1 Scope
NOTE This standard covers modular wire mesh partition systems fabricated from welded or woven steel wire mesh panels framed in steel angle or tube and bolted to steel posts to form freestanding or wall-anchored enclosures. (1.1)
NOTE Covered configurations include single-run dividers, 2-, 3-, and 4-sided enclosures, partial-height and full ceiling-height assemblies with top closure panels, and associated personnel doors, sliding doors, pass-through windows, and locking hardware. (1.2)
NOTE Typical applications include the following secure-storage and barrier uses: (1.3)
- Tenant storage cages and inventory control areas
- Tool cribs and equipment enclosures
- Electrical-room access-control and high-voltage separation barriers
- Server and data-center cages
- Weapons, evidence, and controlled-substance storage rooms
- Distribution-center pick-line separation and back-of-house secure storage
NOTE A wire mesh partition is a barrier, not a structural wall or a fire-rated assembly. (1.4)
1.5Where a wire mesh barrier preserves a code-required clearance — most commonly the working space in front of electrical equipment — the partition layout shall maintain that clearance and shall not encroach on it.
NOTE This standard does not cover the following related products, each of which has its own standard: (1.6)
2 Referenced Standards
NOTE Materials, fabrication, and installation shall comply with the latest adopted edition of each of the following unless a specific edition is cited. (2.1)
2.2Where referenced standards conflict, the more stringent requirement shall govern unless the Engineer of Record directs otherwise in writing.
| Standard |
Title |
| ASTM A510/A510M |
General Requirements for Wire Rods and Coarse Round Wire, Carbon Steel |
| ASTM F2453/F2453M |
Welded Wire Mesh Fence Fabric, Metallic- or Polymer-Coated, Meshes of 6 in.² or Less, in Panels or Rolls |
| ASTM F2919/F2919M |
Welded Wire Mesh Fence Fabric, Metallic- or Polymer-Coated, Variable Patterns or Meshes Greater than 6 in.², in Panels |
| ASTM A123/A123M |
Zinc (Hot-Dip Galvanized) Coatings on Iron and Steel Products |
| ASTM A153/A153M |
Zinc Coating (Hot-Dip) on Iron and Steel Hardware |
| ASTM D7091 |
Nondestructive Measurement of Dry Film Thickness of Nonmagnetic Coatings on Ferrous Metals |
| NFPA 70 (NEC) |
National Electrical Code (Article 110.26, Spaces About Electrical Equipment) |
| NFPA 70 (NEC) |
National Electrical Code (Article 110.34, Work Space and Guarding, over 1000 V) |
| OSHA 29 CFR 1910.303 |
General Industry Electrical Safety Standards — Working Space |
| UFC 4-010-01 |
DoD Minimum Antiterrorism Standards for Buildings |
| UFGS 10 22 13 |
Unified Facilities Guide Specification — Wire Mesh Partitions |
3 Submittals
3.1 Action Submittals
3.1.1The Contractor shall submit the following action submittals for review before fabrication:
- Product data for panels, posts, frames, hardware, and finish, including wire gauge, mesh pattern, and coating system
- Shop drawings showing partition layout, panel and post locations, door swings and clear openings, anchor locations, top-of-partition condition, and connections to building structure
- Samples of mesh panel, post, finish color, and door hardware
- Anchorage calculations and product data for floor and wall anchors, stamped by a licensed engineer where required by the authority having jurisdiction
- Manufacturer's printed installation instructions, including anchor embedment and bolt torque values
☐ Product data (panels, posts, frames, hardware, finish)
☐ Shop drawings (layout, door swings, anchorage, structure connections)
☐ Samples (mesh, post, finish color, door hardware)
☐ Anchorage calculations (engineer-stamped where required)
☐ Manufacturer installation instructions
3.2 Closeout Submittals
3.2.1The Contractor shall submit the following closeout submittals before final acceptance:
- Operation and maintenance data for doors, hinges, and locking hardware
- Keying schedule and keys, or access-control credentials, as applicable
- Written warranty documents
- Record drawings showing as-built partition layout and anchor locations
☐ O&M data (doors, hinges, locks)
☐ Keying schedule and keys / access credentials
☐ Written warranty
☐ Record drawings
4 Quality Assurance
4.1The manufacturer shall be a firm regularly engaged in producing modular wire mesh partition systems and shall demonstrate not less than five years of production experience.
4.2Mesh panels, posts, and hardware furnished under this Section shall be the products of a single manufacturer to ensure dimensional and finish compatibility.
4.3At least two manufacturers offering both welded and woven mesh product lines shall be capable of meeting the specified requirements, so that the specification does not become proprietary.
