This glossary has been developed by Fencing Industry Australia (FIA) as a comprehensive and continually updated reference of fencing and barrier system types used across Australia. It captures the wide range of materials, construction methods, and applications found in residential, commercial, industrial, and rural environments. Each term provides a concise, technically accurate description written from a fencing industry perspective, supporting shared language, professional learning, and recognition of the full scope of work performed by fencing and gate contractors.
| Fencing or Barrier Type | Concise Technical Description |
|---|---|
| Aluminium balustrade and façade fencing | Structural aluminium fencing with architectural infill panels for façades or premium boundaries. |
| Aluminium balustrades (flat bar, bladed, curved) | Balustrade systems made from aluminium profiles for decks or stairs, providing corrosion resistance and lightweight strength. |
| Aluminium battens on masonry | Aluminium battens mounted on brick or block walls for airflow and architectural detailing. |
| Aluminium blade/slat fencing | Commercial-grade aluminium fencing using horizontal or vertical slats for privacy and durability. |
| Aluminium feature screens | Decorative aluminium panels providing privacy or aesthetic screening in exterior fencing systems. |
| Aluminium fencing | Lightweight corrosion-resistant fencing constructed from aluminium posts and panels for low maintenance. |
| Aluminium louvre fencing | Fixed or adjustable aluminium blades for screening and airflow management. |
| Aluminium slat fencing | Modular aluminium slat system for modern, low-maintenance boundary fencing. |
| Animal and pet enclosures | Wire mesh or panel fencing designed for containment and safety of domestic animals. |
| Anti-climb mesh | High-security welded mesh with tight apertures preventing climbing or cutting. |
| Balustrades | Barrier systems used on elevated platforms to prevent falls, built from metal, glass, or composite materials. |
| Bamboo cladding | Natural or engineered bamboo used for decorative fencing or screening infills. |
| Bamboo fencing | Natural fencing constructed from whole or split bamboo canes bound together, providing sustainable privacy and screening for residential or decorative applications. |
| Barrier rope fencing | Rope systems supported by posts or bollards for low-impact demarcation and pedestrian guidance. |
| Batten screens | Vertical or horizontal batten panels used for privacy or decorative applications. |
| Bollards | Vertical posts made from steel, concrete, or composite materials to control vehicle movement and define pedestrian zones. |
| Bin enclosures | Enclosed or screened fencing systems designed to conceal or secure waste bins. |
| Brick fencing | Masonry walls made from brick piers and infill panels for privacy, security, and acoustic control. |
| Brush fencing | Traditional fencing made from hand-packed brushwood panels providing privacy and natural aesthetics. |
| Brushwood fencing | Pre-manufactured brushwood panels fixed to frames for noise reduction and visual screening. |
| Budget-friendly timber and steel combinations | Hybrid fencing using timber infills and steel framing for cost-effective, durable installations. |
| Cable fencing | Stainless cable infills tensioned between posts for minimalist safety or decorative applications. |
| Castellation composite cladding | Ribbed or castellated composite panels used decoratively in fencing or façade systems. |
| Cattle fencing | Heavy-duty wire or rail fencing for safe containment of cattle. |
| Cattle rail fencing | Tubular steel rails forming strong, low-maintenance rural fencing. |
| Chain mesh fencing | Woven wire fencing for general perimeter and security use. |
| Chainwire and crimp-top fencing | Commercial fencing using chainwire mesh with crimped tubular tops for additional strength. |
| Chainwire with barbed wire | Chainwire fencing reinforced with barbed wire strands for higher perimeter security. |
| Channel-fixed and stand-off glass systems | Frameless glass fencing supported in channels or spigots for pool and balcony applications. |
| Childcare and car-park safety fencing | Compliant tubular or mesh fencing to protect children and pedestrians near traffic zones. |
| COLORBOND® steel fencing | Pre-painted steel fencing using interlocking panels and steel posts for strength and weather resistance. |
| Composite batten fencing | Wood-plastic composite battens used in decorative or privacy fences with minimal maintenance. |
| Composite fencing | Engineered fencing combining timber fibres and polymers for weather resistance and longevity. |
| Concrete fencing | Solid or precast concrete panels providing structural and acoustic performance. |
| Concrete panel fencing | Precast reinforced concrete wall systems for high-security or boundary applications. |
| Crimp-top and Diplomat spear-top fencing | Tubular steel fencing with pressed or crimped spear tops for added security and visual effect. |
| Curved and straight blade fencing | Custom-fabricated aluminium or steel blades in curved or straight profiles for architectural projects. |
| Curved glass pool fences | Custom-bent toughened glass used in pool enclosures for continuity and design appeal. |
