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SecurEX® FRP Fencing Webinar Recap: SecurEX® Fences, Screens and Gates
This webinar introduces SecurEX® , Treadwell’s FRP fencing and screening system designed for electrically sensitive and corrosive environments. The session, led by Rajneesh from Treadwell’s industrial and new products team, covers:
- What SecurEX® is and how it is configured
- Types of FRP fence panels and gates
- Typical applications in power, rail, utilities and industrial infrastructure
- How FRP fencing can deliver both lifecycle cost savings and real estate savings
SecurEX® uses FRP posts, infills, and gates to address corrosion, stray current, and RF sensitivity, where traditional steel fences become a liability. The system aligns with Treadwell’s broader SecurEX® FRP fencing and screening range, including palisade panels, mesh panels, solid panels and FRP gates. Standard fence modules are typically 1.8 to 2.4 meters high with panel widths up to 2.4 meters, but the system is fully customisable. Projects such as the Noble Park substation have used custom fences up to 4 meters high, with additional bracing to accommodate higher wind loads.
The webinar also explains how non-conductive FRP fences reduce electrical clearances around assets, reclaiming valuable site area and improving land-use efficiency.
Key Benefits
Non-conductive and RF transparent
SecurEX® uses glass-reinforced polymer sections and FRP grating infills, so the fence is non-conductive and RF transparent, unlike steel systems that require earthing and bonding.
Key outcomes:
- Eliminates slip and touch potential associated with metal fences near live equipment
- Avoids the cost and complexity of installing earth grids and bonding conductors
- Does not interfere with signalling, communications or RF sensitive equipment in rail, power and telecom applications
Corrosion-free and low maintenance
Because the structural sections and infills are composite FRP, they do not rust or rot in aggressive environments:
- Resistant to chemicals, coastal exposure and polluted atmospheres
- Surface veil and UV inhibitors are integrated into the profiles, so no repainting is required.
- An extended design life reduces refurbishment cycles for perimeter security around substations, wastewater plants, and industrial facilities.
This translates into lower whole-of-life cost compared to coated steel fences that require periodic blasting, coating and repair.
Lightweight with faster installation
SecurEX® panels and posts are significantly lighter than steel equivalents. Benefits called out in the webinar include:
- Easier manual handling and lifting
- Reduced the need for heavy lifting equipment on constrained sites
- Ability to pre-fabricate panels and deliver a plug-and-play fence that is quickly assembled on site
Where loads and foundations allow, smaller footings may also be possible due to lower self-weight.
Configurable security and visibility
The system supports multiple panel types that can be mixed along a fence line to match security and visibility requirements:
- Palisade FRP panels
- Square hollow section posts with vertical pickets
- Adjustable picket spacing, typically 50 to 150 millimetres
- Anti-climb profile with good strength and architectural appearance
Mesh or grating infill panels
FRP mesh in apertures such as 42 by 42 millimetres or 32 by 32 millimetres for higher visibility
Smaller apertures on mini and micro mesh panels where small object retention or reduced visibility is required
Solid FRP panels
Continuous face for zero visibility and full blockout
High impact resistance where privacy and protection from debris are critical
Razor hoops and barbed wire can be integrated into any panel type where an additional layer of deterrence is needed.
Real estate and clearance savings
Because SecurEX® fencing is non-conductive, the required electrical clearance from live equipment can be reduced compared to steel fences. The webinar example assumes a 40-meter by 40-meter asset zone:
- Conventional steel fence
- Typical clearance allowance is about 1.5 meters around the asset
- Results in a fence footprint of 43 by 43 meters
- FRP fence
- Clearance can be reduced to about 0.5 meters around the asset.
- Fence footprint reduces to 41 by 41 meters.s
This reduction equates to approximately 168 square meters of reclaimed land, representing about 9 per cent less fenced area for the same internal asset zone. Depending on land values, this can translate into significant capital savings or provide more usable space for future equipment.
Sustainability and carbon footprint
The presenter also highlights sustainability benefits:
- FRP production and logistics generally require less energy than an equivalent volume of steel
- Lower fence weight means fewer and lighter transport loads
- Long service life and minimal maintenance reduce resource use throughout the asset’s life
Treadwell positions SecurEX® as part of its broader FRP strategy for sustainable infrastructure, in line with the company’s focus on durable and low-maintenance composites for rail, power and water markets.
