THE END OF GUESSWORK: FIRST FENCE RE-ENGINEERS SITE HOARDING THROUGH CALCULATION AND COMPLIANCE
The site hoarding is arguably the most underrated component of any major development. It is the first impression a project makes on the public, the primary defence against trespass, and a critical structure that must withstand Britain’s unpredictable weather.
Yet, for too long, specifying and ordering this essential perimeter has been a logistical headache—a process fraught with the risk of miscalculation, material waste, and, critically, non-compliance.
In a welcome move that shifts the focus from structural complexity to ease of specification, First Fence has launched its comprehensive timber hoarding system, backed by a suite of online tools designed to simplify the entire process. The message is clear: the company is providing not just robust, certified timber, but the digital backbone necessary for effortless procurement and watertight engineering sign-off.
Calculating Confidence: The Procurement Revolution
The most immediate benefit to the busy site manager lies in First Fence’s intuitive Timber Construction Site Hoarding Calculator. This tool is a genuine game-changer, turning a complex materials list into a simple, three-step input process.
“Historically, determining the exact number of sheets, rails, and fixings needed to enclose a perimeter of an unusual shape was a task ripe for human error.” Explains Product and Marketing Manager Toby Roberts-Davies. Now, all that is required is for the user to input the basic site requirements, and the calculator instantly outputs a precise, tailored bill of materials, eradicating the expensive problem of over-ordering or the delays caused by running short of materials on installation day.
The process is refreshingly straightforward:
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Step One: Pinpoint the site location using an address, postcode, or coordinates.
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Step Two: Specify the planned duration of the hoarding’s installation. This crucial step informs the engineering requirements, as structures required for extended periods must account for long-term factors.
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Step Three: Select the desired components—for example, choosing between the standard 150 x 100mm posts or advanced 100 x 200mm posts, and then a choice of 72 x 72mm timber rails or 75 x 100mm timber rails. All timber is backed with C24 grade quality. The final step is to choose between 18mm plywood or OSB.
Once these details are submitted, the system designs the hoarding to suit, providing an instant, accurate shopping list ready for the basket. This process allows developers to confidently specify a system composed of components used typically in hoarding, rather than using guess work.
The Certainty of Engineering: The Temporary Works Design (TWD)
While the calculator manages the materials, compliance remains the paramount concern. For any construction project that requires absolute surety in the face of wind loading, notional horizontal loading, or crowd pressures—all critical considerations, especially in high-footfall areas—the Temporary Works Design (TWD) service is non-negotiable.
For a fixed fee of £749.99 per design, First Fence offers an engineer-issued, site-specific TWD report. This is not a generic recommendation; it is a professional engineering calculation and signed-off solution that confirms the hoarding structure will meet all required safety and stability standards for that exact location and proposed duration. As the images illustrate, the TWD process follows the same simple input as the main calculator, ensuring the resulting engineering advice is perfectly matched to the components being ordered.
This bespoke report eliminates all guesswork and provides the definitive paperwork required for site health and safety files, ensuring the system—which may include essential elements like backstay/raking props or Kentledge blocks—is structurally sound.
The Public Face: A Splash of Corporate Colour
Beyond compliance and convenience, the third pillar of this launch is presentation. The site hoarding is the largest, most visible billboard a brand possesses throughout the construction phase.
To harness this, First Fence has integrated a sophisticated Colour Calculator into the ordering process. Developers can now move beyond the standard ‘naked’ timber look and specify precise corporate colours. This system allows for custom coating not only for the main panels but also for the infill strips. “This level of granular colour control ensures that the finished perimeter is a true extension of the company’s brand identity, elevating the site from a works zone to a professional public exhibition.” Explains Roberts-Davies.
In an industry where margins are tight and time is money, First Fence has successfully managed to take a regulatory burden, the procurement and engineering of site hoarding, and transform it into a competitive advantage. By focusing on smart, user-friendly digital tools like the material calculator and the colour visualiser, and underpinning it all with guaranteed engineering certainty via the TWD service, they have delivered a complete solution that simplifies the complex, allowing project teams to focus on the build itself. This is a quiet revolution in site safety and efficiency.
