Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/956961
Members of the Statz family, owners of Qual Line Fence Corp. of Waunakee, Wis., have long been proponents of using a drive anchor system to support driven steel posts as an alternative to concrete foot- ings. They embraced the method 30 years ago. Ray Statz and his wife, Harriet, were the leading propo- nents in the six-year development of ASTM F3151-17, Standard Specifi- cation for Driven Steel Post Drive Anchor System, which received final approval in 2017. The proof of the pudding, as they say, is in the eating. Last year they found a real-life test of what the drive anchor system can do. A resident of the area, an enthusiastic amateur as- tronomer, valued the dark location of his rural property and absence of am- bient light for stargazing, as well as the remote feel of his homesite. However, that was disrupted by a new home constructed nearby. The owner of the first homestead contacted Qual Line Fence. Ray's son, President & CEO Al Statz, designed a solution, and Vice President Mark Schmitt sold the idea: a 100 lineal foot Western red cedar privacy fence that tapers from 26' tall at the lower end to 21' tall at the top of the slope. The boards are 5/4" thick, and full 2" x 4" cedar stringers were used – quite substantial and necessary to withstand load from the predominant- ly westerly winds. The upright posts are 4" OD 40 wt., driven 6 feet deep. Rear diagonal supports are 3" OD 40 wt., seated 15 feet behind the fence. Front diagonal and horizontal supports are 3" OD 40 wt. Three steel pipe anchors driven at a 45 degree an- gle are installed on both the upright posts and rear support pipes. These are 2" 40 wt. x 7' long, attached with custom-made brackets to the upright posts and the rear diagonal supports. "This job demonstrates what you can accomplish with anchored posts," stated Ray. "The anchoring system is like roots on a tree, and has been prac- ticed for a hundred years, but this par- ticular fence takes it to new heights." He added that, as it turns out, the fence does not block out all the neigh- boring lights, and an additional 6' will be added to the top of the fence. According to ASTM Internation- al, F3151-17 provides an alternative to the use of concrete footings for the purpose of installing steel post frame- work to support chain link, expanded metal, welded wire mesh, wood, or- namental, rigid PVC, and composite fence. As with concrete footings, wind, height, percent of fence closure, gates, etc., will determine the length and size of the drive anchors to be installed, ASTM noted. F3151-17 also details installation procedures. One important item that is high- lighted in F3151-17 states, "This standard does not purport to address How many concrete footings does it take to support this 26' high solid wood fence? None! The customer, an enthusiastic amateur astronomer who values the dark rural location and lack of ambient light for stargazing, feels that some light from a neighboring house still reaches his homesite, and is considering having Qual Line extend the height of the fence by six feet. The structure is fabricated from quite substantial and heavy duty materials, necessary to withstand load from the predominantly westerly winds. No concrete footings were used on the job, with Qual Line opting to utilize a drive anchor system to support driven steel posts, a practice they have long advocated. (Qual Line Fence Corp. photos) continued on page 6 APRIL 2018 Celebrating our 34th year of publication • Visit us online at www.worldfencenews.com Above, custom made brackets attach the diagonal and horizontal cross- members to the upright posts and the rear diagonal supports.