Scaffolding is a temporary structure that provides users and their materials a safe and stable working platform to access different areas of a building at height, especially those hard-to-reach areas. A scaffold structure comprises steel tubes, fittings (connectors), and timber scaffold boards. Scaffolding is crucial in the construction industry as it provides a safe and efficient working environment for people to stand and move around at different levels.
Scaffolding has been used in various forms for centuries worldwide, where bamboo is the main component of the structure. In modern times, scaffolders are far more health and safety conscious, and the materials used have been stringently quality and safety tested.
A scaffolding structure plays a significant role within the construction industry as it is used for a variety of access purposes when working at height; below are 4 primary uses:
Access: Scaffolds provide a stable platform that gives workers access to multiple levels and sections of a building that ladders cannot reach or are too dangerous to access from the ground.
Support: Scaffolding can support buildings, shore up damaged walls at risk of collapse, and hold up beams or other structural elements during construction work or renovations.
Working area: A scaffold can feature multiple working platforms to complete various tasks at different levels, including painting, chimney repairs, replacing tiles on a roof, window replacement, solar panel installation, new build extensions, rendering and much more.
Safety: Its primary use is to prevent accidents or injuries and people falling from heights. A scaffold is installed with fall protection to ensure the environment is always safe.
Besides the prominent features we have already covered, using a scaffold has other benefits:
When working at height on a temporary scaffolding structure, the main health and safety risk is falling; this can be due to various factors, including inadequate fall protection installed or incorrect safety training given to the user. Other dangers can include scaffold defects, falling objects, weather, incorrect or insufficient safety equipment, ignoring safety standards and poor construction and maintenance. However, if you use a reputable scaffold company like West Sussex Scaffolding to erect your structure, you can rest assured your safety is our priority and that our scaffolds are entirely safe and secure.
According to the latest figures released from the National Access & Scaffolding Confederation (NASC), which has 239 members, 67 incidents were recorded in 2022 compared to 90 the year before. Although that number is still high, it is an improvement of 25%.
All scaffolds must be erected, altered, and dismantled by qualified, competent people, and this should be completed safely.
This can be achieved by following the safety guidelines of the NASC or when using a system scaffold referring to their manufacturer’s safety guidelines.
The main objective of a safe scaffold is to ensure the correct fall protection is installed to minimise exposure to falling. The scaffold users should also ensure they have the relevant personal fall protection if required, including safety harnesses and lanyards.
Calculations of the strength and stability of a scaffold must be carried out before erecting it. This can be completed using a scaffold design or conforming with the recognised standards for erecting safe scaffold structures, which qualified scaffolders should always undertake.
Scaffolds must always be placed on a firm, level foundation capable of supporting the structure’s weight.
Scaffolding should always be braced or tied into a permanent structure.
You may need scaffolding for a variety of reasons, but the main reason will always be for safety when working at height; however, scaffolds are ideal for:
Accessing difficult areas: This could mean providing safe access to high-rise buildings, steep roofs, tight spaces or multiple levels of a building.
Support construction work: Scaffolding provides safe access for workers and their materials and equipment during renovation and construction projects.
Performing maintenance and repairs: A scaffold is necessary for various working-at-height tasks when a ladder is not suitable, including painting, decorating, cleaning, and repair work on buildings.
To install and remove equipment: Scaffolds provide safe access for DIYers or tradespeople to install or remove air conditioning, solar panels, signage, and flues for wood burners, downpipes, windows, guttering, soffits, and fascias.
No, scaffolding needs to be erected by qualified scaffolders. It’s a complex structure that requires special training and knowledge and the correct equipment to assemble and use safely. Scaffolds erected incorrectly can result in serious safety risks, such as falls, collapsing and injuries. A scaffold must be erected to meet specific standards and comply with HSE guidelines and regulations to ensure safety.
Cantilever scaffold: This structure is angled outwards when the ground cannot support the scaffold. A cantilever uses needles that are extended out from holes in the wall of the building or when a scaffold lift is extended but cannot touch the floor. Cantilever scaffolds are supported on one end and project horizontally from the building or structure. They are ideal for use on sloping roofs, glazed roofs and stairs.
Suspended scaffolds: This is a working platform that is suspended from roofs using wire ropes or chains; it can be lowered or raised to suit; this is often used for painting, window cleaning, repair, and repointing works on tower blocks and high-rise office blocks, etc.
Double scaffold: This uses two rows of scaffolding; the first row is placed 20-30cm from the wall, and the other is 1m. They are connected using cross beams, and the upright legs are installed closer together to allow for more weight bearing. It can be used for stonemasonry and is also known as a heavy-duty scaffold.
System scaffolding: This can also be known as modular scaffolding, which is made of prefabricated horizontal and vertical components connected at fixed points to form various configurations. Popular system scaffolds include Haki, Cuplok, Layher and Kwikstage.
Painters, renderers and repointing scaffolds: These structures are specifically designed for painting, rendering and repointing work and allow safe access to the entire area that needs decorating, so the scaffold structure should not touch the walls; it should be double-braced, and the vertical tubes should not be in the way of the area.
Chimney scaffolding: Provides access from the ground to either the base of a chimney or around the whole stack for repairs to flashing, repointing, removal, painting or installing a flue for wood burners.
