Hoarding Installation: Panels vs Skins

The Only System Certified for Both Panels & Skins

The NXGN Hoarding System is the only hoarding system in Australia that holds structural certification for both panel-based and skin-based (practical) installation methods under AS 4687:2022 — Temporary Fencing & Hoardings.

This means that with one set of NXGN uprights and counterweights, installers can choose between pre-fabricated panels or on-site assembled skins depending on the specific requirements of each project — without compromising on engineering compliance or structural certification.

No other hoarding system on the market offers this flexibility. Most systems lock you into a single installation method, which means you either carry the overheads of panels when skins would do, or you sacrifice finish quality when panels would deliver a better result.

Skin (Practical) Hoardings — Assembled Entirely On-Site

Practical Hoardings (commonly referred to as skins) are assembled entirely on-site. Instead of pre-fabricating framed panels in a workshop, the installer fixes 9mm MDF or plywood skins directly to 70 × 45mm MGP10 timber upright studs that are held in place by the NXGN uprights.

Skins are secured to the upright studs using 35mm 10G chipboard screws at 350mm centres. Uprights are installed at each skin join, and offset uprights are installed where necessary. Additional studs can be placed to provide extra support for returns, splays and hoardings without returns.

This method eliminates the need for workshop fabrication — all you need on-site is the NXGN uprights, timber studs, MDF/plywood sheets and screws.

Skin Considerations

While skins offer storage and transport advantages, there are important trade-offs that installers and project managers should consider:

• Longer on-site installation time — Every skin must be individually cut (if required), positioned and screwed to the upright studs on-site. This takes significantly longer than standing up pre-built panels
• Limited reusability (3–5 uses) — Because skins are screwed directly through the edges at every install, the screw holes accumulate and the edges wear faster. Realistically, you'll get 3 to 5 uses out of a skin before the edges are too worn to hold screws reliably — and even that is being generous
• Skins flex and wave — Without a timber frame backing, 9mm MDF/plywood will flex between fixings. This creates a visible wave or undulation across the hoarding face, which is noticeable — especially on longer runs
• More prone to movement — Skinned hoardings have no bottom plate like panel hoardings do. This means the hoarding relies entirely on the upright studs and screw fixings for rigidity, making it more susceptible to lateral movement from people brushing past or leaning against it
• Harder to peel vinyl — When it comes time to remove vinyl wrapping for reuse, a 9mm skin flops around without a frame to hold it rigid. This makes vinyl removal slower, messier and more likely to damage the skin surface