The Evolution of Substation Security Walls
Previously substations were located outside urban areas and were guarded by chain link fences. As the expansion and construction of the new urban sites increased, substations found themselves in the vicinity of residential and commercial areas.
In order to shield the substation infrastructure from the view, colored plastic slats were often inserted in the chain link fences. However, with the increase of the price of copper, thefts of chain link fences occurred as they were made of copper, and thieves would cut them to sell them.
For the mitigation of the thefts and the protection of substation infrastructure, the use of the solid perimeter was chosen, and solid block walls were opted for. The use of precast concrete walls, as opposed to chain link fences, is opted for because of their extensive security, faster installation, and decorative finishes.
In addition, when taller walls were constructed, precast concrete retaining walls tend to provide a cost-friendly solution. Moreover, they don’t need continuous foundations in comparison to CMU walls. Taller walls could be built easily without additional costs.