Why 50+ Schools Choose the Mercury 1.8m Flat Top Panel

Overview:

The Edgesmith Mercury 1.8m Flat Top aluminium panel has been widely adopted as the benchmark fencing solution for New Zealand schools. With installations across Auckland and beyond, the Mercury panel delivers the security, aesthetics, and compliance that school environments demand - all at a competitive price point.

This document has been prepared to assist specifiers and clients considering the Mercury panel as an equivalent or superior alternative to other proprietary school fence systems.

50+ Schools Installed

1.8m Panel Height

PS1 Engineer Certified

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Why Mercury For Schools

Schools require fencing that balances child safety, visual permeability, durability, and value. The Mercury panel was specifically designed and tested to meet New Zealand's school fencing standards and has been installed at high schools, primary schools, area schools, and childcare facilities throughout the country.

• Meets Education New Zealand School Fencing Design Guidelines: The 1.8m 3-rail flat top Mercury panel meets the specifications set out in the Education New Zealand School Fencing Design Guidelines when used with 65mm SHS steel posts. Schools can specify with confidence. 
• Standard Raking Capability on Every Panel: Unlike competing products, where raking is an add-on or limited option, every Mercury panel incorporates Edgesmith's patented raking mechanism as standard, allowing panels to rake up to 30 degrees. This is critical on school sites where terrain is rarely flat, eliminating the need for stepped panels and reducing both cost and installation complexity.
• PS1 Engineer Certificate Available at 1.8m Height: A Producer Statement PS1 (Design) is available for the Mercury system at 1.8m height, covering residential and commercial balustrade applications, including Schools, Parks and Multi-Dwelling Residential (occupancy categories B, E, C3 per NZS 3604:2011 and AS/NZS 1170.1:2002). 
• Aluminium - Zero Maintenance, Lifetime Performance: Aluminium pickets and rails will not rust, corrode, or require repainting. 25mm SHS pickets with a 94mm gap spacing provide excellent visual permeability while maintaining security. Powder-coated in durable black as standard. 

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A Technical Specifications - Mercury 1.8M Flat Top

Product Code	MER-1.8-3RF
Height	1800mm
Width	2325mm (post centres 2400mm)
Rails	3 rails — Aluminium 40 x 40 Mercury Channel
Pickets	Aluminium SHS 25 x 1.2mm
Picket Gap	94mm
Top Profile	Flat Top
Posts (Recommended)	65mm SHS Steel
Finish	Black Powder Coat (standard)
Raking	Up to 30° — standard on all panels
Panel Weight	17.3 kg
Standards Compliance	Education New Zealand School Fencing Design Guideline
PS1 Available	Yes — NZS 3604:2011 B1 & F4, AS/NZS 1170.1:2002 (0.75kN/m)
Material	Aluminium (6063-T5 extrusions)

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Producer Statement (PS1) - Engineering Certification

The Mercury balustrade system carries a PS1 (Producer Statement - Design), a significant advantage for school projects requiring Building Consent.

• PS1 covers all heights up to 1.8m
• Compliant with NZBC clauses B1 (Structure) and F4 (Safety from Falling)
• Barrier loadings meet AS/NZS 1170.1:2002 at 0.75kN/m for Schools (Category B, E, C3)
• Accepted by all NZ Building Consents
• Available for concreted in-ground posts, timber retaining walls, and concrete/block wall fixing scenarios
• Full engineer's report with design calculations available on request

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School Installations

The Mercury 1.8m Flat Top panel has been successfully installed at schools throughout New Zealand, including: Forest Hill School, Nukumea School, Ahutoetoe Primary School, Orewa Primary School, Papatoetoe School, Tirimoana School, Raglan Area School, Glendene School, and Ardmore School.

Forest Hill School: Mercury 1.8m Flat Top, multiple fence lines including front boundary and perimeter. Demonstrates the panel's clean, modern aesthetic in a residential school setting.

Tirimoana School: Mercury 1.8m Flat Top with automated slide gate (PS1). Note the raking panels accommodating the sloped street frontage - a key advantage of the Mercury system. Edgesmith vehicle visible on site.

Ardmore School (Te Kura o Wairoa): Mercury 1.8m Flat Top across full perimeter, playground surrounds, single and double-leaf swing gates. A large rural site demonstrating the system’s versatility across long fence runs, varying terrain, and multiple entry points.

Nukumea Primary School: Brand-new school built. Mercury 1.8m Flat Top on a highly challenging multi-level site featuring significant grade changes. Panels fixed directly to timber retaining walls (PS1 Side Fix to Timber Retaining Wall detail), demonstrating compliance on complex installations. A cantilever vehicle gate is also supplied. A showcase project for the Mercury system’s versatility.

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Mercury School Reference List

The following schools have had the Edgesmith Mercury panel installed (this list is not exhaustive):

School	Location
Forest Hill School	Auckland
Nukumea School	Auckland
Ahutoetoe Primary School	Auckland
Orewa Primary School	Auckland — Hibiscus Coast
Papatoetoe School	Auckland — South Auckland
Tirimoana School	Auckland — West Auckland
Raglan Area School	Waikato
Glendene School	Auckland — West Auckland
Ardmore School	Auckland — South Auckland
Whangaehu School	Taranaki
Churton School	Taranaki
Norswood School	Taranaki
Gonville School	Taranaki
Bunnythorp School	Taranaki
Ruapehu School	Taranaki
Ngaru School	Taranaki
Ohakune School	Taranaki