GSLC · Question #291
Which of the following heights of fence deters only casual trespassers?
The correct answer is A. 3 to 4 feet. A fence 3 to 4 feet high is the standard physical security threshold recognized as sufficient only to deter casual or accidental trespassers, not determined intruders.
Question
Which of the following heights of fence deters only casual trespassers?
Options
- A3 to 4 feet
- B8 feet
- C2 to 2.5 feet
- D6 to 7 feet
How the community answered
(44 responses)- A89% (39)
- B2% (1)
- C2% (1)
- D7% (3)
Why each option
A fence 3 to 4 feet high is the standard physical security threshold recognized as sufficient only to deter casual or accidental trespassers, not determined intruders.
In established physical security standards, a 3-to-4-foot fence is low enough that a motivated person can step over or easily climb it, so it serves only as a psychological boundary marker that discourages people who have no real intent to intrude. It does not provide meaningful resistance to anyone with a deliberate plan to enter.
An 8-foot fence, especially when topped with barbed wire, is considered a high-security barrier that deters even determined intruders, not merely casual ones.
A 2-to-2.5-foot fence is effectively a decorative or boundary marker and provides essentially no deterrent value even against casual trespassers.
A 6-to-7-foot fence is difficult to climb without tools and deters most intruders, going well beyond the casual-trespasser deterrence level.
Concept tested: Physical security fence height classifications
Source: https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/isc-physical-security-criteria-federal-facilities-second-edition-2013-508.pdf
Topics
Community Discussion
No community discussion yet for this question.