Designation: F1553 – 06

Standard Guide for

Specifying Chain Link Fence1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1553; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope F969 Practice for Construction of Chain-Link Tennis Court

1.1 This guide covers the recommended criteria for speci- Fence
fying the various elements of a chain link fence and lists the F1043 Specification for Strength and Protective Coatings
available choices of components from the current ASTM on Steel Industrial Chain Link Fence Framework
standards. F1083 Specification for Pipe, Steel, Hot-Dipped Zinc-
1.2 No recommendation is made or implied concerning the Coated (Galvanized) Welded, for Fence Structures
merits of any particular product. The choice of product F1183 Specification for Aluminum Alloy Chain Link Fence
components of the chain link fence should be made by the Fabric
writers of the project specification, based on their own percep- F1184 Specification for Industrial and Commercial Hori-
tion of the merits of the products for the particular application. zontal Slide Gates
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the F1345 Specification for Zinc-5 % Aluminum-Mischmetal
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the Alloy-Coated Steel Chain-Link Fence Fabric
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- F1379 Terminology Relating to Barbed Tape
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- F1664 Specification for Poly(Vinyl Chloride) (PVC) and
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. Other Conforming Organic Polymer-Coated Steel Tension
Wire Used with Chain-Link Fence
2. Referenced Documents F1665 Specification for Poly(Vinyl Chloride) (PVC) and
2.1 ASTM Standards:2 Other Conforming Organic Polymer-Coated Steel Barbed
A121 Specification for Metallic-Coated Carbon Steel Wire Used With Chain-Link Fence
Barbed Wire F1712 Specification for Steel Chain-Link Fencing Materials
A392 Specification for Zinc-Coated Steel Chain-Link Used for High Security Applications
Fence Fabric F1910 Specification for Long Barbed Tape Obstacles
A491 Specification for Aluminum-Coated Steel Chain-Link F1911 Practice for Installation of Barbed Tape
Fence Fabric F2000 Guide for Fences for Ballfields and Other Sports
A824 Specification for Metallic-Coated Steel Marcelled Facilities
Tension Wire for Use With Chain Link Fence F2049 Safety Performance Specification for Fences/
F552 Terminology Relating to Chain Link Fencing Barriers for Public, Commercial, and Multi-Family Resi-
F567 Practice for Installation of Chain-Link Fence dential Use Outdoor Play Areas
F626 Specification for Fence Fittings 2.2 CSI Standard:3
F668 Specification for Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) and Other Master Format
Organic Polymer-Coated Steel Chain-Link Fence Fabric
3. Terminology
F900 Specification for Industrial and Commercial Swing
Gates 3.1 Definitions—See Terminology F552 for definitions of
F934 Specification for Colors for Polymer-Coated Chain terms relating to chain link fencing. See Terminology F1379
Link Fence Materials for definitions of terms relating to barbed tape.
4. Summary of Practice
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F14 on Fences and is 4.1 Many standard specifications for chain link fence are
the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F14.40 on Chain Link Fence and Wire presently in existence. These include, but are not limited to,
Accessories.
Current edition approved April 1, 2006. Published April 2006. Originally specifications of the federal, state, and municipal governments
approved in 1994. Last previous edition approved in 2001 as F1553 - 01. DOI: and their various agencies, as well as trade groups and
10.1520/F1553-06.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM
3
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Available from Construction Specifications Institute, 601 Madison St., Alex-
the ASTM website. andria, VA 22314-1791.

