Lands Division Sustainable Resource Development SE Region Asset Specifications Four Strand Barbed Wire Fence Specifications 1. Project Materials The contractor is to supply all the labour, tools and equipment needed for construction and removal of the fence. 2. General Prior to commencement of construction, contact must be made with the following people: Jake Willms PGR Rangeland Agrologist (403) 382-4287, cell (403) 308-9961 Provincial Grazing Reserves: Hays Lonesome Lake Purple Springs Twin River Dean Hystad - PGR Rangeland Agrologist (403) 529-3718, cell (403) 548-1942 Provincial Grazing Reserves: Bow Island Pinhorn Sage Creek Seven Persons Grazing Association President and Pasture Supervisor numbers are to be provided by the Agrologist. Fences are to be straight (driven in along a pre-tensioned barb wire line). The contractor will be responsible for locating corner markers and / or survey pins. Staples should never be driven home. Fence cut repairs could include the construction of a wire gate, braced metal swinging gates, or spliced fence. If fence cuts are repaired as a fence rather than a gate, the wire must be continuous and not tied off at braces constructed for the wire cut. (Refer to Figure 6). Any modifications to the construction of fences should be made in consultation with the Grazing Reserve Agrologist and the Grazing Association. 3. Post Installation Line posts to be drilled or driven sixteen and a half (16 ½) fee apart. All holes to be tamped where post holes are drilled or where necessary. Line fence to be constructed with six foot (6 ) posts with a planted depth of twenty four inches (24 ). November 10, 2010 Page 1 of 7
Fences in irrigated pastures or in proximity to wetlands are to be constructed with seven foot (7 ) posts and planted to a depth of thirty six (36 ) inches. All corner posts, gate posts, brace posts to be eight (8 ) feet long and planted to a depth of forty two (42 ) inches to forty eight (48 ) inches. Posts are to be installed so the fence is in a straight line. Post should not deviate more than two degrees (2 ) off vertical from any aspect of the posts. 4. Wire Installation The following wire spacing specifications are to be observed, dependant on the type of field fencing that is to be completed in: Irrigated Pastures (higher livestock densities in pastures - more potential for pushing fence) Perimeter Fences to be five (5) strand barbed wire with the following spacing: 16 from ground - 7 inches - 7 inches - 7 inches - 9 inches Cross Fences to be four (4) strand barbed wire with the following spacing: 16 from ground - 9 inches - 9 inches - 10 inches Native Range Pastures (lower stock densities - less potential for pushing fence) Perimeter Fences to be five (5) strand barbed wire with the following spacing: 18 from ground - 6 inches - 6 inches - 6 inches - 10 inches Cross Fences to be four (4) strand barbed wire with the following spacing: 18 from ground - 8 inches - 8 inches - 10 inches Wire is to be stretched with a mechanical stretcher. Wire is to be tied off at all brace panels. Wire must be wrapped twice around the tie off post. Two inch barbed staples are to be used exclusively. Staples should never be driven home. Always rotate the staple away from the slash cut side of the staple. (Refer to Figure 3) Care should be taken to plant a post at each knoll top or draw bottom to ensure that the bottom wire stays a minimum of 16 inches above ground. Dip posts to be dead manned. Posts in low swampy areas should have ½ inch x 24 inch rebar driven though a 3/8 inch drilled hole above the sharpened end of the posts. (Refer to Figure 1) 5. Corner Posts, Brace posts, Brace Panels, and Gate Posts Double brace all corner posts and gate posts. (Refer to Figure 2) Install brace panels every quarter mile (400 m) or where topography requires a brace be in place. (Refer to Figure 2) November 10, 2010 Page 2 of 7
