Construction Hoarding: Why You Need It

What is Construction Hoarding?

If you live in a big city or have ever visited one, you have probably seen construction hoarding. Construction hoarding is defined as a fence or barrier between a construction site and the public. Its purpose is simple, yet vital: to keep people safe. Construction sites – particularly those located along pedestrian walkways – require construction hoarding to ensure that they don’t interfere with the public .

Due to the additional materials and labour required to put up temporary hoarding, some may see it as a hassle (albeit a necessary one). However, there are some major benefits to installing hoarding on your building site! Before we get into the benefits of hoarding, let’s explore the different kinds of hoarding.

Types of Construction Hoarding

Plywood

Timber (or more specifically, plywood) is one of the most popular materials used in construction hoarding. Plywood is a lightweight material that can be used to enclose a construction site fairly efficiently. Decals, construction signage and other graphics can be added to timber hoarding on the exterior of the site for additional branding opportunities. Also, it can be a cost-effective type of hoarding if you happen to have excess plywood laying around. However, this may not be the case in modern times.

Lumber significantly increased in price at the beginning of the pandemic. Although the price of lumber has since dropped to pre-pandemic levels, we all learned an important lesson about the sometimes unpredictable nature of construction costs. Inflation and labour shortages have continued to impact the price of many other construction materials.

For this reason, timber plywood may not always be the most economical option. If you are in possession of some plywood, it is probably more valuable used elsewhere on your project.

Temporary Fencing

Temporary fence can be an excellent option for construction hoarding, as it can be easily sourced and it provides sufficient protection for the public. However, temporary fence on its own may not be adequate for containing dirt and debris. Fortunately, this can be addressed by installing privacy screening to help contain the dust produced by the site. You can even leverage your temporary fence for advertising by adding some mesh banners.

That said, if the work is being performed in an outdoor setting you will need to account for extreme weather, which can cause temporary fence to blow over. This is particularly important if you do plan to hang any screening or signage from your fence. You may need to reinforce the fence, or consider a more advanced stability solution like fence on jersey barrier . This provides an effective, stable breach deterrent and hoarding system that will keep your site secure and the public safe.

It’s worth noting that temporary fencing is also more environmentally friendly than traditional plywood hoarding. Plywood is generally a single-use material. Its integrity is affected by the conditions on site, such as the weather – making it difficult to reuse plywood hoarding on another job. Often, plywood hoarding cannot be recycled because it contains glue, nails, and other materials, generating unnecessary waste. By contrast, temporary rental fence panels are built to withstand a lot of abuse. They can be reused on multiple sites over the course of many years, making them a zero-waste option.

PVC

Polyvinyl chloride (better known as PVC) is another material commonly used for construction hoarding. It can create an airtight barrier without any gaps to provide a secure temporary wall. It is effective for protecting the public from the dangers of a construction site, and it can very easily be branded with a company logo or rendering of the finished project.

One potential issue is that PVC hoarding is often disposed of at the end of the project, creating more construction waste than a reusable solution like temporary fence. However, industry stakeholders are beginning to popularize the use of recycled PVC for construction hoarding .

Benefits of Construction Hoarding

Although hoarding is usually a requirement of municipal construction or excavation bylaws, it shouldn’t be seen as a necessary nuisance. In fact, it provides multiple benefits to the general contractor. Here are the top three benefits of using construction hoarding on the job site:

Public Safety

Protecting public safety is really the primary purpose of construction hoarding, and one of its most important benefits. In fact, this is the reason most cities in Canada require hoarding for construction sites that are next to public access areas (for example, walkways, bridges, and shopping malls). Hoarding around a site indicates to passersby that they are not to enter the area. You can further reinforce this message by installing safety signage and warnings on your hoarding.

But to keep the public safe, the hoarding itself must not pose any danger to passersby. You want to make sure your solution is durable and properly secured. To ensure your hoarding is reliable, install a system that is wind resistant and safely secured into a base or the ground to prevent possible tipping. Having properly secured hoarding is what will keep the public safe from potential hazards. Modu-Loc has many methods for increasing stability of your temporary fence hoarding.

Site Security

Construction site hoarding not only protects the public, it also protects your project from the prying eyes of the public. If you do not want your project to be revealed before it is finished, site hoarding is great for keeping it hidden. In addition to providing privacy, site hoarding acts as a visual barrier between your site and would-be thieves. Materials and tools being stored on your site are not visible to passersby, protecting them from potential theft.

To further enhance site security , consider installing a system that acts as a visual breach deterrent. For example, add security rails or barbed wire to the top of your hoarding. This way you can ensure your masterpiece (and the tools you’re using to create it) stay safe and secure!

Branding Your Construction Site

One of the best (but most often overlooked) perks of installing construction hoarding is the branding opportunity it provides. Hoarding provides the best bang for your buck when it comes to promoting the project or your company. The investments you are making to keep the public safe can double as advertising dollars if you brand your hoarding!

Branding your construction site is great for driving brand recognition, and can even increase sales. For example, a contractor building a new condominium could use their construction hoarding to advertise the development, and attract potential buyers looking for their next home.

Regulations for Construction Hoarding

The regulations for construction hoarding vary depending on the location of the job, as different regions has different bylaws. For the most part, some form of construction hoarding is required on all construction sites, indoor or outdoor, to protect public safety. However, certain parts of Canada may have specific requirements for hoarding.

For example, performing construction work inside of a shopping mall may require air-tight hoarding. In this case, plywood or PVC hoarding may be most suitable. This is to maintain the visual appeal of the shopping centre, while also protecting the public from harm. As well, it allows the property manager and retailers to add their branding on the hoarding. One thing holds true for most indoor construction work: your hoarding must contain the dust and noise generated by the project to avoid disturbing those working or shopping in the building.

More generally speaking, most city bylaws require construction hoarding to adequately protect public safety and limit the amount of dust and debris that escapes the construction site. The specific city you are working in may have additional requirements for hoarding, so it’s always best to check local bylaws before beginning your project.