Applications
The webinar focuses on environments where electrical safety, corrosion resistance and RF performance are critical, aligning closely with the applications listed on Treadwell’s SecurEX® product pages.
Power and utilities
- Electrical substations and switchyards
- Transformer yards and battery energy storage systems
- High voltage enclosures and step and touch potential risk zones
FRP fencing allows closer placement to live assets without the need for complex earthing construction or the ongoing maintenance of conductive fences.
Rail and transport
Rail signalling compounds and communications huts
Rail corridor screening and mast protection
Station substations and traction power assets
Because the fence is non-conductive and RF-transparent, it is well-suited to areas with signalling, communications, and power equipment where electromagnetic interference and stray current are concerns.
Water, wastewater and industrial process plants
- Wastewater treatment plants and odour control facilities
- Chemical storage and process areas
- Mining and industrial plants with corrosive atmospheres
FRP’s corrosion resistance makes SecurEX® fencing a good fit for chemical environments, where steel fences would require heavy coating systems and frequent maintenance.
Telecommunications and defence
Communications facilities and RF sensitive sites
Defence bases where non-conductive, low-maintenance perimeter fencing is required
Screens around equipment that must remain free from metallic interference
Site examples mentioned
The presenter lists several Australian projects where Treadwell’s FRP fencing has been deployed, including:
- Metro Trains Melbourne assets
- Multiple Victorian substations, such as Murrabin and Sunshine
- Noble Park substation, with custom FRP fencing up to 4 meters high
- Southern Cross Station installations
These case studies demonstrate SecurEX® in real substations, rail sites and power infrastructure across Victoria.
Key Moments
- 00:33 👋 Introduction to FRP fencing and the session's purpose.
- 01:53 🔍 Overview of Secure X, an FRP fencing system designed for flexibility in height and panel type.
- 02:51 ⚡ FRP fencing is ideal for electrically sensitive environments, reducing bonding and earthing costs.
- 03:30 🏗️ Palisade fencing options feature customizable heights and architectural elements for aesthetic appeal.
- 04:10 🔧 Mesh fencing allows for retrofitting, minimizing installation downtime and costs after damage.
- 05:48 🔒 Solid panels provide high impact resistance for applications requiring zero visibility.
- 06:44 🚪 FRP gates, including swing and sliding options, enhance security with customizable features.
- 07:18 📐 Fencing systems comply with ASNZ170.2 standards and feature lightweight designs needing smaller footings.
- 08:44 🌎 FRP is non-corrosive and has a lifespan of over 50 years, offering long-term cost benefits.
- 09:39 ♻️ Sustainability is improved due to lower energy consumption in manufacturing, reducing carbon footprints by 35–40%.
- 10:38 💰 FRP fencing allows for reclaiming real estate by needing less clearance than conventional steel fencing.
- 12:14 🔑 Substantial real estate savings can amount to $150,000 to $300,000, depending on location.
- 13:02 🏗️ Notable projects using FRP fencing include Metro Trains Melbourne and various substations in Victoria.
Why Treadwell?
The webinar closes by inviting questions and highlighting Treadwell as a partner for both standard modules and engineered custom fencing. Reasons to choose Treadwell and SecurEX® for FRP fencing include:
- Proven system
- SecurEX® is part of the dedicated SecurEX® brand within Treadwell, offering standard palisade, mesh, mini mesh, micro mesh, and solid panels, as well as FRP sliding and swing gates.
- Engineering support
- Assistance with wind loading, deflection criteria and custom panel design
- Ability to engineer taller fences and special configurations where required
- Integrated FRP expertise
- SecurEX® combines Treadwell’s EX-Series® FRP grating and ArchitEX™ structural sections, leveraging their long history in access structures, platforms and FRP infrastructure.
- Lifecycle value
- Reduced need for earthing and bonding
- Lower maintenance and long service life in corrosive environments
- Potential real estate savings where clearances can be reduced
- End-to-end delivery
- Options for pre-drilled kits or fully prefabricated panels
- FRP swing gates and sliding gates that match the fence system
- Support from concept through to installation and after-sales advice
For owners and designers who need secure perimeters around electrically sensitive, corrosive or RF critical infrastructure, this webinar positions SecurEX® FRP fencing as a practical and cost-effective alternative to traditional steel fencing, with Treadwell providing the products, engineering and project experience to make the switch straightforward.
