2023 BAR Fence Construction Specifications_BRD.pdf

NEBRASKA NATIONAL FOREST

Bessey Ranger District

Fence Construction Specifications

All fence material will be constructed out of new material unless otherwise approved.

Wire Design:

• Four (4) wires fences shall be used for allotment boundaries, boundaries along roads, and private land Forest Boundaries. Three (3) wires fences shall be used for all interior fence dividing pastures within an allotment.

• The bottom strand will be twisted smooth (double stranded barbless wire) wire on four and three wire fences. All other strands will be barbed wire.

• Smooth wire will be two twisted cable design with cable of a minimum of 12.5-gauge steel.

• Barbed wire will be 2-point bend-resistant barbs on two twisted-cable spaced 4 inches apart with cables of a minimum of 12.5-gauge steel.

• Wire should be coated with zinc and be high tensile, heavy-duty wire that meets or exceeds ASTM A 121

• All wires will be pulled tight to prevent wildlife and livestock from getting tangled.

• Wire, barbed or twisted smooth, must be Red Brand, Stay Tuff brand, or a brand equivalent or better.

Wire Spacing:

• Top wires will be 40-42 inches high from ground for four wire fences and 38 inches for three wire fences.

• Three wire fence spacings from the ground up will be 16, 10, 12 inches.

• Four wire fence spacings from the ground up will be 16, 6, 6, 12 inches.

• Second from the top wire must be 12 inches from the top wire.

• Bottom wire will be 16-18 inches off the ground.

Anchors:

• Earth anchors or cut hedge post will be used for anchors or deadman.

• Anchor must be used in places where the ground is more than 20 inches away from the bottom wire.

• Anchors will be placed at least four feet deep in the ground.

Post and Spacing:

• Only hedge post will be used.

• Line post will have at least 3-inch diameter tops and be 6.5 feet long.

• Line post will be set to a minimum depth of 2.5 feet in the ground.

• Line post will be spaced every 16.5 feet.

• Post will be sound and free from decay with all limbs trimmed.

• The posts must be high quality hedge post.

• All posts will be filled with suitable materials and thoroughly tamped. All post and anchors will be properly set and back filled.

• Straight section of fence more than one-half mile long will have a least two-line anchors, pull posts, or braces. The pull posts or braces will be equally spaced along straight sections.

• Anchors, pull posts, or braces must be spaced at intervals under 1,320 feet.

• No stays are to be used.

Corners and Braces:

• Corner gates and brace posts will be 8 feet long in length and set to a minimum depth of

3.5 feet in the ground.

• Corner gates and brace post will have at least 4-inch top diameters for standard fence lines and 5-inch top diameter for 15 degree or changes in direction of fence line.

• Horizontal braces between brace posts must have a diameter of 3 inches and be 6.5 feet long in length.

• Braces set at every corner and gate.

• Brace post using horizontal bracing will be double strand, 9-gauge galvanized, smooth wire or equivalent to a double strand new barbed wire that is Red Brand or equivalent.

• See the “Wire Fence Braces” diagram for different brace designs.

• Every corner or gatepost shall be anchored with a brace.

Wire Attachment to Post.

• Each wire will be fastened to each end of the post, corner post, and pull post by wrapping each horizontal strand around the post and tying it back on itself with not less than three tightly wound wraps.

• Every strand of wire should be attached to every post.

• Each wire, smooth or barbed, will be attached with tie wire manufactured for hedge post or with two turns of 14-gauge galvanized steel or soft iron wire or by a staple gun using staples manufactured for hedge post.

• The wire should not be attached to the post so tight that it binds the wire to the post.

• Staples will be drove diagonally with the grain of the wood at a slight downward angle and shall not be driven so tightly as to bind the wire against the post.

• No. 9 gauge bright U-shaped staples, 1¾ inch staples will be used.

• Wire will be placed on the side of the post opposite the area being protected, except on curves.

• Wires will be placed on the outside of curves.

• The Western Union splice or suitable splice sleeve applied by a tool designed for the purpose will be used for all splices. The Western Union splice will not have less then eight wraps of each end about the other. All wraps will be tightly wound and closely spaced. Splices made with splice sleeve will not have a tensile strength less than 80% of the strength of the wire.

• See the diagram titled “Staples and Wire Attachments” for more details.

Gates Designs:

• All gate posts must be at least 5 inches in diameter and 8 feet long. Gate post must be set a minimum of 3.5 feet in the ground.

• Gates should be tight, but easy enough for the public (including children) to open in an emergency.

• All gates need gate openers as seen in the attached diagram titled “Metal Gate Opener.”

• The gate opener will be 3/8 inches machine bolt with a locking nut.

• The metal will be ¼ inches by ¼ inches.

• A 9-gauge smooth wire loop, stapled to the brace post will be at the bottom of the last post on the fence.

• The end of the fence and the start of the gate should be under 6 inches apart.

*All fences must be rebuilt exactly where the old fence was.

*Diagrams are for reference. Use the materials allowed in this specification.

Sources:

• Language and measurements from NRCS Practice Specification Fence (code 382) standard post and wire fence. April 2014

• Measurements from Nebraska Game & Parks wildlife friendly fence.

• Record of Decision for Allotment Management Planning on the McKelvie Geographic

Area and the Appendix B Recommended Fence Specifications for Big Game Movement.