Concertina Razor Wire

What is concertina razor wire?

Concertina razor wire is a perimeter and deterrence product made by winding a galvanized strip, into which sharp razor barbs have been pressed, around a high tensile steel core wire in a helical (spring) form. In the trade it is also known as concertina wire, spiral razor wire or accordion wire. It is shipped in coils; once drawn out on site it takes on a cylindrical tunnel shape, and that bulk alone makes it a physical barrier.

The deterrent effect comes from two things: the sharpness of the barbs and the spring-back force of the coil. When someone presses down on the wire the helix flexes and springs back, the barbs catch on clothing, and the time needed to get across increases sharply. In security literature razor wire is classed as a delay element: it does not make entry impossible, it stretches out the time entry takes and so buys time for detection measures such as cameras and patrols.

Types of concertina razor wire

The coil diameters AnkaraTel holds in stock are Ø45 cm, Ø60 cm and Ø90 cm. Beyond these three sizes there are further distinctions that define how the product behaves.

By winding type

• Single coil: the loops are not clipped to one another and open out freely. This is the most economical solution and is preferred on temporary site hoarding, farmland and land boundaries.
• Cross-clipped (double coil): neighbouring loops are joined to one another with steel clips. When the coil is drawn out the loops spread at even intervals, the shape holds, and no gap opens up when the wire is lifted. This is the standard choice on permanent security applications.

By barb type

• BTO-22: around 22 mm barb length, short and closely spaced teeth. This is the most widely used type.
• BTO-30: longer teeth, wider contact surface; suited to medium and high security requirements.
• CBT-60/65: long, wide barbs with pronounced visual deterrence. Used on military and critical facility perimeters.

By coating

Standard production is galvanized. An electro galvanized coating carries roughly 20-40 g/m² of zinc and hot dip galvanizing roughly 45-90 g/m²; hot dip should be chosen in areas where corrosion moves fast, such as coastal sites or ground near industrial chimneys. A stainless (304 grade) option can also be produced for very aggressive environments.

Technical specifications

The values below are approximate figures that apply to standard cross-clipped production; weight and deployed length vary somewhat with barb type and clip spacing.

Where is it used?

Concertina razor wire is a bulky product, which means it projects well beyond the surface it is mounted on. That makes it ideal for perimeters that have free space around them:

• Factory, warehouse and logistics facility boundaries
• Power plants, substations, telecom base stations
• Military zone and public facility perimeters
• Scrapyards, sand and gravel quarries, solar power plants
• Construction site security and temporary site closure
• Farmland, orchard and livestock enclosure boundaries

On narrow lines such as the top of a wall, and anywhere there is a risk of overhang onto the neighbouring plot, flat wrap razor wire is the better choice. On most projects razor wire is not used on its own; it sits as the top crown of a panel fence or galvanized chain link fence system.

How to work out sizes and running meters

The most common mistake is confusing the total length of wire on the coil with the length of line it actually closes off. The calculation goes like this:

1. Measure the total length of the line to be closed off, in metres.
2. Divide it by the deployed length of the diameter you have chosen. If a Ø60 coil closes off 10 metres of line on average, for example, a 100 metre wall needs 10 coils.
3. Add a 5-10% overlap allowance at the coil joints; the ends have to overlap, otherwise a weak point forms at every joint.
4. At corners and turns the wire closes off less distance; allow roughly half a coil for each corner.

A practical rule for choosing the diameter: Ø45 for agricultural and low risk boundaries, Ø60 for general purpose industrial use and Ø90 for facilities that need high security. The larger the diameter, the harder it becomes to climb or vault over.

What determines the price of concertina razor wire?

The price is worked out per linear meter (deployed metre) or per coil, and the following items affect it:

• Coil diameter: a Ø90 contains noticeably more raw material than a Ø45.
• Whether it is cross-clipped: clipping adds labour and material.
• Barb type: long CBT type barbs consume more sheet steel.
• Coating class: hot dip galvanizing costs more than electro galvanizing, but it lasts many times longer.
• Core wire thickness and steel grade.
• Order quantity: the unit price falls on large running meters.
• Transport: coils are bulky, so the carriage charge changes with distance and the number of coils.

The figures shown in the price table on this page include VAT. The site survey is free of charge within Ankara; delivery, however, is charged, and deliveries within Ankara fall under that too.

How is it installed?

Concertina wire is a product you can install with your own team if you work carefully. The steps:

1. Safety equipment: cut resistant leather gloves, thick long sleeved workwear and eye protection are essential. The barbs cannot be handled bare handed.
2. Preparing the supports: galvanized Y-arms or straight brackets on top of a wall, or the existing post extensions on a chain link fence system, are fitted at 2.5-3 metre intervals. The arms are fixed with anchor bolts or by welding.
3. Running the guide wire: a 2.5-3 mm galvanized tension wire is run through the top holes of the arms. This wire carries the coil and has to be taut.
4. Drawing out the coil: the coil is set down at the start of the line with its ties still on, one end is fixed and the coil is drawn out along the line under control. If the ties are cut too early the wire springs open suddenly.
5. Tying off: the coil is tied to the tension wire with galvanized tie wire or U-clips every 40-50 cm. Keep the loops evenly spaced as you go.
6. Joints: the ends of two coils are overlapped by at least 2-3 loops and clipped together.
7. Final check: walk the line and check for sag, opened loops and missing ties.

At AnkaraTel installation is not a standard service. Our teams attend site on high volume projects of approximately 1000 metres and above. On smaller jobs the product is shipped to your address and technical support by telephone is provided throughout the installation.

Maintenance, service life and durability

Galvanized concertina wire needs very little maintenance. Electro galvanized products can be expected to give 5-10 years of service in normal climates, and hot dip galvanized products 15-20 years or more. The main factors that shorten service life are bare steel exposed at cut ends, sea salt, industrial pollution and contact with manure and animal waste. The line should be inspected by eye once a year; broken clips should be replaced and cut ends sealed with a zinc based spray. Dry grass, plastic bags and similar material collecting under the coil spoil the look of the line and create a fire risk, so they should be cleared away.

Legal liability and safety warning

Razor wire is an injurious product. Using it in residential areas, on frontages open to pedestrian traffic, around schools and parks or on low walls creates serious liability. Under Turkish law a property owner has the right to protect their own property, but can still be held liable in proportion to their fault for harm suffered by third parties. Because of that:

• The wire should be positioned above the reach of a person standing below it (the accepted minimum is 2.2-2.5 m).
• Visible warning signs should be hung along the line.
• It must not overhang the pavement or the neighbouring plot; where it would, flat wrap razor wire or barbed wire are the more suitable alternatives.
• On managed housing sites, apartment blocks and municipal boundaries, local planning rules and management decisions should be checked in advance.

Legal liability arising from use rests with the party using the product; AnkaraTel supplies the product and cannot decide where it is put to use.

Shipping across Turkey, site surveys and support

AnkaraTel is a seller of perimeter and security products based in Ostim/Ankara. Our core business is selling products and shipping them by carrier or freight throughout Turkey: you place the order, and the product is dispatched to the address you give us. Coils are prepared on pallets or in bundles, packed so that the barbed surfaces are protected.

On projects within Ankara the site survey is free of charge; we settle the measurements, the diameter and the running meters together. Delivery, on the other hand, is charged in every case, and deliveries within Ankara are included in that. Our prices are quoted VAT included. If you are unsure which diameter to choose, send us the length of your line, the height of the wall or fence and the type of facility, and we will work out the product and quantity recommendation together.