Brighten the Boundary: When to Add Reflective Inserts to Chain Link Fencing

Chain link fencing helps define property lines, control access, and separate vehicles from restricted areas. Fences or gates can become much harder to identify in low-light or no-light conditions. In locations where vehicles regularly approach or travel alongside fencing, adding reflective elements can provide a clearer visual reference. 

Pexco PDS® Reflective Fence Inserts help improve visibility on gates and sections of chain link fence, particularly at night. They reflect vehicle headlights to help highlight fencing, gates, entrances, and directional paths. Applications range from airports and commercial facilities to schools and residential driveways.   

Adding Reflective Inserts to Your Chain Link Fence

Consider adding reflective inserts when a fence or gate needs to be easier for approaching drivers to identify. Facilities with fenced boundaries can use reflective inserts to make those areas more noticeable when illuminated by headlights. 

Pexco Reflective Fence Inserts use white rigid PVC strips laminated with highly reflective, abrasion-resistant, weatherproof tape. They are available in Reflective Red, Reflective Silver, and Reflective Gold. This range of colors give facilities options for creating highly visible fence configurations.  

What Types of Properties Can Benefit from Reflective Fence Inserts?

Airports, hospitals, schools, commercial facilities, construction areas, and residential properties are among the applications that can benefit from added fence visibility. Pexco specifically designed Reflective Fence Inserts for locations where gates, entrances, or fenced boundaries may need to stand out: 

• Airports – Makes gates and fenced areas more noticeable to vehicles moving quickly from point to point around the facility 

• Hospitals and healthcare facilities – Help emergency drivers identify fencing near entrances, parking areas, access roads, or other locations within the care grounds 

• Schools – Highlights gates, parking lot boundaries, and fenced areas located near vehicle routes. Helps new drivers, parents, and faculty identify roadway areas during evening events and conferences 

• Commercial and industrial facilities – Incorporates reflective inserts around entranceways, delivery areas, parking lots, and access gates that employees, visitors, and delivery drivers may approach after dark 
• Temporary construction areas – Draws attention to fencing that separates vehicles from controlled or restricted areas.  

Guiding Drivers Both Day and Night

Reflective Fence Inserts can be arranged to create directional cues for approaching drivers. The inserts can be installed diagonally, vertically, or horizontally. This allows contractors and facility managers to create patterns based on the needs of the site.  

One option is to arrange the inserts diagonally in the shape of arrows. The highly reflective inserts can be used selectively to create arrows or other geometric patterns without filling an entire fence panel.  

How Are Reflective Fence Inserts Installed?

Reflective Fence Inserts thread directly through chain link fabric and can be secured with a zip tie or hog ring. Installers drill a small hole at one end of the insert, thread it through the fence, and fasten it to the chain link fabric.  

You can also position the inserts in front of standard PDS Fence Slats, such as Bottom Lock or Top Lock Slats, to create a solid background that helps maximize their reflective appearance.

Standard inserts measure 1.25 inches wide, 0.080 inches thick, and 48 inches long. Longer lengths can also be special ordered, subject to minimum quantities.

Light Up the Night

Reflective Fence Inserts provide a simple way to add nighttime visibility and directional guidance to existing chain link fencing. Whether the application is an airport, hospital, school, construction site, or residential driveway, they can help visually define boundaries when headlights reach them. 

With multiple installation orientations, three reflective color options, and the flexibility to create arrows and other patterns, Pexco PDS Reflective Fence Inserts allow users to customize configurations to meet the needs of any chain-link application.

Frequently Asked Questions