RESOURCES - BUILDING A CHAIN LINK RAZOR WIRE FENCE

Equipment:  2ea. come-a-longs, pliers, bolt cutters, chop saw or hand saw, wire rake for the appropriate height wire, speed wrench with ½” socket, barb wire dog, T-bar, and hammer.

Key Questions:

1. How do I install razor wire?
2. What are the most common safety obstacles to overcome when installing these accessories?  

 

How do I install razor wire? 

The primary purpose of razor wire is to cause significant bodily harm, making it essential to receive proper in-field training on its installation and safety protocols. Here are some essential facts to get you started:

1. Razor wire is a type of barbed tape that comes in different forms, with the most common being concertina wire. This type consists of a stainless steel tape wrapped around a core wire, with each coil being clipped to the next. When stretched, it creates a spring-like effect.
2. Contrary to popular belief, the edge of the barb is not the sharpest part. It is the needle-like point on both ends that poses the greatest danger. When handling razor wire, it is important to be mindful of this fact to avoid injuries.
3. To handle razor wire safely, you must wear personal protective equipment such as safety glasses and thick forearm-length leather gloves. Loose clothing and long sleeves should be avoided.
4. When handling razor wire, it is crucial to use slow and fluid motions to grab the materials. Always keep your eyes fixed on your hands and arms and navigate them carefully. When reaching inside the coils, move your arms in and out slowly and deliberately.
5. One common cause of injury when handling razor wire is hurriedly pulling your arm out of the material without looking. To avoid this, keep your eyes focused and move slowly and consciously when navigating yourself out of the material.
6. The second most common injury is caused by failing to grasp the materials firmly, allowing the barbed tape to slide in your hand and the barb to penetrate your skin. To avoid this, always grip the materials firmly in-between the barbs, and do not let them slide or go.
7. The third most common injury is the result of too many people attempting to work with the material at once. When fixing snags or attaching the razor wire to the fence or adjoining rolls, only one person should stretch or adjust the materials at a time.

Before you get started stretching the materials, you should have the specifications for installation.  These should include:

1. Material placement.  The materials may be installed on the ground, on top of an adjoining role, a pyramid, against the fence and on top of the fence.  Each installation poses it own unique challenges.
2. Coil spacing.  How far apart are the coils to be spaced?  This can be determined by measuring from one clip to an adjoining clip.  Specifications generally require 12” spacing with a + 2”variance to this spacing so consistency is important.
3. Attachments.  How often and what type.  Generally concertina wire is attached every foot to the fence and every four feet to an adjoining role.  Concertina wire is attached with hog rings or stainless steel rebar ties.  The rebar ties are used to reduce vibrations but take considerably longer to install. 

Once the location and attachment of materials have been determined, you may begin the installation process.

1. Lay out the coils along the fence line, ensuring that they are not placed in areas where they can be easily tripped over or backed into. Determine the deployment per coil based on the coil spacing and number of coils per role.
2. Remove the wire ties from the coil while it is on its side and discard them.
3. Hold the coil firmly and place it along the fence line where you are starting the stretch. If you do not hold the coil firmly, it may spring loose.
4. Allow approximately six coils to naturally spring free from the spool closest to the starting point. Attach these to the fence or barbed wire at approximately 6-inch intervals.
5. If there is no fence or barbed wire, use ground stakes.
6. With the three coils firmly in your grasp, begin to stretch the wire along the fence line, keeping a distance from the fence and concertina wire to avoid snags.
7. While pulling the materials along the fence line, gently shake them to break free any snags between coils. If one barb gets entangled with another, firmly grasp the two coils and pull the barbs apart and away. Ensure that no one else is moving the materials while you correct this snag.
8. While pulling the materials along the fence line, gently shake it to break free any snags between coils.  It is not uncommon that one barb gets entangled with another.  These can be separated by firmly grasping the two coils and pulling the barbs apart and away.  However, make sure that no one else is moving the materials while you correct this snag. .
9. As you pull the concertina wire along the fence line, another installer should lift and pull the materials to ensure consistent coil spacing.
10. Once the concertina wire is in place, hog ring the ribbon to the chain link fabric. Twist the coil if necessary to align the ribbon with the chain link weave. Do not attempt to force the coil into the weave with your hog ring pliers, as this may result in an injury. Do not attempt to hog ring over a barb.

What are the most common safety obstacles to overcome when installing these accessories?

Injuries can occur while installing accessories that involve applying tension or resistance on materials. If the material becomes loose, it can spring back and cause cuts from sharp barbs flying uncontrollably through the air. Therefore, it is crucial to wear eye protection and gloves throughout the installation process. Additionally, make sure to maintain control over the installation and keep others away from harm's way.