Jacksons Fencing provides bespoke physical security for RNLI Lifeboat Centre

The RNLI provides a continuous ‘Search and Rescue’ lifeboat service, aiming to assist people on a 24/7 basis. Since 1824, in fact, it’s estimated that the charity has helped to save upwards of 143,000 lives. Around 95% of those people directly associated with the organisation are volunteers, spending their time helping those in need.

The RNLI opened its own lifeboat building facility in Poole back in 2015. This became known as the All-Weather Lifeboat Centre and stands as the charity’s first state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. Every aspect of the lifeboat building process occurs at this in-house centre, including construction, repair and maintenance. Having in-house production ensures complete control over both build cost and quality by removing uncertainty in the supply chain. The move has actually saved the charity over £3 million per annum.

The All-Weather Lifeboat Centre has two boat halls for manufacturing and maintenance, as well as a manufacturing area, a launch, recovery and boat storage area, a paint preparation area, a training workshop, office facilities, tool storage and a visitors’ viewing area.

As this is a critical area of service, it was essential for the perimeter of the site to be appropriately secured with robust fencing and gates.

The solution

Jacksons Fencing worked on this project throughout 2019, having partnered with the RNLI for the past 20 years to protect the latter’s facilities across the UK by installing security, demarcation, gates and access control solutions.

Over 43 metres of 2 metre-high Barbican fencing and 312 metres of 2.5 metre-high Barbican fencing has been installed on site in order to secure the All-Weather Lifeboat Centre. Jacksons Fencing has also supplied a variety of gates, including some 1 metre-wide pedestrian swing gates, as well as automated cantilever sliding gates ranging from 4.6 metres to 7.5 metres wide.

More recently, 2.5 metre-high Barbican cantilever sliding gates, with one 5 metre leaf and one 3 metre leaf, were installed by Jacksons Fencing and secured to concrete bases in order to provide more protection. In order to ensure that gaps around the gates were infilled, 3 metres of Barbican fencing is installed.

Value for money

Jacksons Fencing offers Barbican as an alternative to triple-point palisade fencing as it boasts a welded ‘pale-through-rail’ construction with tamper-proof bolts and panel-to-post connectors which are hidden. These hidden features secure the fencing and help to protect against interference from vandals or attempted criminal attacks.

This form of fencing is also manufactured from premium steel which is hot dip galvanised inside and out and offers lasting protection against weathering, such as corrosion and rust. In addition, the products are powder coated in RAL Blue 5013 at Jacksons Fencing’s plant. The fencing then has a glossy and durable finish that will not chip or crack.

The RNLI is committed to being one of the most efficient charities across the UK and Ireland. Opting for Jacksons Fencing’s products that are well-known for their longevity will aid in protecting the site from potential threats, trespassing and vandalism for years to come.

Helping the RNLI

As is true for many charities, the RNLI has been affected by COVID-19, with its income expected to have dropped very significantly. Money is important for supporting the lifeboat crews and ensuring that they have everything they need to operate, the latter of which now also includes PPE.

The RNLI’s outstanding volunteers are on call 24/7 and have to leave their families and loved ones to rescue those in danger at a moment’s notice. All donations are welcome and can be made by visiting the charity’s website.

Peter Jackson, managing director at Jacksons Fencing, commented: “It was a real privilege to be involved in this hugely important project with the RNLI. We hope that, with the security solutions we’ve installed, the charity and its amazing volunteers can continue their crucial and life-saving services without any external disruption.”