A fence line is a statement about who can reach the plant, and the statement is only as good as the weakest gate. Industrial perimeters fail at their openings: a gate that sags and will not latch, an operator that loses power in the first winter storm, a camera pole with no conduit for its cable. We build the physical perimeter and the infrastructure behind it as one system, so the devices your security integrator installs have a home that works.
The range of facilities is wide. The Suncor refinery in Commerce City processes 98,000 barrels per day, and a site of that kind lives under a security regime that a distribution yard never will. Most of our clients sit between those extremes: a fenced trailer lot, a gated employee entrance, a controlled receiving dock, a sensitive equipment yard. Each needs a different level of protection, and we help you match the perimeter to the risk, not the other way around.
We deal with the construction side of security: post foundations, fence, gates, operators, bollards, pads, poles, power and conduit. Cameras, readers and software are normally supplied by your own security vendor, and we coordinate with that vendor so what we build matches what they install.
Matching the perimeter to the threat
The first question is what the fence must stop. A visual boundary and a deterrent are different from an anti-climb, anti-cut barrier, and both differ from a barrier rated to stop a vehicle. The cost difference is large, so we ask for the owner's risk assessment and size the perimeter from it. Common choices include eight-foot chain link with an outrigger, welded wire mesh with a small opening that resists climbing, ornamental steel at visitor-facing frontage and precast wall where screening matters.
Neighbors matter too. The Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge covers 15,988 acres and has its only entrance in Commerce City, which means industrial sites in that part of the county sit near a large open boundary where wildlife and a public edge influence the fence design. Where a site backs onto open land, we consider small-animal gaps at the base, line-of-sight for patrols and lighting that does not spill beyond the property line. The yard lighting scope in yard lighting and electrical site work is designed with the fence in mind.
Gates, fire access and emergency operation
A security gate across a fire lane is a life-safety device first. Fire codes require emergency responders to be able to open the gate quickly, usually through a keyed switch, a siren-activated sensor or a key box, and the fire department must approve the means. We confirm the requirement with the local fire authority early and test the emergency operation at commissioning with the authority present, since the gate is a permit item as well as a security item.
Vehicle gates also hurt people when they are poorly designed. We set the entrapment protection devices, safety loops and photo-eyes that keep a sliding or swinging gate from closing on a truck or a person, and we verify them after installation. For pedestrian turnstiles and man-gates, we make sure the accessible route is open, a detail that links to our site concrete and ADA compliance work.
Wind, snow, frost and drainage at the fence line
Fences are structures. A screened fence acts like a sail, and the post foundations must be sized for wind load, soil conditions and frost depth. In clay soils, drilled post bases are often deeper and larger than first sketches show, and we check them against the geotechnical report. Snow drift against a solid fence can add load and block drainage, so we plan openings and grades where drifts form.
Utility conflicts are the other recurring surprise. Fence lines often run along the edge of a parcel, where utility easements, storm lines and overhead power also run. We locate and mark those before posts are drilled. Northland Business Park, just off US 85 at Fort Lupton, sold 316 acres in November 2024, including 103 acres of shovel-ready land across 15 parcels. In a park assembled from many parcels, property lines, easements and shared fence rules differ from lot to lot, so we confirm each boundary before layout.
Pairing the perimeter with other site work
The best time to build a perimeter is while the site is still open. Conduit for gate operators, access control and cameras goes in with the site electrical, and the pad for a gatehouse or turnstile goes in with the flatwork. Doing it all in one sequence is cheaper than retrofitting later. Teams that roll out security across several facilities will find the repeatable details in our approach to programmatic multi-site rollouts.
Mission-critical sites need more. A data center perimeter often combines fence, vehicle barriers, a guarded entrance and monitored cameras. We coordinate those layers, and work with the owner's security consultant on standoff distances and approach paths, so the civil design supports the security design.
Long-lead gates and the commissioning handoff
Custom gates, operators, access control hardware and crash-rated barriers can run to long lead times, so we submit and order them early. Vehicle barriers often need engineered foundations and shop drawings, and the review cycle adds weeks. We schedule the fence and gate rough-in with site utilities, and we hold the gate hardware until the conduit and power are verified so the operators are not sitting in the rain.
At turnover, the gates are tested with the integrator and with the fire authority where required. Operating instructions, spare parts and a written maintenance interval go into the turnover package. For utilities and power facilities, where perimeter requirements may come from the owner's own standards, we add a documentation set that follows the owner's format so the handoff matches how they manage their sites.
Build the perimeter while the site is still open
Send the site plan and the security requirements and we will return a perimeter layout, gate details and a coordination list for your integrator. Contact Industrial Contractors of Colorado to start.
Common Questions
What height and type of fence do we need?
It depends on the risk, the local code and the screening you want. Eight feet of chain link with an outrigger is common for industrial yards, while higher-risk sites move to anti-climb mesh or a rated barrier. We review your risk assessment and the local zoning rules, then show you options at different costs.
Who supplies cameras and access control?
Usually the owner's security vendor. We build the support infrastructure: poles, bases, power, conduit and enclosures. We coordinate in writing, so the vendor's device spacing and cable routes are matched to what we install, and nothing is left for a retrofit.
How do gates meet fire department requirements?
The fire authority sets the means of emergency access, and it often requires a keyed override or a siren-activated sensor. We confirm the requirement with the authority before ordering hardware and test the override at commissioning. A gate that fails that test usually cannot be approved.
What if our site has power problems in winter?
Gate operators and cameras need reliable power. We recommend surge protection and, for critical gates, a battery backup or a manual release. Heaters or low-temperature rated operators are also available. The cold-weather rating should be on the submittal.
Can we build the perimeter in phases?
Yes. We build the full conduit and foundations in the first phase if the parcel will expand, and add fence sections as land is developed. Temporary fencing can fill gaps in the interim.