Braces are horizontally and diagonally constructed with an eight (8 ) foot span. The brace rail must be centered at thirty six (36 ) inches above the ground. Brace rails must be pressure treated four by four by eight (4 x 4 x 8 ) or eight (8 ) foot posts. Counter brace (diagonal) should be constructed of barbed wire or double strand barbless or #9 wire, doubled and twisted. The counter brace should be located two (2 ) inches above the ground to prevent corrosion of the wire. Slats or twitch sticks used for counter bracing must be resting against the horizontal brace rail, on the opposite side of the barb wire. 6. Gate Installation Gate openings will be constructed as described in Figures 5 and 6. General specifications will be that gates will be installed at points where gates existed on removed fences to a maximum of one mile between gated access points. Gate openings are to be constructed to accommodate the installation of two (2) ten (10 ) foot metal swinging gates. (Refer to Figure 5) Gates will be installed so they are level. Wire gates to be constructed with a minimum of four (4) strands of barb wire and two (2 ) wooden pickets spaced five (5 ) feet apart. All wire gates to be a minimum of sixteen and a half (16 ½ ) feet in width. Figure 2 - Location of gate openings will be designated by the Grazing Reserve Agrologist and the grazing Association. All gate closures to be made with chains and hook (eye hook) attachments or over-center gate closers. November 10, 2010 Page 3 of 7
Figure 1 Simple Deadman for Dip Posts Posts in low, swampy places 5 to 6 in. X 8 ft. posts 3-4 ft. Steel fence post driven in at a 45 degrees at the base of the post, then wired to the post. Steel post must be double wire wrapped & stapled 4 times above the ground. A maximum of 1 in. of steel post can protude past the post. 5 to 6 in X 8 ft posts Drill 3/8 in. hole just above sharpened end. Insert 1/2 in. X 24in. rebar. Bend rebar up on each side before pounding in post. Figure 2 5 Min (13cm) 5 Min (13cm) 4 Min (1.2 m) 4 2 5 3 6 8 7 8 Min (2.4 m) 4 (10cm) 3.5 Min (1.1 m) 1. Brace 2. Steel dowel 3. Brace wire 4. Corner post 5. 4 Strands No. 9 wire 6. No. 1 Brace post 7. No. 2 Brace post 8. Slat or rod for twisting 1 12 Min (30 cm) 3 Min (0.9 m) End post assembly horizontal wood braces. 4 Min (10cm) Direction of pull Gate specifications with double span horizontal rail, end brace 3/8 in. spike protruding 1 in. 3/8 in. spike protruding 1 in. Gate must open in both directions 24 ft. equal spacing between pickets 2 to 3 in. X 60 in. posts in gate. Tie off post closest to gate. 8 ft. 48in. Double wire bracing (twisted) #9 wire gate loops required on ALL 4 corners. #9 Wire cut 38 long. Wrap around post & staple twice. November 10, 2010 Drill 3/8 in. hole just above sharpened end. Insert 1/2 in. X 24 in. rebar. Bend rebar up on each side before pounding post. Page 4 of 7
Figure 3 Correct Stapling Always rotate the staple away from the slash outside of the staple. Staples should never be driven home. Leave space for some movement. Correct Staple rotated away from slash point, spreads out as it enters the post increasing pullout resistance. Dip Post Rise Post Incorrect For dip posts staple up to increase pullout resistance. For rise posts staple down to increase pullout resistance. Staple rotated the wrong way. Staple legs still curve but now the legs cross and have reduced strength. Fastening Methods November 10, 2010 Page 5 of 7
Figure 4 Braced Metal Swinging Gates Specifications 6 ft. 6 ft. Notes: The two metal swinging gates are 16 feet long each. The metal gates are hung on pipe postes that are braced to another pipe post by pipe crosshatches. These pipe crosshatches (4) must line up with wires(4) on the adjacent four strand barbed wire fence. Figure 5 Cattleguard with adjacent wire gate specifications 4 ft. 4 ft. Wire fence attached to metal posts with brace UFA gate latch over #8 wire loop. 2 to 3 inch x 60 inch posts in the gate. 8 ft. X 20 ft. Cattleguard Steel post slides into steel cup which is braced to the bottom of the cattleguard. 24 ft. Texus Gate Wire fence attached to metal posts with brace Wire fence Metal swing gate (single or double as shown here) Metal posts (braced) Not to scale November 10, 2010 Page 6 of 7
Figure 6 How to repair a fence cut as a fence: 1. Attach the two cut ends to a wire tightener. 2. Tighten the wire until it is properly tensioned. 3. Splice the wire together. 4. Detach wire tightener. 5. Do not tie the wier ends off at post. Adding a gate to a fence line: Before gate construction: After gate construction: New Post Original Post 24 ft. New Post Original Post New Post 1. Wire must be properly stretched and wound twice around brace post panels on each side of gate. 2. A properly constructed wire gate must be placed in the open. Make opening 24 feet wide. November 10, 2010 Page 7 of 7