Apr. 21, 2025
Many of us will recall how it was once common to see walls topped with broken glass, set into concrete. This form of anti climb protection is now illegal, replaced by a variety of specialist products which we examine in this post.
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While its perfectly acceptable for properties to be protected with anti-climb wall toppings its important to be aware of legal restrictions.
For example, Section 164 of the Highways act , states that where, on land adjoining a highway, there is a fence or boundary that has anti climb toppings installed and this anti climb device causes a nuisance to the highway the Local Authority may issue a notice for the nuisance to be removed.
The potential to cause injury to people or animals using the highway would constitute what’s recognised as a nuisance.
Generally, Local Authority Highways Departments consider the installation of anti climb toppings below a height of around 8 feet or 2.5 metres would possibly cause a nuisance.
The Occupier Liability Act means that even if a boundary, protected with anti climb toppings, doesn’t adjoin a highway and somebody was to injure themselves then the property owner or occupier would be liable. It must always be remembered that even trespassers are protected by the Occupier Liability Act.
Barbed wire is most commonly used and found in rural situations. The term ‘barbed wire’ encompasses a range of anti climb products but is generally accepted to be a reference to anything with jagged or sharp protrusions.
If barbed wire is used as an anti climb wall topping warning signs must be prominently displayed.
A variety of razor wire designs exist. Generally supplied in roll form and widely used around high security sites such as MOD, prisons, quarries and elsewhere.
Razor wire presents an extremely formidable anti climb barrier that’s both an effective visual and physical deterrent. As for barbed wire, razor wire requires the prominent display of appropriate warning signage.
Metal wall topping spikes, such as Razor Point and Razor Spike, provide highly effective anti climb barriers. These anti climb barriers are robust, weatherproof and long lasting. They look formidable and act as a strong anti climb deterrent. As for other anti climb barriers that can potentially cause injury - its important to prominently display warning signage.
Anti climb technology has moved on since the days when broken glass what the main option. The variety of plastic anti climb wall spikes available today demonstrates how times have changed.
Stegastrip anti climb spikes are a great example of a highly effective anti climb system that appears to be made from metal. While the spikes are harmless, they look like they are made from wrought iron. So when this system is installed as a wall topping above a height of around 2 to 2.5 metres it acts as an extremely effective anti climb deterrent.
Prikla strips (sometimes called Prickler strips) are another form of plastic anti climb wall or fence topping that’s widely used to keep cats, foxes and other animals from climbing into private property.
One of the great innovations in modern day anti climb systems has been the development of a variety of rotating anti climb barriers. Rotating, unstable barriers are very difficult to overcome, which is why these systems have grown in popularity.
The versatile Stegastrip anti climb system not only works as a static, fixed row of anti climb spikes, it can also be used as an effective anti climb rotating barrier.
The Vanguard rotating anti climb barrier is another highly effective device that uses curved, aluminum vanes in a maintenance-free, easily installed design.
Roller Barrier is another form of rotating anti climb barrier that doesn’t use anything that even looks remotely aggressive. The plain roller cups look no more intrusive or frightening than the normal drainage guttering around most buildings. This is an important attribute that makes Roller Barrier highly suitable for a variety of environments in which aggressive looking barriers would be entirely inappropriate, such as schools and psychiatric centres. The non-aggressive functionality of Roller Barrier means that it can also be safely deployed at heights below 2.5m to prevent climbing on anything from equipment housings to low walls and fences.
Innovation and ingenuity has led to the development of many different types and styles of anti climb wall topping. Some systems are entirely appropriate for high security situations while others are more appropriate for domestic and low security applications.
When researching anti climb systems and solutions people generally want to know which is best for their application. The bottom line is that the best anti climb solution is the one that works. There is no 'one size fits all' anti climb solution so a little careful consideration is needed.
When considering the wide variety of anti climb devices and systems available today the first thing to clarify is exactly why you need an anti-climb barrier.
If, for example, your garden is plagued by foxes or perhaps the neighbour’s cats the anti climb solution that will keep these creatures out of your garden is likely to differ from the anti climb barrier necessary to keep intruders out of a high security establishment. Its always important to think about exactly who the anti-climb system is intended to repel.
Its also important to identify the specific structures that need anti climb protection. Boundary walls and fences are typical applications but implementing anti climb protection around poles and posts can be equally important. There may also be a need to prevent people from climbing on low level structures and possibly equipment housings. Schools, offices and other buildings, for example, often have external, wall mounted ventilation fans and air-conditioning equipment that can attract climbers. Protecting these structures needs careful consideration.
Here’s a list of some well known and widely used anti-climb solutions.
Anti climb fencing is a form of fencing specifically designed to prevent people from climbing. Prison mesh is one form of anti climb fencing wherein the mesh size is too small for anyone to gain a foot or hand hold. Anti climb fencing can also include barbed wire which is generally used as a fence topping.
