Natural Resources Conservation Service s24

GA-CS-382(BWF)-1

NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICATION

BARBED WIRE FENCE (BWF) (Feet)

CODE 382

This type of fence is not recommended for use  Trees may be used for line posts in with horses, sheep, goats, or swine. rocky or frequently flooded areas where I. MATERIALS holes cannot be dug or fences are difficult to maintain. Use low value A. Wire trees for posts. Trees should be Use only new wire of two twisted strands properly aligned, and have a diameter that are either class 3 galvanized 12.5 gauge breast height of at least 4-inches. (minimum) standard steel, or class 3 When trees are used, a treated or galvanized 15.5 gauge (minimum) high- hardwood buffer board should be tensile steel. Two-point barbs should be no installed between the wire and the tree. farther than 4-inches apart, and 4-point barbs In places where a buffer cannot be should be no farther than 5-inches apart. attached, the staples driven directly into the tree must penetrate at least 1-inch B. Line Posts below the bark. 1. Steel C. Corner, Brace, and Gate Posts  Only new "T" or "U" posts, 1. Wood constructed of high carbon steel, weighing a minimum of 1.25 lbs/ft  Acceptable species include black exclusive of anchor plate. locust, red cedar, and Osage orange.  Minimum 6-feet long, studded, All bark must be removed. At least notched, or punched for wire one-half the diameter of red cedar attachment. posts must be heartwood.  All other wood posts must be treated 2. Wood with a minimum of 0.4 lbs/ft3 of  Acceptable species include black chromate copper arsenate (CCA- locust, red cedar, Osage orange, and Type A, B or C), or equivalent. Australian ironwood (eucalyptus).  Corner, brace, and gate posts must be All bark must be removed. At least at least 8′ X 5″. one-half the diameter of red cedar  Horizontal brace members must be at posts must be heartwood. least 6-½′ X 4″.  All other wood posts must be treated  Landscape timbers cannot be used for with a minimum of 0.4 lbs/ft3 of posts or brace members. chromate copper arsenate (CCA- 2. Steel Type A, B or C), or equivalent.  Minimum 6-feet long, and 3-inch  Minimum 3-inch diameter high-carbon diameter (2½-inch diameter for steel pipe weighing at least 7 lbs/foot, Osage orange; 1½-inch for is galvanized or coated with a rust- eucalyptus). resistant metal paint. Pipe ends must have a water-tight cap. 3. Other  Horizontal brace pipe can be 2-inch diameter high carbon steel that

NRCS, GA March 2006 CS-382-2

weighs at least 3.6 lbs/foot, is 12.5 gauge high-tensile wire. One galvanized or coated with a rust- end of the loop is attached to the resistant metal paint. anchor (corner, end, or gate) post 4- inches above the soil surface, and the D. Fasteners other end is attached to the brace 1. For wood posts, use staples that are at post at the same height as the top of least 9 gauge, class 3 galvanized. the horizontal brace member. Twist Minimum length for softwoods is 1½- the loops to provide rigidity to the inch, and for hardwoods is 1-inch. brace assembly, or use in-line 2. Use manufactured clips, or minimum strainers on high-tensile wire. 14 gauge wire for steel line posts. 3. Corner and in-line pull assemblies

II. CONSTRUCTION  Use a corner post assembly for any angle in an otherwise straight fence (See Georgia Fence Drawings) line. A. Corners, Braces, Ends, and Gates  Use an H-brace assembly with two crossed tension members at intervals 1. Posts not to exceed 660-feet in straight line  Set posts for all fence assemblies at fence sections. Use braces at shorter least 36-inches deep, in holes with a distances in uneven terrain diameter at least 2.5X the post (Typically, grade changes of > 15%). diameter. The top of posts should be B. Line Posts at least 2-inches above the top wire.  Backfill wooden posts by thoroughly 1. Steel tamping soil around the post after  The maximum distance between steel every 4-inches of depth. line posts is 16-feet without the use  Set steel pipe in concrete that extends of stays, or 24-feet with stays 1-inch below the bottom of the pipe, between the posts. and slightly above the soil surface.  Drive posts at least 20-inches into 2. Braces (See GA Fence Drawing the ground. The top of the post must Nos.1&2) be at least 1-inch above the top wire.  Single H-braces or floating angle 2. Wood braces are required for all corner,  The maximum distance between pull, end, and gate assemblies. wood line posts is 16-feet without  Use double H-braces in deep sands, the use of stays, or 24-feet with stays or where soil remains saturated more between the posts. than 6 months during the year.  Drive or bury wood posts at least 24-  Set the center line of all horizontal inches into the ground. The top of brace members 6 – 9-inches below the post must be at least 2-inches the top of the post. above the top wire. If post holes are  Anchor horizontal brace members to dug, backfill by tamping the soil brace posts with a minimum 3/8″ around the post at every 4-inch galvanized pin or spike driven depth. through the post that penetrates the 3. Other horizontal member at least 4-inches.  H-braces must have a tension  If trees are used instead of line posts member consisting of 2 complete they should be closely aligned with loops of 9 gauge smooth single the fence, and be spaced at distances strand, 12 gauge double strand, or no greater than the line posts.

NRCS, TN October 2002 GA-CS-382(BWF)-3

C. Wire  Wires may be attached to steel posts 1. Perimeter Fence by use of manufacturer's clips or by two turns of 14 gauge galvanized  A minimum of four strands with the smooth wire. top wire 46-inches above the soil  Wire should be able to move freely surface. between the fastener and the line  Equally space the wires with the posts. bottom about 12-inches above the soil surface, and the top wire at least 2-inches below the top of wooden posts and at least 1-inch below the top of steel posts. When more than four wires are used, it is not necessary to maintain equal spacing as long as top and bottom wire positions are as above and no spacing is > 12-inches.  If using barbed wire for small grazing animals, five or more wires are required. 2. Interior Fence  A minimum of three strands with the top wire at least 38-inches above the soil surface.  Equally space the wires with the bottom 12 to 14-inches above the soil surface, and the top wire at least 2-inches below the top of wooden posts and at least 1-inch below the top of steel posts. When more than four wires are used, it is not necessary to maintain equal spacing as long as top and bottom wire positions are as above and no spacing is > 12-inches. 3. Fastening  On boundary fence, attach wires to the side of the post closest to the livestock, except on corners.  Avoid driving staples in-line with the wood grain. When using slash cut staples, place the staple parallel to the grain then rotate in the direction away from the cut face.  Pull tension on wire and firmly attach to corner, end, gate, or pull posts.

NRCS, GA March 2006