How ENC Fencing is Redefining Substation Expansion

Innovative uses for Glass Reinforced Plastics (GRP) often emerge from unexpected challenges. One such breakthrough led to the development of Electrically Non-Conductive (ENC) Fencing, now redefining how substations expand without the traditional constraints of land and grounding.

As communities grow, the need for larger substations increases. Traditionally, growing substations would require expanding the fenced-in area. Purchasing more land can be costly, and the availability can be limited. Also, grounding the fence is required for traditional materials which can be very expensive.  Because of these high costs and limitations, substation owners have started searching for an alternative way to fence substations.

When a power company approached Fibergrate with this challenge, the team responded with a proven material used in screening and non-conductive security fencing. 

Materials Used:

• Fibergrate® 1” Moulded Grating with 1-1/2” square mesh, Corvex® resin
• Dynaform® Structural Shapes in dark grey ISOFR resin for posts
• Matching grating used to build the access gate

Why GRP-based ENC Fencing Works

The main benefit of GRP materials over traditionally used metals in this application is that these products are not electrically conductive; therefore, the substation is able to expand without the need for more land. Also, the materials do not have to be grounded as traditional metal fencing does. The user will also benefit from the widely appreciated benefits such as…

• Non-Magnetic property
• Invisible to RF & Microwave Transmissions
• Electrically & Thermally Non-Conductive
• Corrosion Resistant
• Impact Resistant
• Secure (Cannot be cut with wire cutters)

Overcoming Installation Challenges

The slope of the foundation was another hurdle later presented to Fibergrate which we successfully managed. The customer was especially pleased with the appearance and performance both on the install day and to date with this project.

This project has resulted in the developement of a new product: Composite Fencing Solutions.  Applications include:

• Electrical Equipment Fencing
• Substation Enclosures
• Air Duct & Wall Fan Screens
• Protective Barriers
• Transformer Cages
• Machinery & Equipment Guards

Sometimes, the best innovations come from unexpected problems. ENC fencing is not just a product—it’s a smarter way to build the future of power infrastructure.