Temporary roof scaffold: Also known as a tin hat, these provide a complete weatherproof covering over the top of houses and properties using the following components along with the standard tubular framework: corrugated iron sheets, beams and monarflex sheeting. This structure is used for loft conversions, re-roofs, new home extensions, and any other building work requiring full weatherproofing.
Birdcage scaffolds: This structure is typically used as fall protection in the rooms of new build houses or to access high levels of an existing building, such as ceilings and light fixtures in churches, schools, and building atriums. The birdcage scaffold is an independent structure consisting of multiple rows of standards placed in both directions and connected to ledgers and transoms at every scaffold lift height. The top lift is the only lift fully boarded as the working platform.
Conservatory scaffolding: This is erected over conservatories, orangeries, lean-to’s, extensions, garage roofs or any part of a building that cannot take the weight of a scaffold. Scaffolders bridge over these areas using beams when the legs of a scaffold can not be supported to provide safe access to the parts of the property above.
Commercial scaffolds: This can range from scaffolding for schools, shop fronts, warehouses, factories, and office blocks for repairs and maintenance works to be carried out. Some commercial buildings may require a pavement licence if the scaffold is placed on a public path or highway.
Domestic/residential scaffold: These are scaffolds erected around your home for various purposes, including installation of solar panels, access to gutters, soffits and facias, window replacement, roofing works, extensions and loft conversions. Sizes vary depending on the type of property (bungalow, 2-storey, 3-storey) and how many sides (front, back, two sides, four sides etc).
Scaffold stairs: These can be built using either traditional steel tube and fittings scaffolds or system modular scaffolds. Either option provides a safe flight(s) of stairs with handrails and landings to various locations, including fire escapes, rooftops and dockyards for accessing boats.
Scaffold handrails and edge protection: Handrail edge protection is required, for example, when roofing work is taking place, and the user needs fall protection around the external perimeter of the roof. A guardrail protection is installed along the edge, but this does not necessarily include scaffold platforms.
Construction scaffolds: This scaffolding can also be known as a progressive scaffold, where the scaffolding is erected in stages as the project develops; for example, the 1st lift of the scaffold is installed up to the top of the brickwork before the next section of bricks is laid, and then another scaffold lift is required, or when all of the brickwork has been completed, the final and typically 3rd scaffold lift is needed for the installation of the roof. New builds, house extensions, and new housing developments will require this type of scaffold.
Independent scaffolding: This is a freestanding scaffold structure that does not need any support from the building itself. The ledger tube may touch the building in a few places to improve stability, but it is a self-supporting scaffold. It can be used for light exterior work like painting, repointing, window replacement, rendering and cladding.
These are galvanised poles which come in lengths of 5ft up to 21ft and have many uses on a scaffolding structure; these include:
Standards: These are vertical upright tubes that are the legs of the structure and transfer the weight of the scaffold to the ground. They are placed on base plates to help spread the load.
Ledgers: These tubes run horizontally along the length of the scaffold; they are used to support the working platform and are connected to the standards with double couplers and transoms with single couplers.
Transoms: These are smaller tubes, typically 5ft or 6ft in length, that span across the ledgers and on which the scaffolding boards are laid. They are generally fixed at right angles to face the building, supporting the working platform and boards.
Rakers: They are a diagonal tube that provides lateral support to increase the stability of a scaffold.
Diagonal braces: Brace tubes are an essential part of the structure that stabilises the scaffold. Bracing is typically fixed to the inside ledger tube using double couplers, and the bottom of the brace is then attached to the outside uprights using swivel couplers on the first lift of a scaffold structure, which helps to resist lateral forces.
Handrails: These are the tubes used to build safety rails around the external perimeter of a working platform to prevent workers from falling off. Handrail edge protection is often built with double rails, and the height of the top handrail is typically 950mm above the working platform.
These are used to create the working platform where users walk and work from and for the toe boards that prevent objects from falling from the decking. These boards are generally made from European whitewood timber and come in lengths of 8ft, 10ft and 13ft. They have metal bands on either end and are placed on top of the transoms.
These vital components connect the tubes to create a scaffold framework. They are typically made from steel (pressed steel or drop forged) and can only be used with 48.3mm diameter tubes, with each fitting offering a specific function:
Single coupler: Also known as putlog couplers, they connect transoms to ledger tubes, allowing the boards to be laid unobstructed; they can also be used to secure the toe boards to the scaffold uprights.
Double coupler: This load-bearing fitting connects two tubes at a 90-degree angle, generally connecting upright standards to ledger tubes, handrails to upright tubes and braces to horizontal ledgers.
Swivel coupler: This is a load-bearing fitting used to connect tubes diagonally. Its main uses within a scaffolding structure include diagonal and sway bracing.
Sleeve: This external connecter joins two scaffold tubes at either end.
Expandable joint pin: These are also used to connect scaffold tubes end to end; however, they are placed inside the tubes and expanded to secure them.
Base plates: These are placed on the ground, and the standard vertical upright tube is put on top to help spread the load of the scaffold.
Board retaining clip: This prevents scaffold boards from uplifting from the wind or moving; they sit between two scaffold boards and are fixed to a transom tube.
Girder clamps: Gravlock girder clamps connect tubes to steel beams; these are used in pairs, one on either side of the beam flange. These are typically required when erecting safety handrails around a steel frame building before the roof is installed.
If you have any questions regarding the above information or would like us to provide a quotation for a scaffold job, please contact us, and our team will gladly assist.
