PSSA Newsletter - September 2014

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News Issue 5 September 2014
6
A British fencing manufacturer located a
stone’s throw from the scene of a ‘full-scale
prison riot’ earlier this year has introduced
a range of high-security fence, wall and
roof toppings to provide enhanced intruder
protection for secure establishments and
buildings.
A prison officer at England’s largest
prison, HMP Oakwood, near Wolverhampton,
told BBC Radio 4’s The Report programme
there had been a ‘full-scale prison riot’ after
G4S, which runs the prison, described the
incident as an incident of “concerted
indiscipline” by 15 to 20 prisoners.
The officer, who went inside to tackle the
violence, told the BBC many more inmates
had been involved and they took over an
entire wing of the jail.
Perimeter protection systems manufacturer
Zaun, whose headquarters is just three miles
nearer Wolverhampton, has introduced a
series of toppings to prevent inmates – or
indeed intruders or patients – scaling fences
or gaining access to rooftops at secure
institutions.
The Mesh Anti-Climb Topping (MACT)
system is see-through and installed in
sections, providing clear line-of-sight for
CCTV systems and, more prosaically, so
blockages, for instance from wind-blown leaf
build-up, can be seen and easily cleared.
MACT can be installed in conjunction with
CCTV, PIDs and infra-red alarms and, as
standard, includes a wire alarm to alert of any
attempt to scale the system. It uses the barrel
concept, but instead of sheet metal, the tube
section is made of anti-climb mesh.
The Flexible Steel Topping (FST) system is
fully tested for use in UK high security
prisons. At the heart of FST is a steel mesh
arch, curved back over the top of a steel
fence, fixed to a flexible steel bracket that is
designed to move when people try to climb
it. Barbed tape is the most common form of
protective topping, in either straight wire
or spiral concertina, providing both a highly
visual deterrent and resistance to intrusion.
Zaun also offers electric fence toppings for
some of the country’s key infrastructure sites,
creating a powerful physical and psychologi-
cal addition to secure fencing systems
Verification Scheme Q and A
Q: Can I submit non-‘PAS 68’ products for Verification?
A: Yes, of course! The PSSA Verification Scheme has been designed
with few rules and maximum flexibility. Products can include all
types of Vehicle Security Barriers, High Security Fencing Systems,
Pedestrian Gates & Turnstiles and Installation services. It is
recognised that, in addition to CNI, PSSA members’ products
protect a wide range of commercial & industrial sites, not all
requiring vehicle impact testing as part of their performance
specification.
PSSA Programme of Events expands
Transport Security Expo – 2nd-3rd December 2014 – Olympia,
London. Come and see us on the PSSA stand (J15).
PSSA Annual General Meeting – Thursday 11th December 2014,
London Chamber of Commerce & Industry, 33 Queen Street,
London.
We are also planning a ‘sales managers’ event to address marketing
& sales issues, including:
• How to leverage your PSSA certification to achieve more sales
• How to use the PSSA Verification Mark - & what not to do with
logos & trade marks, such as CPNI’s trade mark
• Performance claims
• How to protect PSSA branding & trade marks & what to do if
you identify a breach
Would Members interested in this event please notify Claire at
and let her know of items that would make
the event a “must attend” for your marketing & sales staff.
Zaun toppings
combat prison
riots