Month: May 2021

After French Regulations, a Swimming Pool Safety Fence is the Best Choice

In January 2006, France introduced new laws designed to improve safety near swimming pools. A pool owner who is not in compliance with the new law could face fines of up to A�45,000. Lawmakers explain that this new set of regulations is primarily intended to prevent accidental drowning and injuries involving small children, who are the most vulnerable to pool side accidents.

The law covers all in-ground swimming pools that are used for private and public use, including those pools present on rental property. This law covers the vast majority of pools in the country, but it does not apply to pools that are situated aboveground, inflatable or indoors. If owners do have safety measures currently in place, they must become familiar and comply with the standards defined by the Association Francaise de Normalisation (AFNOR). Failure to do this can result in a fine.

According to the new law, there are four major types of safety systems approved by AFNOR.

Security Barriers (AFNOR standard: NF P 90-306): These can be either permanent or temporary barriers. Swimming pool safety fences in France are already quite popular.

Pool Alarms (AFNOR standard: NF P 90-307): An Immersion detector or perimeter alarm. This system requires an adult to be within audible range to respond to an emergency.

Pool Covers (AFNOR standard: NF P 90-308): Summer and winter covers are acceptable if they comply with AFNOR standards. Covers that are more than three years old do not generally comply with AFNOR standards.

Pool Shelter or Abris (AFNOR standard: NF P 90-308): These refer to fixed telescopic structures that cover an entire swimming pool.

Owners of pools built before January 1, 2004, must either install a new safety system or upgrade their safety system to be consistent with the current standards. If, the existing system is in line with the current standards, then owners need written confirmation of the fact.A�

If a pool was built after January 1, 2004, owners should have had a proper safety system installed by the builder.

Owners of pools built before June 8, 2004, must have confirmation from the supplier that the safety system that is currently installed complies with the new regulations. It is also the duty of the builder to provide owners with the necessary documents, outlining the safety equipment that is available and general pool safety.A�

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Of all the methods prescribed by AFNOR, many experts agree that a swimming pool safety fence would be the best option. This is because a fence offers continuous and passive protection. An adult is not required to be on the scene at all times as would be the case with a pool alarm. While pool covers are also another option, they are not as secure as pool fences, and can obscure the beauty of the pool.

Since fences come in all sorts of different materials ranging from mesh to glass and are available in different colors, they can blend well with their surroundings. Therefore, fences can provide safety and be appealing all at the same time. Fences are also relatively easy to maintain and can be constantly monitored for defects or problems, unlike alarms or sensors.

With all of these factors and comparisons, it seems clear the swimming pool safety fences are probably the best way for pool owners to stay compliant with the new French regulations and avoid tragic accidents involving children.…

A Custom Built Privacy Fence

If you have a nice backyard, have upgraded your patio to a nice deck, and have children, you might want to consider getting a custom privacy fence built. Yes, it seems a bit odd to seek privacy from your neighbors, but sometimes you simply want to enjoy your backyard without peering eyes and many other things. There are a lot of people out there that just enjoy the privacy that comes from home ownership, creating an epic scope of self worth and esteem. It is important to everyone to get privacy, especially in these modern times when children and teenagers are targeted for their looks and well being. So to avoid things of that nature, you need to make sure you get a nice custom fence built in your backyard.

If you need to get a wooden fence, make sure you hire a professional. If you are not sure what to do, you are going to miss out on the greater good with a wood fence. You need to make sure the fence is straight, and sometimes if you are not careful the ground sinks while you’re putting a good fence up, and it screams of amateur. The amateur level of the world around you is interesting to say the least. Many people think they are construction workers or improvement experts, and that’s not necessarily true. Sure some are talented with their skills, but by trade they are really not match to someone that does fencing for a living on a daily basis.

A custom built privacy fence, is a perfect example of modern technology meeting positive reinforcement. Your neighbors will appreciate it as well, and it really marks your properties boundaries with ease. If you are worried about whether or not your house has property lines set up properly, you can pull the blue prints and ask a professional to build you a fence that is just amazing. A fence is not just something you prop up with chain link, it can be a creative and masterful work of art made of white wood, yellow pine, or cedar and painted to match your house or simply left in a natural tone. A natural wood tone is always splendid, so why not enjoy a professionally built fence.…

The Advantages of Electric Fencing

Farmers concerned about their livestock and residents concerned about the security of their homes and families often consider electric fencing as an option. Electric fencing offers several advantages, particularly in comparison with traditional types of fencing. It is cheap to construct and maintain, portable, safe, easy to use, long lasting and has minimal impact on the landscape.

