parts) — Specification for fences. LPS 1175 — Issue 8 (security). NHBC Standards Chapter 7.4.
    Common defectsFence height short — does not provide privacy / security claimedWrong type — close-board specified, lap-panel installedGalvanising thin — rust within 2 yearsTop profile waved — installer not stringing lineSecurity rating claimed but not LPS 1175 certified
  2. 2.
    Posts plumb and at correct centres
    Record: Centres (mm)
    What to look forPosts plumb in two directions checked with spirit level. Post centres consistent and match panel/mesh module — typically 1.83 m for close-board, 2.4-3.0 m for chainlink/weldmesh. Posts square along line — no zigzag at joints. Tops at consistent height.
    Acceptable whenPer BS 1722 series: post centres per system (1.83 m typical timber close-board with concrete posts; 3.0 m for chainlink). Plumb ±5 mm in 2 m post. Centre tolerance ±10 mm. Post tops level ±10 mm of design line.
    StandardBS 1722-7 (close-board), BS 1722-12 (palisade), BS 1722-14 (weldmesh). Manufacturer system spec.
    Common defectsPost out of plumb — fence leansCentres > module — panels overlap, capping does not fitCentres < module — panels gapTops not level — capping wavesPosts not in line — fence zigzags
  3. 3.
    Post foundations correct depth and concrete
    Record: Depth (mm)
    What to look forPost hole depth per fence height — typically 1/3 of above-ground fence height as a minimum. Concrete (PostFix or C20/25 ready-mix) fully fills hole, vibrated to remove voids. Post embedded in concrete, not driven into ground only. Concrete cured before panel/mesh fixed.
    Acceptable whenPer BS 1722 / manufacturer guidance: hole depth 600 mm minimum for 1.8 m fence; 750 mm for 2.4 m; 900-1000 mm for 3.0 m+ acoustic / security. Concrete C20/25 minimum. Cure 24-48 hours before fence erected on posts.
    StandardBS 1722 series. Manufacturer system specs (Jacksons Fencing, etc.). NHBC 7.4.
    Common defectsHole too shallow — fence lifts in storm windPost drove into ground only, no concrete — moves in serviceConcrete only at top of hole — post moves at basePost fixed before concrete cured — voids around baseWrong concrete (mortar mix or "PostFix"-style for heavy fence)
  4. 4.
    Panels/mesh secure and level
    What to look forPanels / mesh fixed to posts at all design fixing points. Panel tops level along line. Tension wires (chainlink) tight, no slack. Acoustic panels gasketed at edges to prevent sound bridging. Boundary clear of debris and trip hazards.
    Acceptable whenPer BS 1722 / manufacturer spec: panel fixings per system — typically 4 brackets per close-board panel; mesh tied at every line wire crossing for chainlink. Tension wire tight without distortion. Top profile level ±10 mm in 5 m run.
    StandardBS 1722 series. Manufacturer fixing spec.
    Common defectsLoose mesh — security compromised, sagsPanel hanging by 2 brackets only — fails first stormTops uneven — visual faultTension wire not taut — chainlink belly-sagsAcoustic panel without edge gasket — flanking noise
  5. 5.
    Gates operational — hinges, locks, closers
    What to look forGates open and close smoothly through full arc without binding. Hinges greased and aligned. Locks engage/disengage cleanly. Self-closer (where fitted) closes gate without slamming. Padlock hasps secure. Catch / latch holds gate closed in wind.
    Acceptable whenPer BS EN 13241 (industrial gates) / BS 6180 (barriers) / Building Regulations for accessibility: gate operating force ≤ 100 N; opening width per Approved Document M (≥ 800 mm clear). Self-closer adjustable. Pedestrian gates fail-safe locked / open per fire strategy.
    StandardBS EN 13241-1:2003+A2:2016 — Industrial, commercial and garage doors. Approved Document M. Equality Act 2010 (accessibility).
    Common defectsGate binds at top of arc — hinges out of lineCatch fails to engage in wind — gate slams open/closedSelf-closer too strong — gate slams, accessibility failLock cylinder not aligned — key turns but bolt does not extendPadlock hasp missing or wrong type

Questions people ask

What is a fencing & boundaries QA inspection for?

To record that the work was checked against the specification before it was covered up or handed over: a pass or fail against each item, a measurement where one matters, and a photo where it failed. It is the evidence a client's quantity surveyor or clerk of works asks for, and the thing that settles the argument at final account.

What standards does this checklist check against?

Each item names its reference. On this checklist that includes BS 1722 series (12 parts), BS 1722-7 (close-board), BS 1722 series. Manufacturer system specs (Jacksons Fencing, BS 1722 series. Manufacturer fixing spec., BS EN 13241-1:2003+A2:2016. The contract specification and the approved drawings always take precedence over a general standard; where they say something stricter, inspect to that.

Who signs a QA inspection off?

The person who carried out the check, named and dated, and where the contract calls for it the client's representative as a witness. The signature records that the check was done and what was found. It is not a warranty of the work.

How many items are on it, and do I have to use them all?

5 checks across 1 section. Delete what does not apply to the job and add anything the specification asks for that is not here. A checklist that has plainly been thought about carries more weight than a long one nobody read.

Is this useful for a subcontractor as well as a main contractor?

More so. The subcontractor is the one who gets asked to come back and open something up. A signed inspection sheet with photos at the time is the cheapest insurance on a construction site.

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