| Custom batten fences for privacy | Purpose-built fencing using metal, timber, or composite battens to achieve privacy and airflow. |
| Custom curved and hand-rolled balustrades | Balustrades fabricated to curved or irregular shapes in steel or aluminium. |
| Custom front fences with gates and letterboxes | Integrated boundary systems combining fencing, access gates, and postal enclosures. |
| Cypress timber fencing | Durable fencing using cypress pine for natural resistance to pests and decay. |
| Decorative screens | Laser-cut or perforated panels used to enhance visual appeal and privacy in fencing applications. |
| Decorative sun louvres | Adjustable or fixed external aluminium blades designed to reduce glare and heat while providing screening. |
| Electric fencing | Electrified wire systems used for animal containment or security deterrence. |
| Enclosures | Fenced or screened areas built to restrict access or protect contained equipment, animals, or materials. |
| Equine fencing | Safe, visible fencing systems designed to contain horses without causing injury, often using post-and-rail or cable. |
| Exotic animal fencing | Specialised high-tensile or mesh fencing used to contain zoo or wildlife species such as deer, camel, or alpaca. |
| Factory and school boundary fencing | Industrial-grade chainwire or tubular fencing for secure site perimeters. |
| Farm fencing | Broad term for rural fences used for livestock containment and property demarcation. |
| Feral animal fencing | Exclusion fencing systems using high-tensile wire and apron mesh to prevent entry of pest species. |
| Fin-style steel fencing | Vertical flat-bar steel fencing designed for visual uniformity and perimeter security. |
| Flat bar picket fencing | Steel fencing using vertical flat bars to emulate picket style while providing strength and durability. |
| Flat-top tubular fencing | Tubular steel or aluminium fencing with a flush top rail, commonly used around pools and public areas. |
| Frameless and semi-frameless glass | Safety glass fencing supported by spigots or posts, used in pools and balconies. |
| Gabion wall fencing | Wire cage systems filled with stone used for retaining, screening, or acoustic fencing. |
| Gabion wall integrated fencing | Combined mesh and rock-fill systems providing structural and visual boundary solutions. |
| Galvanised steel fencing | Steel fencing protected with a zinc coating for corrosion resistance and long service life. |
| Garden post-and-rail fencing | Decorative or light-duty post-and-rail system for landscaping and garden boundaries. |
| Glass balustrades | Structural glass panels used as safety barriers on balconies, decks, and stairs. |
| Glass combined with tubular or flat-top sections | Hybrid fencing integrating glass panels with tubular or flat-top framing. |
| Glass fencing | Transparent safety fencing using toughened glass panels and stainless fittings for pools or balconies. |
| Glass with marine-grade spigots | Glass fencing supported by corrosion-resistant spigots for coastal applications. |
| Goat fencing | Wire or mesh fencing configured for safe containment of goats and similar livestock. |
| Hampton-style fencing | Picket or batten fencing finished in white tones, reflecting coastal architectural style. |
| Handrails | Horizontal rail components used with stairs, ramps, or walkways for user stability. |
| Hardwood rail with black cable wire | Timber post-and-rail system incorporating stainless cable infill for modern rural applications. |
| Heritage-style Emu Wire fencing | Decorative steel wire fencing replicating early Australian rural boundary designs. |
| High-security industrial chainwire and mesh | Reinforced fencing using small aperture mesh and top security toppings for restricted zones. |
| Horse and stockyard fencing | Heavy-duty post-and-rail or pipe fencing for equine and livestock enclosures. |
| Industrial fencing | Heavy-duty fencing systems for factory or warehouse perimeters, including chainwire, palisade, or mesh. |
| Industrial spear-top fencing | Tubular steel fencing with pressed spear tops for security and visual uniformity. |
| Ironbark and hardwood rural fencing | Durable rural fencing using dense Australian hardwoods for posts and rails. |
| Juliet balconies | Small protective balustrade barriers installed outside upper-storey doors or windows. |
| Laser-cut panels | Custom-cut metal sheets used decoratively or for privacy in fencing systems. |
| Livestock fencing | Encompasses all fencing designed to manage or contain farm animals, including cattle, sheep, and horses. |
| Louvre privacy screens | Aluminium or composite screens with angled blades for controlled visibility and airflow. |
| Low-iron Starphire glass | Ultra-clear glass used in high-end pool or balcony fencing applications. |
| Masonry fencing | Brick, block, or stone wall systems providing solid structural boundaries. |
| Metal fencing | General category covering steel, aluminium, or iron fences for durability and strength. |
| Mixed hardwood park-rail style | Decorative timber fencing using multiple hardwood species for park or rural boundaries. |
| Mixed metal and glass balustrades | Hybrid barrier systems combining glass panels with metal framing. |
| Modular and retaining wall fencing | Pre-engineered wall systems combining fence panels with retaining structures. |