Firstly, it is less expensive to build, install and maintain than other kinds of fencing. You need only posts and wire, tape or netting to put it together, so you save money by avoiding the costly purchase of the bulky material needed to build and repair solid barriers.

This also means that electric fencing is light in weight and easy to carry around. If you need to move your livestock on a regular basis, or at short notice, this is definitely a bonus! Plus, your land remains unobstructed by large permanent structures, which can be an eyesore and block the view. Who really wants to see green pastures and rolling hills interrupted by chunky pieces of metal and wood?

Electric fencing enables you to keep your view intact without compromising on security. Large animals sometimes possess the strength and power to knock down and/or damage conventional fencing, which usually means extra expense, inconvenience and sometimes injuries as well.

Furthermore, livestock can become tangled in barbed wire easily. This can cause serious injury as well as prolonged pain and suffering and, in some cases, fatality. On the other hand, when animals touch it, they receive a quick shock. This shock needs to be a minimum of two thousand volts so that they can feel it through their thick skin and hair, but it is not intended to cause pain and does not expose them to the risk of injury or death. On both psychological and physical levels, the shock teaches your livestock to avoid contact with their surrounding fencing, but does not cause hurt.

The heavily reduced likelihood of contact between animals and electric fencing means that it also cuts down costs because of its longevity. Less susceptible to damage through accidents, high tensile, electrical fencing lasts around twenty years on average. In contrast, barbed wire can generally be expected to last for up to twelve years.

Apart from keeping and protecting livestock, it can also be considered as an option for maintaining the security of your home, family and household contents. It is certainly much less expensive than hiring permanent security staff! Psychologically, it presents potential intruders with a pretty powerful deterrent and, physically, it sends a shock that should more or less guarantee they precede no further. You can also attach an alarm to your fence, which alerts you or the company that watches over your property when an intruder is approaching.…

Split Rail Fencing in American History

How many times have you closely examined split rail fencing? Unless you have a fence fetish, the answer is probably a big fat zero. Although this fencing type may seem modest, boring and completely unworthy of your attention, it becomes much more interesting when one considers its key role in American history.

The following is a summary of the importance of the split rail fence to American pioneers, who streamed by the thousands into the American west during the late 1800s. As they settled, those pioneers used local resources as fence materials. This fence style also destroyed an even earlier way of life, that of the American cowboy. In addition, Abraham Lincoln won his presidency partially based on his reputation as a masterful rail-splitter.

How American Pioneers Built Their Fences

Because it was comparatively easy to gather logs hewn from trees that had been cleared from the land, split rail was the most common type of pioneer fence installation. Western geography looked very different in the 1850s; there seemed to be an unlimited amount of forest for eager pioneers to clear into farmland. In the new farms springing up around young pioneer cities, pioneers split logs lengthwise to create wood for fences.

For several reasons, split rail fencing was the pioneer’s preferred type of fence installation. Much of the American West has rocky, hard ground in places. Split rail fences can be built even on hard ground. Furthermore, split rail fencing can be erected with only a few tools. These fences are simple in their construction; they don’t even require nails, which were hard to come by in the pioneer days. Due to this fencing’s simple design and minimal requirements for fence materials, pioneers across the West preferred this type of fence.

How Fencing Conquered the Cowboy

As American pioneers erected split rail fencing, they were carving up the landscape of the American west. What was previously a wide-open landscape of grazing land became a civilized patchwork of homesteads. For the reasons listed above, this fencing was usually the first sign of a new claim. Each new fenced homestead removed one more area where cowboys could graze their herds.

American artists such as Frederic Remington and Charles M. Russell highlighted the role of the split rail fence in their paintings. These two artists chronicled the Wild West in their paintings. One Remington work, The Fall of the Cowboy, shows two cowboys opening a split rail fence – almost as if they were walking out of their old way of life, and into a new American landscape of farmland and cities. As this fencing type cut across the American territories, it made it much more difficult to move livestock great distances.

Abe Lincoln: Master Politician who Started Building Split Rail Fencing

American political history also contains important references to the split rail fence. In the 1840 presidential race, William Henry Harrison mounted the “Log Cabin Campaign” to show American voters that he was truly a common man, especially compared to his opponent, Marten Van Buren.

