By FencingWise Editorial Team · Updated 17 September 2026.
Separate pre-use checks from detailed maintenance
A pre-use walk can identify an obvious broken wire, open gate, detached net or new obstruction. It does not replace a detailed examination of fixings, supports and coating condition.
Set inspection intervals from the system instructions, intensity of use, environment and site risk assessment. A school court used briefly each day and a heavily booked community facility may need different arrangements.
The schedule should also include checks after unusual events: impact by maintenance equipment, severe weather, vandalism, net replacement or work on nearby surfaces. Waiting for the next calendar inspection can leave an event-related defect undiscovered.
Walk the areas most likely to change
Begin at the main entrance and follow a consistent route. Give each bay, gate and net section an identifier on a simple plan.
| Area | What to observe | Record when a defect is found |
|---|---|---|
| Lower impact zones | Broken wires, distortion and loose edges | Bay ID, height and photograph |
| Panel-to-post joints | Missing parts, visible movement or displaced inserts | Exact connection position |
| Gates | Uncontrolled movement, poor latching and exposed projections | Gate ID and operating position |
| Bottom line | Erosion, gaps and sharp contact points | Location and measured opening |
| Upper netting | Tears, detached edges and unusual sag | Net section and affected extent |
| Supports | Leaning, cracks, corrosion or impact damage | Direction, dimensions and surrounding condition |
Look from both sides where safely accessible. A fitting hidden from the court can still be loose or create a hazard along a public path.
Use measurements that can be repeated
Record the same feature at the same position. For a net, “sagging” is less useful than a photograph with a reference height and the location of the lowest point. For a gate, measure the clearance at a named corner in a stated position.
An illustrative inspection finds a bottom gap of 35 mm at handover and 70 mm after erosion. The change is 35 mm, or 100% of the original gap. Whether the current opening is acceptable depends on the approved detail and its use; the percentage is not a safety criterion.
For panel movement, describe the observed condition and the permitted inspection method. Do not ask staff to climb, hang from or apply improvised loads to a fence in order to test it.
Give the defect a practical disposition
A simple local system can use three action categories:
- Restrict use immediately: unstable components, sharp broken wires within reach or another condition presenting an immediate hazard.
- Repair before the next relevant activity: a defect whose exposure depends on a defined use, with effective temporary control in place.
- Plan and monitor: cosmetic or early deterioration that has been assessed as compatible with continued use.
These are proposed management categories, not a substitute for competent judgement. The person making the decision should record the reason, temporary control and responsible repair owner.
Avoid reopening an area solely because a repair appointment has been booked. Reopening depends on the condition of the enclosure and the effectiveness of any controls.
Estimate the time needed for a real inspection
For a fictional enclosure with 48 bays, assume a detailed visual check averages 2 minutes per bay. Add 4 gates at 5 minutes each and 20 minutes for upper-net observations and records.
The total is:
48 × 2 + 4 × 5 + 20 = 136 minutes, or 2 hours 16 minutes.
This is a planning estimate, not an inspection standard. Access, defects and the required depth of examination can change it. Its value is to prevent a detailed inspection being scheduled as a five-minute walk.
Where work at height or specialist gate testing is required, plan it separately with the appropriate equipment and competence.
Repair with compatible parts
Keep a small, identified stock of the actual fixing assemblies, approved inserts and other replaceable items used by the system. A visually similar clip or rubber strip may change the connection.
After a repair, check adjacent components for the same cause. Repeated missing inserts can indicate an installation or retention problem. Repeated ball escape at one gate may require a geometry correction rather than another latch adjustment.
For noise complaints, use the rattle investigation method. For net replacement, retain the original mesh, edge and support references so the new section reproduces the intended arrangement.
Close the record with a reinspection
Each defect entry should include the date found, location, observation, action category, temporary control, repair details and verification date. Attach before-and-after photographs from comparable positions.
Track recurring locations over time. If 3 of 48 bays repeatedly need connection work, that is 6.25% of the bays, but their position and failure mechanism matter more than the percentage alone.
Keep the latest inspection plan available to staff who open the facility. A clear route, location system and escalation contact make routine observations usable, while the detailed maintenance record preserves the technical history.