What industries in my 1980s layout to add chain link fences? I know in the yard and oil/gas dealer. My other industries are a grain elevator, logging dealer, cement plant, and coal mine. Actual pictures of these industries show fences, so before I create about 30' of fencework, I thought to get some thoughts.
Thanks!
Sounds good to me, excepting maybe the grain elevator. Back in 1980 chain link was still "fashionable" and few worried about its appearance.
That said, not all fences completely surrounded all the area at such industries. The reason I'd say a chain link around an elevator doesn't sound right to me is the need for ready access around most of its stuctuires. If the elevator was large ebnough for an equipment yeard, that might be surrounded by a fence. At least here in the Midwest, fencing tends to be limited around elevators.
A logging equipment dealer will probably not have a fence up front, where new equipmnent might be displayed. Around back where units in for maintenance and repair would sit could very well be fenced.
Cement plants in urban areas often have fences, less so when located out in the country.
A coal mine would almost always have a gence, especially around it's entrance. The United Mine Workers union was still strong, so management liked having a way to keep employees out while the UMW wanted to have a place to put their picket line, usually at the main gate. Fencing there would surround the entrance and nearby mine facilities. If it was an open pit mine, the pit itself would be fenced to keep people from randomly trespassing and falling in.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
I'd follow what your finding in images, and make your own judgement as to the need for security, and safety.
Mike brings up excellent points.
Here in SE WI., industrial areas with outside storage all have a fence, along with lumber yards and dealers, all for obvious reasons, don't want some one walking off with product!
Around a grain elevator, or such a facility, I have not seen much for fence, except where LP and fuel storage would be, and , again, any outside storage of bagged materials.
Most industries located in, or near urban ares usually are fenced.
I think it's a judgment call on your situation. Need to keep people out for theft? safety? is your business in a "bad" neighborhood? It's up to you, want you want, and what you think looks right.
Mike.
My You Tube
Wouldn't a fence around everything look too homogenous? And do you want to build that much fence?
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Could always bury the fence in thick brush like around the coal mine and cement plant. With short visible sections. with the most visible near the gates. Gets arid of most of the fence building
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Sometimes the location circumstances for a particular industry dictate whether or not it surrounds its property with chain link fence, more so than the nature of the industry itself
Locally there are some industries that perhaps would not have tempting things to steal or vandalize, but the industry has expanses of empty property or equipment or bodies of water with potential for someone getting hurt, and thus the property is fenced to avoid liability and have a defense in case someone claims it is an attractive nuisance to kids or teens or others. Local examples I can think of: a water treatment plant (formerly rail served with tank cars of chemicals), a factory, formerly rail served, that makes lighted electric signs (common commercial/store signs of cast plastic with tube lighting inside, such as you see at taverns, appliance or shoe stores, that sort of sign); a fertilizer/chicken feed plant (formerly rail served) that was surrounded by empty land. These places were totally fenced on all four sides. And there was barbed wire at the top of the fence.
Since all were rail served that meant the chain link fence had special gates for the railroad to enter. In at least one case, the water treatment plant, the same gate area was also where the trucks and perhaps employee cars could enter or leave, and there is a substantial brick gatehouse that still stands although now unusued.
Similarly it seems most junk yard dealers protect their property on all sides with fencing/barbed wire, with a particular access point where security can be focused. I assume they are concerned about theft, about liability, and perhaps also by being made a dumping ground for hazardous wastes. And they want to keep their viscious dogs within the property.
Plants and factories that are worried about security, industrial espionage, that sort of thing. The Caterpillar factories in Peoria are to my recollection all protected by chain link fence. Rail served.
I recall my elementary/Junior High school yard was partly surrounded by tall chain link fence. There was plenty of open access near the road to the school but to the sides and back, chain link fence. It was a form of controlling access to a defined and limited area. It also helped to keep us OUT of the neighbors yards during recess of course. That might have been its primary purpose - to keep us captive rather than keep the rest of the world OUT. Heh - that created a problem with a ball of some kind went over the fence and out of the school yard. If you were lucky a kind neighbor would be outside and throw it back.
There are factories and industries and municipal properties that, like the school, are protected by fence but not necessarily on all sides. It is a form of controlling access to selected points, not limiting it everywhere as is the case with some factories. Indeed you even see that for some residential yards - chain link fence along a side or two perhaps to avoid kids shortcutting across your lawn. But not totally enclosed such as you'd have for a dog.
Dave Nelson
dknelsonSimilarly it seems most junk yard dealers protect their property on all sides with fencing/barbed wire, with a particular access point where security can be focused. I assume they are concerned about theft, about liability, and perhaps also by being made a dumping ground for hazardous wastes. And they want to keep their viscious dogs within the property.
In many locations, code requirements for junkyards of various types require fencing that hides the junk. While chain link makes things very visible in most cases, it can also support installation of obscuring strips of metal or plastic. Not sure I've seen that modeled before.
This is mainly so it doesn't impact perceptions of property values, but the other reasons Dave cites also usually apply, inlcluding about those dogs, there to keep the midnight part supply guys from coming over the fence to help themselves.
But do put "preventing eyesores" down among the list of reasons for fencing that goes beyond the usual chain link.
I worked in a few industrial plants starting in 1967. Larger ones, were usually fenced, with employee parking being outside the fence.
In Sarnia, all the chemical plants were fenced. Ford in Oakville was fenced, as was GM in Oshawa.
Keeps people from wandering in and out, and in more rural settings keeps larger animals like deer out.
As noted, usually with barbed wire on top.