Lincoln used a similar tactic in his 1860 campaign for office. At a key moment of the Illinois state convention, Lincoln’s cousin John Hanks strode into the hall carrying two pieces of split fence rail that he had gathered from the Lincoln family farm. Unlike many modern political stunts, this one was real – Honest Abe really had split those rails back on the family property. Between the rails hung a banner, which proudly read, “Abe Lincoln the Rail Splitter.” The entire hall burst into wild applause as Hanks entered. Lincoln’s reputation as a common man rode on the fact that he had in fact built his own fencing back on the family farm.

Throughout American history, split rail fencing has been an important form of fence installation. Pioneers, landowners and farmers used this fencing type to cut up the land for farming, ending the cowboy way of life. Residents can honor the part split rail fencing has played in American history by having this type of fence installed on their property.…

Cedar Fence Maintenance: Top 3 Winter Threats

Cedar fence materials are popular in the Pacific Northwest, despite the fact that the area’s winters pose many threats to fencing. The following is a look at the top three ways winter weather can damage a cedar fence.

1. Wintertime Shifts in Temperature

Remember that cedar fencing is constructed from organic materials that naturally expand and contract with shifting temperatures. Trees have long vertical channels running along their trunks; these tunnels carry nutrients from the soil to the tips of the tree’s branches. In humid, warm conditions, these channels swell, whereas in dry, cold conditions they shrink.

Why should this be a problem? Well, even extremely small amounts of contraction can cause wood knots to fall out, for one thing. The resulting holes in your cedar fencing materials are susceptible to disease and pests. Additionally, shifting temperatures can cause nails to loosen or even be forced out of the surface of the wood.

To protect your fence, you should fill any holes with wood filler. You should also hammer popped nails back into place; add an extra nail or two to prevent the same occurrence in future winters.

2. Increased Levels of Moisture

The natural rhythms of Pacific Northwest forests have at their core slowly rotting nurse logs, which are further broken down by the types of mold and mildew that thrive in wet conditions. This is all fine and dandy for a natural setting, but if you allow rot to set into your cedar fencing, you risk ruining your entire fence. (A rotting fence is an unstable fence that will eventually fall down.) Similarly, fallen leaves can harm fencing as they discharge stubborn staining tannins. Lastly, if debris becomes lodged between fence boards, moisture-loving microorganisms will begin breaking down surrounding wood, and rot will set in. All of these problems are much more likely to occur in the winter months.

To protect your fencing materials, seal and refinish them every year. Quickly sweep off any debris or snow. Finally, conduct a fence examination following every major winter storm. To properly inspect your cedar fencing, walk along your property line and look for indications of mildew, mold or other rot. Wiggle each fence post to make sure it’s firmly in place. Lastly, tap a metal tool along your fencing materials; if you find spongy or soft spots, you may have rot or a pest infestation on your hand.

Should you find weaknesses or rot in your cedar fencing materials, fear not. You can simply arrange for an expert to fix the damage, or you can tackle it yourself. Replace damaged boards, and be sure to seal and stain new boards. Rotting fence posts are a bit trickier; apply a wood preservative to damage that’s less than one inch deep. Less superficial damage will require you to replace the entire post.

3. Broken, Falling Branches

It’s not unusual for winter storms to knock down branches – sometimes very large, heavy branches. If these limbs should fall on your cedar fence materials, you could face costly, time-consuming repairs.

Defend your fencing from falling branches by pruning back any species that hang over your fence.

As you can see, winter brings several major threats to your cedar fencing materials, including falling branches, moisture-induced rot, and shrinking wood with falling temperatures. Fortunately, by informing yourself on the best approaches to preventing these hazards, you can keep your fence in good shape.…

Common Mistakes to Avoid With Electric Fencing

Most people think setting up an electric fence is just as easy as setting up non-electric fences. They do not take into account the sensitivity of the charges associated with electric fencing. Because of this, there are several common mistake people make when setting up their electric fences that render them useless. Below are some common mistakes and ways to avoid them.

Setting up posts too closelyThe average fence has posts set up every 50 feet for large fences and even closer for smaller areas. Because of this, people will also set their fence posts this closely. However, because of the tautness of the fence, if an animal tries to break through, they usually damage the fence and uproot the posts. The posts should be spread further apart to allow some give in the fence. This way, if an animal tries to break through, the fence will give some without breaking or uprooting the posts. Since the fence gives instead of breaking, it allows the animal to feel the full force of the electric shock guaranteeing that the animal will think twice before charging the fence again.