4.4The installer shall be the manufacturer or a manufacturer-authorized installer trained in the specified system.
5 Environmental and Service Conditions
NOTE The specified finish shall suit the service environment, because corrosion of an unsuitable coating is the most common premature failure of mesh partitions in wet or chemically aggressive spaces. (5.1)
5.1.1Partitions in dry, conditioned interior spaces shall be furnished with a powder-coat finish unless otherwise indicated.
5.1.2Partitions in wet, humid, wash-down, or chemically corrosive environments shall be hot-dip galvanized after fabrication per ASTM A123, or powder-coated over a galvanized substrate where indicated.
○ Dry conditioned interior (office, back-of-house, data center)
● Unconditioned interior (warehouse, garage)
○ Wet / wash-down / high-humidity
○ Corrosive / chemical-exposure
6 Duty Classification
NOTE Duty classification sets the wire gauge, mesh opening, post size, and bolt pattern of the entire system; it shall be selected from the security level and abuse exposure of the application, not from cost. (6.1)
NOTE Normal-duty systems suit general storage, tool cribs, and tenant cages where the barrier deters casual access and tolerates incidental contact. (6.2)
NOTE Heavy-duty systems suit high-security uses — controlled-substance and evidence rooms, weapons storage, and similar — where forced-entry resistance governs. (6.3)
6.3.1Normal-duty partitions shall be furnished with not lighter than 10 AWG (0.135 in.) wire.
6.3.2Heavy-duty partitions shall be furnished with not lighter than 6 AWG (0.192 in.) wire.
6.3.3Heavy-duty partitions shall be furnished with 4 AWG (0.225 in.) wire where indicated for the highest security applications.
6.3.4Heavy-duty enclosures used for controlled-substance, evidence, or weapons storage shall be fully enclosed on all sides and the top with mesh panels of the specified heavy-duty gauge.
● Normal-duty (general storage, tool crib, tenant cage)
○ [object Object]
7 Mesh Panels
7.1 Wire Type
7.1.1Welded wire mesh panels shall comply with ASTM F2453 or ASTM F2919 as applicable to the specified mesh opening.
7.1.2Carbon steel wire shall comply with ASTM A510.
NOTE Welded wire mesh is the default for new construction because a cut welded panel stays intact, while a cut woven panel unravels; welded mesh shall be furnished where field cuts around columns, pipes, or other obstructions are required. (7.1.3)
NOTE Woven wire mesh may be furnished where indicated for traditional appearance or where no field cutting is required. (7.1.4)
● Welded wire (field-cuttable, stays intact when cut)
○ Woven wire (traditional, unravels if cut)
7.2 Mesh Opening and Gauge
NOTE The mesh opening shall be as scheduled below; a smaller opening increases security and reduces reach-through but also reduces visibility and airflow. (7.2.1)
7.2.2High-security enclosures shall be furnished with a 1 in. × 1 in. or smaller opening to resist reach-through and tool insertion.
● 2 in. × 1 in. rectangular (standard)
○ 1-1/2 in. diamond
○ 1 in. × 1 in. (high security)
● 10 AWG (0.135 in.) — normal duty
○ 6 AWG (0.192 in.) — heavy duty
○ 4 AWG (0.225 in.) — maximum security
7.3 Panel Frame
NOTE Mesh shall be framed on all four edges in steel angle or tube to keep the panel rigid and to provide the bolted connection to adjacent panels and posts. (7.3.1)
7.3.2Normal-duty panels shall be framed in not lighter than 1-1/4 in. × 1-1/4 in. × 1/8 in. steel angle.
7.3.3Heavy-duty panels shall be framed in not lighter than 1-1/2 in. steel angle or in steel tube where indicated.
7.3.4Mesh shall be welded or mechanically captured to the frame on all four sides so the mesh cannot be pried out of the frame.
● 1-1/4 in. × 1-1/4 in. × 1/8 in. steel angle (standard)
○ 1-1/2 in. steel angle (heavy duty)
○ Steel tube frame (heavy duty)
7.4 Panel Dimensions
NOTE Standard panel width shall be 2 ft to 4 ft, with 3 ft typical; panel height shall not exceed 12 ft in a single panel, and panels shall be stacked to a maximum assembly height of 20 ft. (7.4.1)
○ 2 ft
● 3 ft (typical)
○ 4 ft
8 Posts
NOTE Posts carry the panel loads to the floor and resist the lateral loads on the partition; post size shall increase with assembly height. (8.1)
8.1.1Posts for assemblies up to 12 ft tall shall be not lighter than 2 in. × 2 in. × 14 ga steel tube.
8.1.2Posts for assemblies over 12 ft and up to 16 ft tall shall be not lighter than 2 in. × 2 in. × 11 ga steel tube, or 3 in. tube where indicated.
