CASE STUDY
Designing industry first interlocking temporary fence system with No Thru
Assisting No Thru to design an innovative re-invention of the current temporary construction fence. The achieved result was a tool free, interlocking system between the fence panel, the base block and the adjacent fence panel. Its main purpose is to offer superior security and safety while simplifying and expediting the fence installation process.
The company
No Thru is a local Hunter company looking to revolutionise temporary fence systems.
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No Thru is a local Hunter company looking to revolutionise temporary/ construction fence systems and make life easier for hire, construction and building companies.
The challenge
Temporary fencing is: heavy, hard to transport, time consuming and cumbersome to install, not secure when installed incorrectly, doesn’t do well on undulating surfaces and can be a trip hazard.
Hire, building and construction companies needed an alternative.
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Current temporary fences rely on a bolt and clamp system to secure each panel together. This requires time for the installation of the clamps, bolts, while tools are needed to be carried by the installer. Security and safety are only maintained while these clamps are tight and in position. As these bolts are easily removed or improperly installed, security and safety can be easily compromised.
The challenge was to design a fencing system that can be more efficiently installed/ uninstalled, without tools, additional components and fasteners, while offering superior security and safety to the existing offering.
The solution
No Thru, Hire Rite and The Melt collaborated to develop a design solution for the challenges presented.
The Melt’s Industrial Designer, John Klinkenberg invested the time in understanding the user and design requirements and suggested a better way to achieve them.
After careful collaboration and testing over a four month period, they came up with a new design for No Thru Fence: an interlocking, secure temporary fence system.
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No Thru, Hire Rite and The Melt collaborated to develop a design solution for the challenges presented. The Melt’s Industrial Designer, John Klinkenberg undertook a literal ground up redesign of No Thru’s prototype to fulfil the design and user requirements.
Central to the design is the development of an interlocking security temporary fence system. To do this, a 45° turn keyway detail was added to where the fence panel’s lower vertical members are inserted into the foot.
That is, the fence panel was designed with a corresponding key on one of its lower vertical members, while the other vertical has a keyway. When the keyed fence panel is inserted into the foot and rotated 45°, the previous fence panel is locked in place and so on. Also an interlocking design feature was added to the upper panel for alignment and security.
As an added sustainability and safety feature, the feet are filled with coal fired power station waste product (ie fly-ash and bottom-ash). This minimises the CO2 emissions from using concrete, utilises a current waste stream and creates a foot with a more manageable weight for manual handling.
The results
The end product re-invented temporary fencing with an award-winning patented system that is:
- Secure
- Safe
- Light
- Stackable
- Easy tool-free installation
- Easy to transport
- All-terrain
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The interlocking, tool free installation of the No Thru fence system saves time and effort through reducing process complexity. Design impact is also felt by the general population by keeping them separated and safe from live work sites or dangerous conditions.
Testament to the design quality and innovation of No Thru’s James Vadas, Hire Rite’s Cameron Drake-Brockman and The Melt’s John Klinkenberg was when they were awarded a Good Design Award: Gold Winner at the 2023 Good Design Awards.
The Good Design Awards showcase the very best in design and innovation to a worldwide audience.
Learn more
Want to learn more about how The Melt can help you design, manufacture and deliver innovation projects?
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