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

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 F1553 – 06
organizations. Most of these specifications either reference 6.2.3.1 If metallic coated steel in accordance with Specifi-
existing ASTM standards or are duplications of some of these cation A121, select Design Number and coating Type A
standards. This guide references only existing ASTM standards (aluminum coated steel), Z (zinc-coated steel) or ZA (zinc-5 %
for this reason, since these standards encompass most standard aluminum-mischmetal alloy coated steel).
components of a typical chain link fence installation. (1) For Type Z or Type ZA, select the Class of coating from
4.2 A large percentage of construction specifiers use Mas- Specification A121, Table 2 or 3.
terFormat, a publication of the Construction Specifications 6.2.3.2 If PVC or other polymer coated steel, select Coating
Institute (CSI) for writing their project specifications. Master- Class 1, Class 2a or Class 2b in accordance with Specification
Format is divided into 16 divisions, and chain link fence is F1664, and select color in accordance with Specification F934.
listed as Section 02830 under Division 2—Site Work. The 6.2.4 Barbed Tape Obstacles—select in accordance with the
standard format for each section is in three parts: Part product descriptions in Specification F1910.
1—General; Part 2—Products; and Part 3—Execution. This 6.2.5 Tension Wire—If tension wire is desired, select the
guide is written in a manner that will lend itself to following type of coating from one of the following:
that format. 6.2.5.1 If metallic coated steel in accordance with Specifi-
cation A824, select coating Type I (aluminum coated steel),
5. Part 1—General Type II (zinc-coated steel) or Type III (zinc-5 %-aluminum-
5.1 List the work included, related work, erector qualifica- mischmetal alloy coated steel).
tion, referenced documents, criteria for shop drawings, and (1) For Type II, select coating Class 1, Class 2, or Class 3;
product data submittals, when required. (2) For Type III, select coating Class 1 or Class 2.
6.2.5.2 If PVC or other polymer coated steel, select core
6. Part 2—Products wire diameter, type of metallic coating, and Coating Class 1,
6.1 Acceptable Manufacturers—When desired, list the ac- Class 2a or Class 2b in accordance with Specification F1665
ceptable manufacturers of any components of the chain link and select color in accordance with Specification F934.
fence. 6.2.6 Fittings—Indicate that the fittings are to be in accor-
6.2 Materials: dance with Specification F626, and list any choices, additions,
6.2.1 Chain Link Fabric—Select the material and type of or exceptions to that specification. In general, the type of
coating from one of the following: material and any protective coating selected for the fittings
6.2.1.1 Zinc-Coated Steel In Accordance With Specification should match that selected for the fence posts, rails and braces
A392—If zinc-coated steel, select Class 1 or Class 2 coating. (See 6.2.2.).
6.2.1.2 Aluminum-Coated Steel In Accordance With Speci- 6.2.7 Swing Gates—Indicate that the swing gates are to be
fication A491. in accordance with Specification F900. Select single or double
6.2.1.3 Zinc-5 % Aluminum-Mischmetal (Zn-5Al-MM) gates.
Alloy-Coated Steel In Accordance With Specification 6.2.8 Slide Gates—Indicate that the slide gates are to be in
F1345—If Zn-5Al-MM alloy-coated steel, select Class 1 or accordance with Specification F1184, and select Type I, over-
Class 2 coating. head slide, or Type II, cantilever slide. Select single or double
6.2.1.4 Aluminum Alloy In Accordance With Specification gates.
F1183. 6.2.8.1 If Type II, cantilever slide, select Class 1 or Class 2.
6.2.1.5 PVC-Coated Steel In Accordance With Specification 6.3 Components and Sizes:
F668: 6.3.1 Chain Link Fabric—Select the size of mesh, size of
(1) If PVC-coated steel, select Class 1, Class 2a, or Class 2b wire, height of fabric, type of top selvage, and type of bottom
PVC coating. selvage from Specifications A392, A491, F668, F1183, or
(2) If PVC-coated steel, select the color from Specification F1345.
F934. NOTE 1—If the fence is for a tennis court, note special provisions for
6.2.2 Fence Posts, Rails, and Braces: the size of mesh, size of wire, height of fabric, and type of top and bottom
6.2.2.1 Select the shapes and type of material (that is, steel selvage listed in Practice F969.
or aluminum alloy) from Specifications F1043 or F1083 as
applicable. 6.3.2 Line Posts—Select the size from Specification F1043
and F1083.
6.2.2.2 If steel, select the protective coating from Specifi-
cation F1043. 6.3.3 Corner and Terminal Posts—Select the size from
6.2.2.3 If optional supplemental color coated polymer Specifications F1043 or F1083.
coated steel, select polymer coating in accordance with Speci- NOTE 2—If slats, screening or other materials are to be installed in or
fication F1043. on the chain link fabric, consideration should be given to selection of
6.2.2.4 Zinc-5 % Aluminum-Mischmetal (Zn-5A1-MM) larger size line, corner and terminal posts, increasing the size of the post
Alloy-Coated Steel In Accordance With Specification A824, footings, decreasing the spacing of the line posts, decreasing the spacing
of the tie wires or other fasteners securing the fabric to the framework, or
Type III—If Zn-5A1-MM alloy-coated steel, select Class 1 or various combinations of these measures, to withstand the additional wind,
Class 2 coating. and snow or ice load placed on the fence. If the fence is for a tennis court,
6.2.3 Barbed Wire—If barbed wire is desired, select the type see 5.3, the section entitled “Caution Regarding Windscreens” in Practice
of coating from one of the following: F969.