● 2 in. × 2 in. × 14 ga steel tube (up to 12 ft)
○ 2 in. × 2 in. × 11 ga steel tube (12–16 ft)
○ 3 in. steel tube (tall / heavy-duty)
8.2 Post Base Plates
8.2.1Floor-mounted posts shall be furnished with a welded base plate not smaller than 2 in. × 7 in. × 1/4 in. steel flat with two 7/16 in. anchor holes.
8.2.2Posts shall be anchored to the floor with not less than 1/2 in. diameter concrete anchors at each base plate.
8.2.3Anchor embedment shall comply with the anchor manufacturer's published values for the substrate, and anchors shall be torqued to the manufacturer's printed installation instructions.
● Floor-mounted with concrete anchor bolts
○ Surface-mounted base plate (anchored to slab)
○ Wall-hung panel system (no floor posts)
9 Connection Hardware
NOTE Panels shall be bolted to posts and to adjacent panels with plated steel hardware so the assembly can be erected and reconfigured without welding in the field. (9.1)
9.1.1Panel-to-post and panel-to-panel connections shall use not smaller than 3/8 in. × 3 in. plated hex bolts and nuts at each framing intersection.
9.1.2Normal-duty bolt holes shall be 1/4 in. spaced at not more than 12 in. on center.
9.1.3Heavy-duty bolt holes shall be 3/8 in. spaced at not more than 18 in. on center.
9.1.4Hardware exposed to wet or corrosive environments shall be hot-dip galvanized per ASTM A153 or shall be stainless steel.
● Normal duty — 1/4 in. holes at 12 in. o.c.
○ Heavy duty — 3/8 in. holes at 18 in. o.c.
10 Enclosure Configuration
NOTE The number of sides and the top condition shall be selected to match the security requirement; an open-top enclosure can be defeated by climbing over and is unacceptable for security-critical uses. (10.1)
10.1.1Security-critical enclosures shall be fully enclosed with ceiling closure panels of the same mesh and frame as the wall panels.
10.1.2Ceiling closure panels shall be supported so that the overhead structure or the partition posts carry the panel weight without deflection; the supporting structure shall be verified for the added load.
10.1.3Anti-climb mesh or solid top panels shall be furnished where indicated for server cages and high-security enclosures.
○ Single-run partition (no enclosure)
○ 2-sided (L-shaped)
● 3-sided enclosure
○ 4-sided enclosure, open top
○ 4-sided enclosure with ceiling closure panels (full security)
● Open top (partial height)
○ Ceiling-height with mesh top closure panels
○ Solid / anti-climb top panels
11 Doors
NOTE Door type and width shall suit the traffic through the opening; a swing door in a busy forklift aisle is a safety hazard and a sliding door shall be furnished for forklift- or pallet-jack-accessed enclosures. (11.1)
11.1.1Personnel doors shall be not less than 3 ft wide × 7 ft tall single swing unless otherwise indicated.
11.1.2Forklift- or pallet-jack-accessed enclosures shall be furnished with sliding doors not less than 8 ft wide.
11.1.3Door leaves shall be framed and meshed to match the adjacent panels and shall not deflect or rack so as to bind in the frame.
11.1.4Swing doors shall be hung on not less than 1-1/2 pairs of heavy-duty butt hinges with non-removable pins, riveted or welded to the door frame.
11.1.5Double doors in series (man-trap or airlock) shall be furnished where indicated for high-security enclosures.
● Single swing (hinged)
○ Double swing (pair)
○ Sliding (forklift access)
○ Double-door man-trap / airlock
● 3 ft (personnel)
○ 6 ft (double personnel)
○ 8 ft (forklift / pallet jack)
○ 10 ft (forklift / pallet jack)
● 7 ft (standard personnel)
○ Full panel height
12 Locking Hardware
NOTE The locking method shall be stated in the documents and shall not be left to the Contractor's selection, because the lock determines the security level and must be coordinated with the building's door hardware and access-control work. (12.1)
12.1.1Locking hardware shall be coordinated with the Door Hardware Section so that keying, access control, and electrified power are consistent across the project.
12.1.2Padlock-hasp hardware shall be furnished where the Owner controls access with padlocks; the padlock itself is furnished under the Owner's hardware allowance unless otherwise indicated.
12.1.3Keyed cylinder locks shall be keyed into the project keying system where indicated.
12.1.4Card-access or electrified-strike hardware shall be furnished where indicated, with power transfer and wiring coordinated with the access-control and electrical work.
