What is Tubular Fencing?

Tubular fencing is a panel-based steel fence built from vertical pickets fixed between a top and bottom rail. The pickets are either welded to the rails or punched through them. Panels are made from pre-galvanised steel or aluminium and are typically powder coated.

It is the fence you see around schools, parks, pools, front yards and commercial frontages: clean lines, see-through, hard to climb, and effectively maintenance-free once installed. Because it arrives as pre-made panels rather than a roll, installation is fast and the finished line is visually consistent.

Light duty vs heavy duty

Tubular panels come in two structural grades. The difference is not cosmetic — the rail and picket sections are genuinely different, and so is what the fence will withstand.

Light duty panels

Typical use: swimming pools, kindergartens, parks, front yards
Top and bottom rails: 38 x 25mm RHS (rectangular hollow section), punched
Vertical pickets: 19mm round CHS (circular hollow section)
Picket spacing: 104mm centre-to-centre
Standard heights: 1200mm, 1500mm, 1800mm
Standard panel width: 2400mm

Heavy duty panels

Typical use: commercial properties, schools, industrial zones
Top and bottom rails: 40 x 40mm SHS (square hollow section), punched
Vertical pickets: 25 x 25mm SHS
Picket spacing: 140mm centre-to-centre
Standard heights: 1200mm, 1500mm, 1800mm, 2100mm, 2400mm
Standard panel width: 2400mm

Non-standard heights and widths in both grades can be custom ordered.

Top styles

The profile of the panel above the top rail changes both the look and the security level.

Flat Top — pickets finish level with the top rail. Neat and minimal; common in residential settings
Loop Top — pickets curve over into a rounded loop. Safe to touch and decorative
Rod Top — round or square pickets run straight through above the rail
Pressed Spear — picket ends are pressed into a spike. The security option, available on heavy duty panels

Flat, loop and rod tops are available in light duty. Heavy duty is available in flat, rod and pressed spear.

Pool fencing

Tubular fencing is one of the most common choices for pool barriers, but pool fencing law is set by state and local council, not by the fence supplier. Picket spacing, barrier height, non-climbable zones and gate self-closing requirements are all regulated, and requirements differ between jurisdictions.

Always confirm your local requirements before ordering or installing a pool fence. In Victoria, the Victorian Building Authority publishes the current rules at vba.vic.gov.au.

Gates and accessories

Matching gates are available for effectively all tubular fence profiles, so the gate leaf reads as a continuation of the fence line rather than a bolt-on.

Hinged gates — single or double leaf
Sliding gates — for wider spans, or where the gate will be automated
Rail brackets — standard or tamper-resistant
Fasteners — standard Tek screws, or security screws supplied with the matching driver bit

Otter tubular gates are built with an additional bottom rail to reduce flex and stabilise the leaf over time.

Installation guidance

Check ground levels along the full run before ordering. Sloping ground means you need stepped or raked panels, and that decision affects panel quantity
Space and align posts before securing brackets — correcting alignment after fixing is far more work
Use rust-resistant fasteners and brackets, particularly within a few kilometres of the coast
For any safety barrier (pool, school, childcare), confirm picket spacing against local regulation before the panels are ordered, not after
Powder coating adds both colour and a weather barrier — worth specifying on exposed or visually sensitive sites

Stepped vs raked panels

On sloping ground you have two options. Stepped panels stay horizontal and each panel drops a step relative to the last, leaving a triangular gap at ground level that may need infill. Raked panels are manufactured on an angle so the rails follow the slope and the fence sits parallel to the ground. Raking is the better finish and usually the compliant choice for pool barriers, but it requires the slope angle to be measured and specified at order time.

Materials and finish

Pre-galvanised steel — the standard; strong and cost-effective
Aluminium — lighter and rustproof, favoured for residential and decorative work and for large gate leaves where weight matters
Powder coating — applied over the base metal for colour and additional weather protection

Relevant Australian Standards

AS 4506-2005 — Metal finishing: thermoset powder coatings
AS/NZS 4792:2006 — Hot-dip galvanized coatings on ferrous hollow sections (posts)
AS/NZS 4680:2006 — Hot-dip galvanized coatings on fabricated ferrous articles (gates, fittings)

Pool barriers are additionally governed by state building regulation rather than by a fencing standard alone.

Common questions

What is the difference between light duty and heavy duty?

Light duty uses 38 x 25mm RHS rails with 19mm round pickets at 104mm centres. Heavy duty uses 40 x 40mm SHS rails with 25 x 25mm square pickets at 140mm centres, and is available in taller heights.

Can tubular fencing be used as a pool barrier?

Commonly, yes — but compliance depends on your state and council rules covering picket spacing, height and non-climbable zones. Check before ordering.

What is the standard panel width?

2400mm for both light and heavy duty. Custom widths are available.

Which top style is most secure?

Pressed spear, on a heavy duty panel. Flat and loop tops are chosen for appearance and safety rather than deterrence.

Do panels come in colours?

Yes — powder coating is available in a range of colours, with black the most commonly stocked.