Not Accounting for wet weather conditionsIt is no shock (excuse the pun) that fences are affected by wet conditions. What is a surprise is that wet grass lying on the fence can absorb the charge from the fence rendering it useless. To avoid this common mistake, keep grass around the fence cut short. Otherwise, if you cannot cut the grass on a regular basis, wire the bottom of the fence separately from the top and install a separate switch. That way, when the grass is high, you can turn off the switch for the lower part of the fence and keep the charge on the upper portion.

Not Enough Voltage The purpose of an electric fence is to deliver a shock to an animal to keep it in, or out, of the fence. Some people think they have purchased faulty fencing when animals escape because they were not deterred by the shock. However, the lack of shock may be attributed to the setup of the fence as opposed to the fence itself. To avoid this mistake, make sure you install a strong charger. Also, if you do not have a voltmeter, get one. This is the only way for you to know if the shock is strong enough. If all else fails, check the size of your wires. The bigger your wires, the more electricity they carry.

An electric fence is a worthwhile buy if you need to keep animals in your yard. Just make sure you avoid these mistakes when setting up your fence, good luck.…

Plastic Fence Installation For the Do it Yourself Homeowner

This can be a pretty big home improvement project for the neophyte handyman, and may take some research and education on your part before installing a new plastic fence for your family. There are several steps to prepare your property for the addition or re installation of a perimeter protection system, and skipping any steps could create a huge mess, and a quite costly one at that in the end.

There are plenty of books available online, and even a few instructional videos that you can invest in to make this a less anxiety ridden construction job. Good preparation is key to creating a sound install that looks professional, and will last as long as you need. The proper digging of the post holes, lining up the posts and anchoring them with cement, or concrete, while making sure they all stay level will be the most daunting task of the job, as even professional installers will have a hard time doing this on occasion. The depth of each posthole will not be the same as you are working with the contour of your property, and that will change as you go.

Once all the posts are in place it should go much quicker, but there will be times when a shift while the concrete is drying happens, and a post or two may have to be dug up and reset. This is where copious amounts of patience are required, and will be appreciated by your family as well. Adding the fence rails will come next to your plastic fence job, and these will usually have preset holes to bolt them on to the posts. Once the railing is in place this is where you will want to make sure everything is level, and true before going on to the adding your fence planks, or picket.

When placing your order for the vinyl fence, make sure and ask them to help create an emergency repair supply to add to the final order. This will help in situations where if a tree, or just a tree branch falls on the fencing, that you can have enough parts in reserve to perform a quick fix to this type of situation. It will cost much less in the long term to make an extra purchase like this up front. Also keep extra copies of your invoice in various places, so if you ever need to order additional replacement parts, you will have an accurate set of part numbers to reference.…

Invisible Dog Fences – Top Ten Myths Dispelled!

Almost everyone has heard of invisible dog fences, but far fewer folks really know what they are and how they work. Following are the top ten misconceptions I’ve heard from my clients:

MYTH: Invisible dog fences are really expensive. A pro-installed fence will likely cost you anywhere from $1000 to $3000, depending on the size of your yard and how many pets you wish to contain. A DIY fence that you install yourself should cost you less than $500, including all materials. Either way, it’s less expensive than a traditional chain link, wood, or wrought iron fence.

MYTH: Invisible dog fences don’t work. They’re actually a pretty reliable way to keep your dog in your yard, but only if:

You consistently follow the recommended training process. Every brand includes a training program that is designed to teach your pet how to respond when he encounters his invisible boundary.

You purchase a fence that includes a multi-level receiver (the device your dog wears on a collar around his neck). Without multiple training levels, you can’t customize the training to your pet’s size and temperament. That means a large or stubborn pup may not respect the fence and a small or sensitive one may become frightened.

You put the receiver on your pet every time he goes outside. Most dog fences make a high-pitched sound when your pup first encounters the invisible boundary, and then emit a static correction if he continues to move toward the fence rather than back into your yard. Without the receiver, your pet will eventually realize he’s not getting either one of these cues to stay in his yard.

MYTH: All invisible dog fences are just alike. Every model of fence offers different features — this is even true of different models within the same brand. So, make sure you choose the model that’s right for your pet’s size and temperament.

