GSEC · Question #161
Which of the following heights of fence deters only casual trespassers?
The correct answer is D. 3 to 4 feet. Physical security guidelines define specific fence heights for different deterrence levels against trespassers.
Question
Which of the following heights of fence deters only casual trespassers?
Options
- A8 feet
- B2 to 2.5 feet
- C6 to 7 feet
- D3 to 4 feet
How the community answered
(59 responses)- A14% (8)
- B10% (6)
- C3% (2)
- D73% (43)
Why each option
Physical security guidelines define specific fence heights for different deterrence levels against trespassers.
An 8-foot fence, especially when topped with barbed wire, is designed to deter highly determined intruders, far exceeding the casual trespasser threshold.
A height of 2 to 2.5 feet is too low to serve as a meaningful deterrent even for casual trespassers and is not a recognized security standard for perimeter fencing.
A height of 6 to 7 feet deters a broader class of intruders beyond casual trespassers, representing a higher security tier than the question specifies.
A fence height of 3 to 4 feet is the recognized standard for deterring only casual or unintentional trespassers - people who might wander in without deliberate intent. This low barrier provides a clear boundary marker but poses no real obstacle to a determined intruder, making it the threshold for casual deterrence in physical security frameworks.
Concept tested: Physical security perimeter fence deterrence levels
Source: https://csrc.nist.gov/publications/detail/sp/800-116/rev-1/final
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