● Padlock hasp
○ Keyed cylinder lock
○ Card access / electrified strike
○ Combination lock
13 Pass-Through Windows
NOTE A pass-through window allows controlled transfer of small items without opening the main door; it shall be furnished only where indicated. (13.1)
13.1.1Pass-through windows shall be furnished with a hinged or sliding mesh closure and a shelf where indicated, and the closure shall be lockable where the enclosure is security-critical.
● None
○ Package pass-through with shelf
○ Lockable pass-through with shelf
14 Finish
NOTE Finish color shall be specified and coordinated with the Owner's color standards; an unspecified finish leads the Contractor to select the cheapest available color. (14.1)
14.1.1Powder-coat finish shall be not less than 2 mil dry film thickness, measured per ASTM D7091.
14.1.2Hot-dip galvanized finish, where specified for corrosive or wet environments, shall comply with ASTM A123.
● Powder coat
○ Hot-dip galvanized
○ Powder coat over galvanized
○ Mill / unfinished
● Standard gray
○ Standard green
○ Custom RAL color (as indicated)
15 Coordination
NOTE Wire mesh partitions intersect several other trades, and the most common field problems come from missed coordination rather than from the partition itself; the layout shall be coordinated before fabrication. (15.1)
15.1.1The partition layout shall preserve the working space in front of electrical equipment required by NEC Article 110.26 and OSHA 29 CFR 1910.303; cage panels and door swings shall not encroach on the required clear depth.
15.1.2High-voltage separation barriers required by NEC Article 110.34 shall be located and detailed in coordination with the Electrical Engineer.
15.1.3Partition height shall be coordinated with sprinkler drops, lighting fixtures, and HVAC diffusers so that mesh panels do not conflict with overhead MEP.
15.1.4Partitions over 10 ft tall shall be braced or connected to the building structure at the top for lateral stability, in coordination with the Structural Engineer.
15.1.5Where the floor receives an epoxy or resin coating, base plates and anchors shall be installed before the floor coating is applied; this early-trade sequencing shall be coordinated in the construction schedule.
15.1.6The concrete slab thickness, reinforcement, and any post-tensioning shall be verified for anchor capacity before floor-mounted posts are specified; thin or post-tensioned slabs shall use special anchors or a wall-hung system.
15.1.7Partition layout, post locations, door locations and swings, and enclosure extents shall be as shown partition layout plan. 16 Testing
NOTE Factory inspection confirms dimensional accuracy and hardware function before shipment; field testing confirms the installed assembly operates and is rigid. (16.1)
16.1.1The manufacturer shall perform a dimensional inspection and a hardware function test on each door assembly at the factory before shipment.
16.1.2After installation, doors shall be tested for free operation through their full swing or slide and for positive lock engagement.
16.1.3The installed partition shall resist a 200 lb lateral load applied at the top of a panel without permanent racking or loosening of connections.
17 Installation
NOTE Partitions shall be installed plumb, level, and true to line, with panels tight to posts and uniform mesh alignment across the assembly. (17.1)
17.1.1Posts shall be set plumb and anchored to the substrate with the specified anchors at the embedment and torque given in the manufacturer's printed installation instructions.
17.1.2Panels shall be bolted to posts and to adjacent panels with all specified hardware; partial bolting that leaves a panel able to be lifted out of the frame is not acceptable.
17.1.3Doors shall be hung and adjusted so they swing or slide freely, latch positively, and do not bind against the frame or floor.
17.1.4Field cuts and field drilling of galvanized members shall be touched up with a zinc-rich repair coating to maintain corrosion resistance.
18 Delivery, Storage, and Handling
NOTE Panels and posts shall be delivered banded and protected, and shall be stored to protect the finish and prevent panel distortion before installation. (18.1)
18.1.1Materials shall be delivered to the site in the manufacturer's original packaging with finish protected.
18.1.2Panels shall be stored flat or vertical on edge, off the ground, and protected from weather, standing water, and construction traffic.
18.1.3Damaged panels, bent frames, and finish defects shall be replaced or repaired to the manufacturer's standard before installation.
19 Warranty
19.1The manufacturer shall warrant the partition system against defects in materials and workmanship for not less than one year from Substantial Completion.
19.2The finish shall be warranted against peeling, flaking, and excessive corrosion for the period indicated below.
○ 1 year
● 2 years
○ 5 years
20 Spare Parts
NOTE Spare keys, padlocks, and a quantity of touch-up finish shall be turned over to the Owner so minor repairs and re-keying can be done without reordering. (20.1)
20.1.1The Contractor shall furnish not less than two spare keys per lock cylinder and one container of matching touch-up finish at closeout.
☐ Spare keys (2 per cylinder)
☐ Touch-up finish (matching color)
☐ Spare padlocks
☐ Spare mesh panel