Upgrading perimeter security for a London data centre

Solution

To create a secure perimeter more befitting of a data centre, we replaced the existing 1.2m high mesh fencing with 324.7m of 3m high Trident® Securi-Mesh® fencing. Approved by the NPSA (previously known as CPNI) for UK Government Use, the high security fencing system comprises of anti-climb mesh panels which have small apertures to prevent intruders from scaling the fence, overlapped by a minimum of 75mm at the posts to maintain strength and integrity. The clamp bar fixings provide extra resistance to attack.

Working with an existing wall along the site boundary, fence posts were cranked to allow the fencing to be installed to the outside to prevent the wall from being used as a climbing aid. Around the whole perimeter, the steel posts were adapted to accommodate a 600mm barbed tape topping to provide additional protection against attempts to scale the fence.

Special attention was paid to access control, a key requirement in the day-to-day operations of a data centre. We supplied and installed two bi-folding speed gates to form an entry and exit system. The trackless gates have a unique mechanism to control movement, providing smooth, fast and quiet operation, with an open and close time of approximately 1m per second. A single leaf pedestrian gate was also installed to allow safe access for those on foot. Card readers were used as access control devices for pedestrians, while audio and visual loops were used to permit entry to vehicles.

All fencing and gates were galvanised and have a green polyester powder coated finish, providing an additional layer of protection to the products while enabling the fencing to blend in with the surrounding area.

All fencing and gates are guaranteed for 25 years, offering a long-term solution that will help to keep critical data secure for years to come at a low lifetime cost.