Overview of Razor Wire and Its Popular Uses
Razor wire is a form of steel fencing wire that has been given additional protection via the integration of aluminum, stainless steel, or carbon steel to the wire. Razor wire is distinguished from other forms of steel fencing in that a razor wire strand consists of a core wire plus sharp steel elements (keels) that are set at regular intervals along the strand . Often found coiled in a spiral configuration, razor wire is used to create a protective barrier against intruders.
A common application of razor wire attributable to their sharp elements is to line the edges of prison grounds, buildings, and solitary confinement cells. Border security is another common use of razor wire strands which are used to restrict access along border fences and to establish a no-man’s-land that is free of any form of cover.
Razor Wire Legality in Various Areas
The legal status of razor wire varies across national and sub-national jurisdictions. Generally, there are two main areas of applicable law: laws relating to the possession of razor wire, and laws relating to the use of razor wire for the establishment of physical security perimeters.
Most countries permit individual use of razor wire for domestic or business purposes. For example, razor wire is commonly used by homeowners and tenant associations in the United Kingdom and Canada for perimeter security around residential compounds. Also, razor wire is publicly available for purchase in the United States where they can be used for domestic and commercial purposes. As a general rule, laws prohibiting the possession of razor wire are limited to the sales, importation, shipment, transfer and possession of uniform spiked coils commonly called spring-spring or "whipper coils", due to the design of their toxic steel barbs that can not be replaced or removed. The possession of razor wire with removable or replaceable barbs is generally permissible, however, the installation or the use of razor wire fencing is subject to more stringent controls. Broadly speaking, the installation of razor wire for perimeter security whether on a chain link fence, on top of walls or on static steel plate fencing is permitted in many jurisdictions, however, the performance of this type of work would require a relevant license or building permit. In Australia, for example, the installation of razor wire on fences around industrial, government and utility sites is permitted, however, the installation of razor wire on security fencing is not allowable unless the razor wire is obscured. Razor wire should be installed in a manner that prevents it being easily seen by members of the public. Razor wire cannot be used for climbing over or under in the premise of a person’s property, such as a swimming pool. In Canada, the installation of razor wire for perimeter security is regulated by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) and existing provincial building codes including, for example, the CBC Section 3.7.4.2. Razor wire is categorized as a high security fence and is permitted to be installed without restriction. However, tetanus immunization is required for the installers of the products and warning signs must be affixed to the perimeters on which they are installed.
Legislative Guidelines for Erecting Razor Wire
Beyond interest in other considerations, property owners and managers also need to pay attention to regulatory guidelines that affect when, where and how razor wire can be legally installed on their properties.
Zoning Laws
Some communities prohibit all types of fencing above the ground level or have restrictions on the height of fences for specific uses or in particular areas. In addition, some local ordinances spell out aesthetic considerations, requiring that the fence blend with its surroundings or appear "natural." In some cases, these ordinances may forbid the installation of a razor wire fence or any type of exposed, sharp barbed wire. Regulatory authorities might also require that the person installing the fence obtain a permit and/or provide financial security (such as a bond) to cover any potential damage that the property owner’s razor wire fence might cause to a neighbor’s property.
Zoning officials might also restrict the height of razor wire barriers. This is often done for aesthetic reasons, as the razor wire makes the barbed wire fence very tall and creates a foreboding sight. Property owners who violate local zoning laws can be cited, and the cited person or entity may be forced to remove the razor wire fence.
Safety Concerns
Local governments might be concerned about safety issues related to razor wire fences and might have requirements that the razor wire heights be specified. These requirements are usually based on the height of the fence. The more dangerous the hazard is for pedestrians – such as a five-strand concertina coil at 18 inches over a barbed wire fence – the higher the requirement for the entire system. Likewise, the higher the hazard to free-roaming animals, the higher the requirement for the entire system. The reason for these height standards is that a large animal must not be able to get itself caught up in the razor wire.
Signage
Some local governments require the posting of specific types of signage on properties with razor wire. This is particularly true of signs warning potential victims of criminal activity that they should stay away from all razor wire or fencing, particularly if more than a passive confrontation policy has been established. Some governments even prohibit razor wire on perimeter fencing unless signs have first been installed in the area by the fenced-in person and were hard to remove and blocked all access.
Registration of Razor Wire Use
In a few states, razor wire might be dangerous to endangered species that have been listed under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) or Imperiled Species Conservation Act (ISCA). For instance, the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) recognizes that razor wire on fencing poses a lethal risk to the endangered Utah prairie dog and its effective distribution in Colorado. Utah has declared razor wire in Colorado to be potentially harmful to the Utah prairie dog, because nesting raptors may become entangled as they hunt birds in the vicinity of razor wire fences. Razor wire is also a risk to birds and other animals that get stuck; it tears into them and can take hours to be recovered.
Liability and Legal Considerations of Razor Wire Use
Property owners must be aware of potential liabilities and risks when using razor wire to protect their property. Razor wire can cause serious injuries and, if used improperly or without the required safeguards, may expose the property owner to liability for such injuries.
Owners of hazardous conditions on real property in Texas are only liable for injuries that arise from the unreasonably dangerous condition if the property owner had actual or constructive knowledge of the danger. The property owner must also know or should know that the condition poses an unreasonable risk of harm.
If the razor wire is compliant with applicable local laws, it may be determined to be a hazard and risk of harm that the property owner should know about. A razor wire owner who has constructed and installed the wire in compliance with the recommendations in the NERC standards and provides adequate warning or barrier where it is installed may be able to argue that it did not have actual notice of the risk of injury and could not have known of the risk either. A property owner is not liable for injury where the injured visitor is found to have deliberately disregarded warnings and hazards on the premises.