MYTH: You don’t need to train your pooch to understand an invisible dog fence. In reality, if you don’t train your pet to understand how to respond when he encounters the invisible boundary, one of two things will happen: he will run right through the fence or he will become confused and afraid of your yard.

MYTH: An invisible dog fence will hurt my dog. If you purchase a high-quality fence and you patiently teach your pet how it works, it will not hurt your him. What will hurt is getting hit by a car or attacked by another animal as your pet roams outside your property.

MYTH: You don’t need to put the receiver collar on your pet once he learns to avoid the invisible boundary. The only way an invisible dog fence will reliably protect your pet is if you put the collar on him every single time he goes outside.

MYTH: An invisible dog fence is just like an electric fence. An electric fence will indiscriminately zap anyone who encounters it (and that zap is the same whether you’re a 1000 pound cow or a 25 pound toddler), while an invisible dog fence will correct only those pets who wear a receiver. Also, unlike an electric fence, if your fence includes a multi-level receiver, you can customize and control the level of correction your pet receives — that way you never use a higher correction level than is necessary.

MYTH: Some breeds just won’t respect an invisible dog fence. Breed is irrelevant. I’ve seen fences work well for large and stubborn breeds like Pit Bulls, Boxers, Rottweilers, and German Shepherds, as well as small, sensitive breeds like Chihuahuas, Yorkies, and Pugs.

MYTH: My dog is too old to learn how to respond to an invisible dog fence. Unless your pet is so old that his health is failing, he is never too old to learn new tricks!

MYTH: Invisible dog fences only work for dogs. Personally, I’ve trained cats and even goats — that’s right, stubborn ol’ GOATS — to reliably respond to an invisible boundary.

For detailed product reviews, step-by-step installation and training guides, and free articles, visit .…

Sparking Interest in Electric Fencing

The ideas of electric fencing appear to have been around for a considerably long time. In the early nineteenth century, the concept of using electricity in defensive weapons was introduced in novels by Jules Verne and Mark Twain. A patent was actually issued to David A. Wilson in 1886 for experimental of this fencing that combined the use of an alarm, and telephone communications along a distance of 30 miles in Texas.

The Russian army used an improvised version of electric fencing at Port Arthur, during the war with Japan in 1905. The German army was also known to use a form of crudely constructed electric fencing along the Netherlands and Belgium border, during World War I in 1915. Extending for over 300 kilometres and consisting of barbed wire, these early fences were capable of conducting several thousand volts, and were ultimately responsible for the deaths of over 3000 people.

In the early 1930s, electric fencing was introduced in the U.S. and New Zealand mainly to control livestock. In 1936-1937, an inventor from New Zealand, William “Bill” Gallagher, assembled a device using the ignition coil and a magneto set of his car, to prevent his horse from using the car as a scratching post. He later formed a company with the intention of improving the design and marketing his product.

In 1964, Doug Phillips, another inventor from New Zealand patented the short-resistant electric fence, with an extended the range of use, while reducing the cost. The non-shortable fence replaced ceramic insulators with non-conductive plastic, and was later manufactured as the “Waikato Electric Fence.” by Plastic Products of New Zealand.

The use of these fences has become much more diversified. Buried electronic fences can now be designed to emit weak radio signals that can be detected by collars worn by pets. The collar produces a warning noise that is audible only to the animals, when they are in close proximity to this fence. A mild shock is produced if the warning noise is ignored, and your pet is forced to remain with the boundary. The technology has evolved to where it is used, not only for containing livestock, or pets, but some form can be used for detecting intruders.

There are some very important design considerations for efficient operation of electric fencing. If the fence is poorly designed or maintained, problems may be caused by the admittance of electromagnetic radiation that can be responsible for interference of signals for television, radio or even wireless transmissions.

• Short cuts should be avoided, and one of the most important features in almost every situation is to ensure that there is adequate grounding to earth.• Avoid the use of different types of metals, as they can conduct at different rates.• Use only high quality insulation. They should be composed of material that is resistant to degradation by ultraviolet light.• The correct size and type of wire must be chosen to ensure efficient operation of your fence.

Electric fences can be expected to find more expanded uses in the protection of property as the cost of electronics continues to decrease as the technology continues to advance. Physical contact is no longer needed for the deterrent to be issued, and the risks associated with any contact are now greatly minimized.…