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 F1553 – 06
6.3.4 Swing Gate Posts—Indicate that the sizes of swing 6.3.7 Barbed Wire—Indicate the number of strands (three,
gate posts are to be in accordance with Specification F900, five, or six) and the configuration of barbed wire. If three
Table 2. strands, indicate whether the barbed wire is to be slanted
6.3.5 Slide Gate Posts—Indicate that the sizes of slide gate inward or outward from the fence line or in a vertical plane
posts are to be in accordance with Specification F1184. above the fence.
6.3.6 Horizontal Framework Members—Materials may be 6.3.8 Gates—Indicate the sizes of all gates (opening width).
either pipe or roll-formed sections (referred to as rails), or 6.3.9 If the fence is for a detention or correctional facility,
tension wire. Select material and type of coating as follows: see Specification F1712 for special provisions on materials,
6.3.6.1 Determine if the top horizontal member of the fence some of which may supersede various provisions specified
will be a rail or tension wire. If rail, select from Specification herein.
F1043. If tension wire, see 6.2.5. 7. Part 3—Execution
NOTE 3—All fences should have either a top rail or top tension wire. 7.1 Installation:
6.3.6.2 Determine if the fence is to have a mid-height 7.1.1 Indicate that the fence is to be installed per Practice
(intermediate) rail. Select from Specification F1043. F567, and list any choices, additions, or exemptions to that
practice.
NOTE 4—Tension wire is not used as an intermediate horizontal 7.1.2 If the fence is for a tennis court, indicate that special
member. An intermediate rail should always be specified on 12 ft high provisions for the installation listed in Practice F969 are to be
fence. Fences greater than 14 ft in height may require two or more
followed.
intermediate rails, spaced at equal intervals between finished grade and the
top of the fence. Intermediate rails may be specified on fences less than 12 7.1.3 Indicate that any manufacturer’s instructions for the
ft in height when conditions warrant. installation of gate systems are to be followed.
7.1.4 If the fence is for a detention or correctional facility,
6.3.6.3 Determine if the fence is to have a bottom horizontal indicate that special provisions contained in Practice F1712 are
member. If rail, select from Specification F1043. If tension to be followed.
wire, see 6.2.5. 7.1.5 If the fence is to include barbed tape obstacle, indicate
NOTE 5—A bottom rail or bottom tension wire is optional but recom- that the requirements of Practice F1911 are to be followed.
mended for better security. A bottom horizontal member should be 7.1.6 If the fence is for a ballfield or other sports facility,
specified on any fence constructed with slats or screening. indicate that special provisions contained in Guide F2000 are
6.3.6.4 Brace rails or brace rail and truss rod assemblies to be followed.
may be specified for fences greater than 5 ft in height (see 7.1.7 If the fence is for a public, commercial or multi-family
Section 6 of Practice F567). Select brace rail material from residential use outdoor play area, indicate that any special
Specification F1043. Select truss rod material from Specifica- provisions for the installation listed in Guide F2049 are to be
tion F626. followed.

NOTE 6—Brace rails are required on any fences constructed without a

8. Keywords
top rail. 8.1 chain link; fence; specifications

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