While razor wire may be permitted in areas where there is no likelihood of public access, owners that erect razor wire in or near places where people are likely to be should ensure that they comply with all local ordinances and make certain that the hazard is adequately marked and guarded against.
Alternatives to Razor Wire for Protecting Properties
There are several alternatives to installations of razor wire for security purposes. Lots of people use barbed wire for added security, and this is legal under Ontario law and other jurisdictions. Barbed wire is a deterrent but it is not as effective as razor wire. You need three strands of barbed wire to achieve the same deterrent effect as one strand of razor wire. However, piling up a pile of barbed wire is less dangerous. In light of this fact, barbed wire installations on private property are more popular.
Another option for greater deterrent effect is an electric fence. However, there are a lot of restrictions for electric fences at common law. An electric fence must not be electrified above 120 volts and should have warning signs. If you electrify a fence at above 120 volts, the property owner may be liable for any injuries caused by the fence. Electricity supplied by BC Hydro meets the legal requirement for creating an electric fence. The electricity produced by a car battery is not sufficient. Gas stations often surround their properties with electrified wire for deterrent effect.
Another type of system you can install for deterrent effect is a CCTV camera system. If you already have a home alarm , it can be worth it to add cameras to your system. A CCTV camera system is able to capture video of all your visitors, package deliveries, and wildlife invading your backyard. It can also help to catch criminals causing malice to your fence or doing other damage. At the very least, anyone leaning over your fence will see that they are being video recorded. It is much better to prevent issues before it occurs.
Motion detection systems can be used to monitor areas of your property that you would like to keep under surveillance. These systems are usually linked to a mobile app that sends you texts with video clips to keep you updated about your home. Cameras usually take still pictures every time the alarm goes off.
These days you cannot go wrong with a wireless doorbell system. Wireless doorbells Alert the owner about someone visiting or going near the front of the property. Any guests and visitors will usually only press the doorbell when they intend to visit.
Case Law and Precedent Surrounding Razor Wire
Cases and controversies involving razor wire and legal rulings have been a part of the material used to validate using razor wire for boundary purposes. Be it privately owned, an HOA common area or commercial property, court records cite razor wire as an accepted means of boundary demarcation.
Federal cases such as U.S. v. Country Acres, Inc. confirm the use of razor wire in a deer-proofing application and acknowledging that the involvement of other factors has to be taken into consideration regarding injury and accidents. Like a parcel of Georgia landowners with a razor wire fence to keep deer out, the U.S. courts reaffirmed razor wire as a means of deterring dangerous wildlife. The court ruled that it was inadvisable for people to enter into private lands without authorization, and the real issue was the entry of the plaintiffs onto the private land.
Other canal-side neighbors who used barbed wire and razor wire on canals resulted in Wisconsin trial court ruling in their favor. Wisconsin Statute 943.13(2) (a) declares it was illegal to tamper with the fence, but the statute did not define fence, so the court ruled that the razor wire on the fence was a part of the fence.
Texas courts and Texas Appellate Court also ruled favorably in cases citing the use of razor wire, and prior decisions inferred acceptance and understanding of razor wire on private property as a boundary demarcation.
Head injuries, gouges and cuts are all risks that could be incurred by someone entangling themselves in a razor wire boundary fence. If a plaintiff can prove that the razor wire was used wide open to a public street or gateway in a manner that would be a danger to the public, there is potential liability. Some states have statutes permitting the use of barbed wire or razor wire if it has been properly marked and on a secure fence 39 inches tall. The mandatory marking on the razor wire makes it visible and therefore it may not create a nuisance or liability for the fence owner.
State laws vary regarding the use of razor wire for boundary fences, and some require the use of notification signage to indicate the presence of a razor wire boundary.
Upcoming Trends in Security Practices
As technology continues to advance, the use of high-tech tools to secure property is likely to increase, potentially providing more versatile and effective options than traditional barbed wire. One such innovation is smart perimeter protection, which includes electronic monitoring and alert systems that can trigger alarms or send alerts to mobile devices when the boundary is breached. These systems allow for constant surveillance of one’s property and can cover larger areas than traditional fencing. Some of these solutions also integrate artificial intelligence to analyze patterns of movement, helping owners set appropriate alerts for unique circumstances and detect suspicious behavior more accurately.
Meanwhile, as law enforcement agencies adopt more high-tech tools in their crime prevention efforts, we are likely to see the use of security cameras increase. Predictive policing, for example, has gained traction in recent years, allowing police to track crime using extensive databases, predict where crimes are likely to occur, and send officers to respond to those threats before the crime occurs . In turn, having increased police presence in "hot spots" and the resulting reduction in crime may deter some individuals from committing crimes in the first place, thereby eliminating the need for property owners to use traditional protection methods in the first place.
Finally, with the global push for environmental protection and mitigation of climate change, it is likely that barbed wire fences will be increasingly viewed as outdated. The global construction industry creates approximately 39% of the world’s carbon emissions, prompting an increasing number of companies (and homeowners) to transition from traditional fences to more eco-friendly methods of securing their property. For example, cotton rope barriers provide a cost-effective, zero-carbon solution that decomposes quickly and is nontoxic for animals, while traditional barbed wire lasts for decades, adding to the threat of contamination and injuring many animals along the way.
Overall, as they become more readily available, affordable, and demonstrably effective and environmentally friendly compared to traditional fencing, it seems inevitable that these and other innovations will replace more traditional approaches in the future. For now, however, when protecting one’s property, razor wire remains one of many options that is not likely to disappear any time soon.