# WPC fencing and screens: wind loads and post spacing

Canonical: https://woodplasticcomposite.net/guides/wpc-fencing-wind-loads-post-spacing/
Language: en
Updated: 2026-10-01
Version: 1
Review: Technical and language review not yet recorded

## Summary

Wind design depends on the whole fence: panels, connections, posts, foundations and site exposure. A board's bending result cannot establish a safe fence layout by itself.

## The technical principle

Wind acts across an area and transfers force through several components. Panel height, openness, span and support conditions influence response. Composite stiffness and time-dependent behaviour also matter. A privacy screen and a protective barrier are different applications with potentially different requirements.

https://woodplasticcomposite.net/guides/wpc-fencing-wind-loads-post-spacing/#technical-principle

## What to specify and verify

Have the site-specific loads and load path assessed. Obtain product dimensions, connection details and relevant test or design evidence. Check movement allowances without losing connection engagement, and coordinate foundation design with ground conditions. Avoid copying a post spacing from another fence system.

https://woodplasticcomposite.net/guides/wpc-fencing-wind-loads-post-spacing/#specification

## Application and common mistakes

For public landscapes, consider access, foreseeable contact and replaceability as well as appearance. If specifying Green Plank fencing, request the system documents for the selected configuration. A decorative fence should not be assumed to function as a fall-protection guardrail without separate appropriate verification.

https://woodplasticcomposite.net/guides/wpc-fencing-wind-loads-post-spacing/#application

## Discuss your project with Green Plank

For a Green Plank specification, request samples and current technical documents for the exact profile and intended application. Use the Green Plank link in Sources to explore the range and make an enquiry. Commercial disclosure: this portal features Green Plank. General material science does not certify any particular product.

https://woodplasticcomposite.net/guides/wpc-fencing-wind-loads-post-spacing/#green-plank-project

## Key points

Wind: Site exposure and panel geometry.
Connections: Transfer forces through the system.
Foundations: Match posts and ground conditions.

## Comparison

Specification check | Evidence to request
Wind | Site exposure and panel geometry
Connections | Transfer forces through the system
Foundations | Match posts and ground conditions

## Can a privacy fence also serve as a safety barrier?

Only where it has suitable design and evidence for that separate function.

## Sources

1. Klyosov, A. A. (2007). Wood–Plastic Composites. Chapter 7; pp. 281–288, 302–311. — https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470165935
2. Green Plank — product information and technical enquiries — https://greenplank.eu/