⏱️ 6 minute read
Two of the most significant updates to Australian security fencing standards in a generation are now open for public comment. AS 5394:2026 covers high and extra-high security anti-personnel steel fences with anti-climb panels or vertical members, with submissions accepted until 12 June 2026. AS 4100:2026, draft for steel structures, closes for comment on 9 June 2026.
For the Australian fencing industry, this is a defining moment. And for Profence, it is a moment we have helped shape from the inside
A seat at the table on Australian fencing standards
Our General Manager Ben Gregson has worked alongside other industry leaders, engineers, and standards committee members to contribute to the development of these draft standards. Ben brings decades of operational knowledge from a manufacturer that supplies critical infrastructure, government, transport, rail, defence, and commercial sectors across Australia. That practical insight, combined with the technical expertise of fellow contributors, is what gives these standards their credibility on the ground.
Standards written in isolation rarely survive contact with a worksite. Standards built with manufacturers, installers, end users, and regulators around the same table do.
Ben Gregson, General Manager at Profence, has contributed to the development of AS 5394:2026 and AS 4100:2026 alongside other industry leaders.
What AS 5394:2026 will deliver for high security fencing
The high security fencing draft sets a clear, dedicated benchmark for high security perimeter fencing, including anti-climb panels and vertical members. Until now, specifiers and procurement teams have been working across multiple referenced standards to piece together a compliant high security solution. This is exactly the gap we have previously highlighted in the context of SoCI compliance, where asset owners have been left to interpret what physical security actually looks like on the ground. A single, focused standard removes that ambiguity.
For asset owners protecting critical infrastructure, this clarity is significant. Specifications become easier to write. Tender comparisons become more transparent. The line between genuine Australian security fencing and lookalike products becomes far harder to blur.
For installers and contractors, the new standard means clearer expectations and fewer disputes about what compliance actually looks like on site.
For manufacturers operating to a higher technical bar, the standard rewards investment in quality. It separates manufacturers who build to deliver from those who build to a price.
Higher-performing fencing standards directly support the core principles of perimeter security design, particularly the elements of deterrence, delay, and denial that asset owners rely on to protect critical infrastructure.
Anti-climb design takes centre stage
The tight 76 x 13mm aperture of 358 mesh makes hand and foot holds nearly impossible, a key anti-climb performance feature recognised under AS 5394:2026.
One of the most important elements of AS 5394:2026 is its focus on anti-climb performance. Anti-climb mesh systems such as 358 mesh have become the benchmark for high security applications because the tight aperture size makes hand and foot holds nearly impossible. Vertical-pale palisade systems achieve the same anti-personnel outcome through different geometry. Both approaches will be recognised under the new standard, which acknowledges that there is more than one valid way to build a high-performing anti-climb fence.
What AS 4100:2026 will deliver for steel fencing structures
Profence installation team fitting Promax™ 358 anti-climb mesh for the Sydney Metro project, engineered to AS 4100 standards.
The draft for steel structures underpins almost everything we do. Posts, frames, gates, brackets, and the connections between them all rely on AS 4100. An updated standard that reflects current engineering practice, modern materials, and contemporary load conditions strengthens every steel-based fencing system specified against it.
This includes products such as our Promax™ 358 anti-climb mesh, palisade fencing, and Razorback® spiked fence rail, all of which are engineered against AS 4100 and supporting Australian Standards.
For the broader construction industry, the flow-on effects are substantial. Designers gain a more accurate framework. Engineers gain clearer guidance. Asset owners gain greater confidence in the structural performance of what they are buying.
Why this is good news for the security fencing industry
Updated Australian security fencing standards lift the floor. They do not punish quality manufacturers, they reward them. Here is what we expect to see as these drafts move toward publication.
- Improved safety outcomes for workers and end users. Better-defined performance requirements mean fewer borderline products in service, which reduces failures, reduces injuries, and reduces the long tail of remediation work that follows poor specification.
- Stronger protection of critical infrastructure. As threats to utilities, transport corridors, government facilities, and commercial sites continue to evolve, fit-for-purpose high security fencing standards give asset owners a defensible, evidence-based way to specify protection.
- A more level playing field for Australian manufacturers. Clear, enforceable standards make it harder for non-compliant imports to compete on price alone. The difference between Australian Made and 100% Australian sourced becomes far more meaningful when standards are tightened. That protects local jobs, local capability, and the long-term resilience of Australian manufacturing.
- Greater confidence for specifiers and procurement teams. Engineers, architects, project managers, and procurement professionals can write tighter specifications with less risk of misinterpretation. That speeds up procurement, reduces disputes, and improves project outcomes.
- Career growth for the people in the industry. Updated standards drive demand for skilled installers, qualified inspectors, and technical sales professionals who can interpret and apply them. For tradespeople and project teams, that translates to better training, better wages, and a stronger professional identity.
- Innovation incentives. Standards that define performance outcomes, rather than locking in outdated methods, give manufacturers room to invest in new materials, smarter designs, and more efficient installation methods. Profence has already invested heavily in advanced manufacturing technology including robotic welding, AI-driven design, and integrated digital systems, all of which support the precision and traceability that updated standards demand.
What happens next with the public comment period
Public comment is open. We strongly encourage engineers, project managers, specifiers, asset owners, and fellow manufacturers to read the drafts and submit feedback. The strongest standards are the ones that have been pressure-tested by the people who will use them every day.
Submissions for AS 5394:2026 close on 12 June 2026. Submissions for AS 4100:2026 close on 9 June 2026. Both can be accessed through Standards Australia’s public comment portal.
The Profence position on Australian security fencing
Profence has manufactured high security fencing and infrastructure protection systems for decades. We supply 358 mesh, palisade, and custom perimeter solutions that protect substations, water assets, rail corridors, defence sites, and critical commercial infrastructure across the country. We know what failure looks like, and we know what longevity looks like
Our involvement in shaping these standards is an extension of that responsibility. Ben Gregson’s contribution, alongside the work of other industry leaders, reflects our belief that Australia’s protection assets deserve the highest possible standard. The people who design, install, and rely on those assets deserve clarity, confidence, and quality in return.
Strong standards build a stronger industry. We are proud to be part of writing them.