Jacksons Fencing specified for installing security and robust fencing at the RNLI All-weather Lifeboat Centre in Dorset.
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is a charity dedicated to lifesaving work; rescuing anyone who appears to be in danger whilst in the water in the UK and Ireland. The RNLI provides a continuous search and rescue lifeboat service, aiming to help people 24/7. Since 1824, it is estimated that the charity has helped save over 143,000 lives. Also, 95% of those associated with the organisation are volunteers, spending their time helping those in need.
The ALC
The RNLI opened their own lifeboat building facility in Poole, Dorset in 2015. This became known as the All-weather Lifeboat Centre (ALC) and this is the charity’s first state-of-the-art manufacturing facility for 40 years. Every aspect of the lifeboat building process occurs at this in-house centre, including construction, repair, and maintenance. Having in-house production ensures complete control over both the cost and quality by removing uncertainty in the supply chain. In doing this, it has saved the charity over £3 million per year.
The All-weather Lifeboat Centre has two boat halls for manufacturing and maintenance, as well as a manufacturing area, a launch, recovery, and boat storage area, a paint preparation area, a training workshop, office facilities, tool storage, and a visitors’ viewing area.
As this is a critical area of service, it was essential that the perimeter of the site was appropriately secured with robust fencing and gates.
The solution
Jacksons Fencing worked on this project throughout 2019 and have partnered with the RNLI for the past 20 years to protect the facilities across the UK by installing security, demarcation, gates, and access control solutions.
Over 43m of 2m high Barbican fencing and 312m of 2.5m high Barbican fencing was installed in order to secure the ALC. Jacksons Fencing also supplied a variety of gates, some 1m wide pedestrian swing gates, as well as automated cantilever sliding gates ranging from 4.6m to 7.5m wide.
More recently, 2.5m high Barbican cantilever sliding gates, with one 5m leaf and one 3m leaf, were installed by Jacksons Fencing and secured onto concrete bases to provide more protection. Additionally, to ensure gaps around the gates were infilled, 3m of Barbican fencing was installed.
Value for money
Jacksons Fencing offers Barbican as an alternative to triple point palisade fencing, as it has a welded pale-through-rail construction with tamper-proof bolts and panel-to-post connectors which are hidden. These hidden features secure the fencing and help to protect against interference from vandals or criminal attacks.
This form of fencing is also manufactured from premium steel which is hot dip galvanised inside and out and offers lasting protection against weathering, such as corrosion and rust. In addition, the products were powder coated at Jacksons Fencing’s powder coating plant on site in RAL Blue 5013. In doing this, the fencing then has a glossy, durable finish that will not chip or crack like traditional painting.
The RNLI are committed to being one of the most efficient charities across the UK and Ireland, and opting for Jacksons Fencing’s products that are well-known for their longevity will aid in protecting the site from potential threats, trespassing, and vandalism for years to come. Installing these across the ALC site will reduce lifetime cost of the products, and as a result, will save money.
Media contact
Rebecca Morpeth Spayne,
Editor, Security Portfolio
Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 922
Email: [email protected]