| Modular fencing | Factory-manufactured fencing panels designed for rapid on-site installation. |
| Modular wall systems (EstateWall®, VogueWall®, SlimWall®, TrendWall®) | Pre-engineered wall products combining lightweight panels and steel posts for acoustic and visual screening. |
| Palisade fencing | Steel or aluminium vertical pales bolted to horizontal rails for high-security boundaries. |
| Park rail fencing | Simple tubular or steel rail fencing for parks, schools, and pathways. |
| Pedestrian fencing | Modular steel or aluminium fencing designed to guide or restrict pedestrian movement along roads and transport corridors. |
| Pedestrian guardrails | Rigid steel or aluminium rail systems installed along roads or crossings to prevent pedestrian access to traffic zones. |
| PIC fencing | Post-in-concrete fencing method where posts are directly embedded into concrete footings for secure, durable boundary construction. |
| Perimeter fencing | General term for fencing forming the external boundary of any site or property. |
| Pig fencing | Heavy-gauge mesh or rail systems designed for pig containment. |
| Police and logistics perimeter fencing | Security fencing for controlled-access government or logistics facilities. |
| Pool fencing | Safety-compliant barriers around pools and spas made from glass, tubular, or composite materials. |
| Post and rail fencing | Traditional fencing using horizontal rails fixed to vertical posts, in timber, steel, or composite. |
| Post-and-rail timber fencing | Timber version of post-and-rail, used for rural, equine, or decorative boundaries. |
| Pre-fabricated fencing | Factory-built panels ready for rapid on-site installation with consistent quality. |
| Prison and high-security fencing | Reinforced fencing systems designed to resist cutting, climbing, and breaching. |
| PVC fencing | Polyvinyl chloride fencing for low-maintenance, long-life residential boundaries. |
| PVC-coated security fencing | Wire or mesh fencing coated in PVC for corrosion protection and improved aesthetics. |
| Raked pool fences | Custom pool fences manufactured to follow sloping ground levels while maintaining compliance. |
| Retaining walls | Structural wall systems designed to hold back soil, often integrated with fencing. |
| Rural fencing | General category covering farm, livestock, and property boundary fencing in rural areas. |
| Safety fencing for hospitals and schools | Secure tubular or mesh fencing systems ensuring controlled access to institutional sites. |
| Screen and louvre panels | Modular screening systems combining fixed or adjustable louvres for privacy or ventilation. |
| Security fencing | Fencing designed to restrict access or protect property, using chainwire, palisade, or mesh. |
| Sheep fencing | Wire fencing configured with smaller apertures for sheep containment. |
| Slat-style Modular fencing | Modular fencing panels with slat profiles for privacy and aesthetics. |
| Spa fencing (Pool Perf aluminium panels) | Aluminium perforated panel fencing designed for pool and spa safety compliance. |
| Stainless steel fencing | High-durability fencing made from stainless steel for corrosion-resistant applications. |
| Stair balustrades | Balustrade systems installed along stairways or ramps, providing structural safety and handrail integration. |
| Steel balustrades | Balustrade systems fabricated from steel for high-strength structural performance. |
| Steel fencing | Fencing fabricated from steel posts, rails, and infills for structural strength and longevity. |
| Steel front fencing with cattle rails and dog net | Combination fencing using steel rails and wire mesh for residential or rural applications. |
| Stone wall fencing | Bound or dry-stacked stone used as decorative or retaining boundary fencing. |
| Temporary fencing | Freestanding modular panels used for site security or event control. |
| Timber and aluminium hybrid fencing | Fencing combining timber frames with aluminium battens or infills for reduced maintenance. |
| Timber fencing | Traditional fencing using treated pine or hardwood palings and rails. |
| Timber paling fencing | Common residential boundary fencing using vertical timber palings. |
| Timber picket fencing | Decorative fencing with vertical pickets attached to horizontal rails. |
| Timber post-and-rail | Timber fencing with posts and horizontal rails, suited to rural or equine boundaries. |
| Timber-look aluminium battens | Aluminium battens finished with timber grain coating for a natural appearance with low maintenance. |
| Tubular steel fencing | Welded tubular sections forming vertical bar fences for security or pool enclosures. |
| Tubular steel pool fencing | Tubular aluminium or steel fencing manufactured to meet pool safety standards. |
| Under-house louvred screening | Aluminium or composite louvres installed under raised structures for ventilation and concealment. |
| Weld-mesh and livestock fences | Welded steel mesh fencing for animal control and property boundaries. |
| Welded mesh fencing | Rigid steel mesh panels providing security and visibility. |
| Wire fencing | Simple tensioned wire systems for rural boundaries or temporary containment. |
| Wrought-iron fencing and balustrades | Ornamental ironwork fencing and balustrades offering strength and decorative appeal. |
