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Security solution for upmarket farm

A longstanding relationship with a prominent South African family that owns a number of successful farming operations around South Africa led to the award of a turnkey security project for Fang Fences & Guards.

Fredo Scribante, marketing director of the company, explains that after working with the family for over 20 years in devising customised security infrastructure solutions, the contract award was a natural extension of the symbiotic relationship they have formed.

The current project sees a phased approach to the design and installation of a perimeter, grounds and internal security system that will provide the farm’s residents and patrons of the planned guesthouse with complete peace of mind. This farm will be cultivated as a vineyard and fruit orchard with a separate commercial section that includes the guesthouse and a retail area.

Fang designed a two-tier electrified fence to encompass the entire perimeter of the farm. Fang used its own Combi Mesh, a 2.4 m high entry fence with 25 strands at 100 mm spacing, 14 strands behind the mesh with six strands to the top of the fence. To ensure maximised security, the fence is divided into 20 all-live zones with a concrete anti-dig pavement.

The fence is complemented by 32 Bosch thermal cameras which are used to verify any fence alarms that may be activated, and also add an additional detection layer to the solution. Scribante explains that if an alarm is activated, the system is programmed to deploy the specific cameras associated with the fence zone that produces the alarm. In this way, visual verification can be provided and the decision to mobilise a reaction team can be made. A further number of Bosch Starlight cameras are installed at the entrance to the property to provide targeted surveillance of all traffic entering and leaving the property.

All cameras and the electric fence are integrated with Fang’s CSMS (centralised security management system) which makes use of fibre-optic cable as a communication medium between field stations and a centralised control room.

In addition to the surveillance and fencing solution, Fang designed and manufactured all access gates into the property, built the guard house and installed the communications backbone and the electrical reticulation with battery/generator back-up. The entire system is monitored at a control room operated on another one of the family’s farms and a separate company provides an armed reaction service.

Scribante says that by providing a true turnkey service in-house, the company is able to finitely control all aspects of quality assurance. This, he believes, is what differentiates the company from many others in the market who outsource specific elements of a security installation.

Phase 1 of the project was awarded in mid-2013, after an overnight proof of concept was undertaken, and was completed in December 2014. A contract manager interacted on a regular basis with the client and monthly progress meetings ensured that each portion of the documented project deliverables were met.

Feedback from the client has been extremely positive, with all original needs being fulfilled. This, says Scribante, is especially pleasing given the fact that the client is extremely hands on with regard to the system and carefully monitors all performance aspects of each element of the entire system.

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