If you want to learn more, please visit our website Residential Anti Climb Wall Spikes.
Featured content:Anti climb fencing is commonly used around secure establishments such as MOD sites and quarries. Its also increasingly used to protect sports pitches from unauthorised access and vandals.
Anti climb paint is a non-setting gel-like substance that never sets, like normal paint, and therefore remains slippery. Thickly applying this to surfaces prevents climbers from gaining a grip if they try to climb.
Anti climb paint is widely used to protect walls and posts but it must be applied above a height of 2 metres and warning signs should be displayed to let people know where its being used. These warnings can be a powerful deterrent.
Anti climb paint is widely used to safely protect walls, poles and other structures from climbers.
Poles, posts and pipes often need protection from climbers. Downpipes and drainpipes can sometimes be used by intruders to gain access to upper storey windows so these spiked collars provide a formidable barrier. Similarly, pole-mounted equipment such as cameras, lighting, solar panels and flags, must be protected from pilfering climbers. Spiked collars around these poles make it impossible for someone to climb up and reach valuable pole mounted equipment.
Many establishments protect their valuable pole-mounted equipment from being stolen by wrapping the poles in anti climb spiked collars.
Anti climb pipe covers are another anti climb solution for exterior pipework. These metal covers simply encase the exterior downpipes or drainpipes, protecting them from would-be climbers and providing a shield against potential damage.
Anti climb pipe covers also smarten up the exterior appearance of properties by concealing unsightly pipework.
Anti climb pipe covers are increasingly used to prevent pipework from being climbed and improve the aesthetic appearance of buildings. These armoured metal pipe covers are also being used to prevent pipework from vehicular damage.
There’s a wide variety of anti climb spikes available today. Plastic anti climb spikes are a popular option, available in a variety of designs.
Prikla anti climb spikes are simple, easily installed fence or wall-top spike strips that are highly effective in keeping unwanted animals out of a garden.
Stegastrip plastic anti climb spikes are another effective design of plastic anti climb spikes. Stegastrip spikes are purposely designed to look like aggressive metal spikes. This appearance serves to deter would-be intruders from climbing over them.
Prikla anti climb spikes are widely deployed to deter unwanted intruders from entering people’s gardens and plastic anti climb spikes that imitate metal spikes are an affordable yet highly effective alternative to metal anti climb spikes.
Metal anti climb spikes are available in a wide variety of designs. Razor Point, Razor Spike, Razor Channel and Razor Comb are some widely used examples.
Razor Point and Razor Spike are particularly nasty looking, aggressive metal anti climb spikes. Mounting these along a wall-top or maybe the edge of a flat rooftop presents a very clear anti-climb message.
The Razor Channel and Razor Comb systems are also robust metal anti climb solutions designed to prevent intruders from gaining a handhold when attempting to scale a wall, fence or other structure.
Metal anti climb spikes are typically used around higher security establishments where contact with children is unlikely. MOD property, police stations, factories and quarries are typical examples of sites where metal anti climb spikes are used.
Rotating anti climb barriers add further anti climb protection by placing an unstable, rotating barrier in the path of an intruder. Rotaspike and Vanguard are two of the most popular and widely deployed rotating metal anti climb spike systems.
Rotating metal anti climb spike systems are also primarily used for higher security applications where the aggressive nature of the barrier is a feature that prevents intruders from attempting to gain entry.
As described widely on this web site, Roller Barrier is a special form of non-aggressive anti climb barrier. Unlike the rotating anti climb spike systems Roller Barrier doesn’t use spikes. The simple system uses a rotating barrier consisting of large size plastic rollers freely mounted on a central axle. These rollers (or roller cups) have been carefully designed to be too large to be gripped. This makes it impossible for intruders to overcome the Roller Barrier.
The fact that Roller Barrier is non-aggressive and doesn’t use spikes makes the system very suitable for situations in which children are involved. Many schools, for example, now widely use Roller Barrier to prevent kids from climbing onto flat rooftops or over gates.
Another great application for Roller Barrier is in preventing youngsters from climbing on equipment housings or using low-level walls as a step to gain access to higher level structures.
Roller Barrier is also suitable for both outdoor and indoor applications. Prisons throughout the UK are now using Roller Barrier to safely protect interior structures from climbers.
We recommend Roller Barrier but recognise that the Roller Barrier solution isn’t ideal for all applications.
Sometimes a hybrid combination of anti climb protection measures is called for. Aggressive metal anti climb spikes might be used at safe heights around areas requiring high security while non-aggressive Roller Barrier is used to protect lower level structures where people may come into contact with it. Anti-climb paint may be applied to walls while poles and posts can be protected with spiked anti climb collars with exterior downpipes shielded with metal downpipe covers.
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