Design Guide Instructions

There are a lot of steps to accurately determine the loads and sizing of posts and footings, but each step is described in detail on the following pages.

If you’re doing this process often, it helps to make a spreadsheet to automate a lot of this work, but there are links below to worksheets to fill out by hand as you progress through the design guide.

There will be a Fence Design Calculator available for purchase in the coming months that will automate most of the process and significantly cut down the design time.

For open fencing (e.g. chain link) not subject to ice loading, the sizing process can be done once for the largest post spacing and used through out the fence as the wind forces do not vary along the length.

For solid or mostly solid fencing, including open fencing with wind / privacy screen or sufficient ice buildup, the wind forces vary and are higher near the ends and corners of the fence.  For this case, you can perform one of two typical design procedures.

• Use the post & footing size based on the worst case post, which is typically the post next to the end post on the longest run.  This is the most expensive route for materials, but the least amount of design work.  Posts and footings are all the same size which simplifies the installation process.  Example
• If using the upcoming Fence Design Tool or other software, size line posts away from ends and corners to the most economical option, and size the 3-5 posts at each end of the run to the worst case post.  On longer runs, once the length is 14 times the height, more than half the posts and footings can be the more economical design.  Example

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Worksheets

Open Fencing (e.g. chain link) – Wind Only – No Ice Loading

Solid or Mostly Solid Fencing – Wind Only – No Ice Loading

Fencing – All Types – Wind and Ice Loading

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