Scaffolding is lauded as one of the most effective ways to do extensive construction projects at a height of safety. This safety is thanks to the many components that come together to ensure the scaffolding is properly secured and supported.
One of the most important components is scaffold ties. These ties serve as an anchor to keep the building and structure together. Without them, there are serious risks involved – including fatal accidents and structural collapse.
That being said, there are different types of scaffold ties for different situations. This blog will go over the different types of scaffold ties and their uses in the field.
Importance of Scaffold Ties
Scaffold ties play an integral part in keeping the structure secure from several elements. Some of these may be things like the weather, as the wind is strong enough to bend trees. But it also protects against the workers themselves, and the weight shifts that come with them using the scaffolding. Without ties, the scaffold would be too vulnerable to swaying or toppling, which is, of course, hazardous to health.
Criteria for Choosing a Scaffold Tie
The following are criteria that you should look at when considering Scaffold Ties.
Load-Bearing Capacity
Every scaffold has a load-bearing capacity. Both the materials and the workers have to be calculated into this. Different types of scaffold ties are created for different ranges of load capacities.
Nature of the Construction Project
The type of work that is being conducted will also determine the type of scaffold tie you need. For example, if the project revolves around heavy masonry or concrete then stronger ties will be needed.
Type of Structure to which the Scaffold will be Tied
Certain types of box ties are barred from use on certain structures. The biggest example of this by far is older, historic buildings that are protected. The law in the UK is very particular about the type of work that can be done on them, as they want to keep these buildings from being damaged. Some ties, such as the box or anchor ties, require piercing the wall to be fully stable.
Through Ties
Through ties are rods. Openings are measured and then drilled into the walls of the structure the scaffold will be going around, and the rods are placed into those openings. From there, the rods are fastened to the scaffold with washers and nuts – essentially lending a large amount of the structure’s integrity to the scaffold.
This tie is suitable for buildings that are still under construction or have walls that can be pierced without causing structural instability – such as buildings with walls made of brick, concrete or other types of reinforced masonry. These ties have high load-bearing capacity, as they can distribute weight more evenly due to using the buildings themselves as support. On top of all of that, it’s easy to check and ensure that the condition of the tie is as it ought to be.
That being said, they are not universally applicable due to some buildings, which happens to be their main weakness. Walls made of glass or lightweight material are not strong enough to support the scaffold, and the ones that are strong enough may cause damage beyond the hole.
Box Ties
Box ties are made of strong materials, such as galvanised steel. They are designed to connect the scaffolding to structures that are external to the building, binding the two together by wrapping around both. They are often the standard choice for buildings that cannot be pierced with through ties. The types of external structures that they wrap around include columns, pillars or chimneys.
Box ties’ main advantage is their versatility. They can be adapted to suit the various shapes of external structural elements that other ties would normally have no way of securing, and they do not require you to pierce the building, which may be out of the question for some projects.
Conversely, they may require more ties than usual to properly distribute the load and protect it from swaying. This means the cost and overall installation time will be increased. On top of this, it may require far more inspections due to its non-penetrative nature.
Anchor Ties
Anchor ties are a type of scaffold tie that is applied directly to the existing structure using bolts. This is another type of scaffold tie that is best used on buildings that cannot be pierced due to law.
Anchor ties provide a high level of security to the scaffold, as the direct bolting to the building means the building itself is lending stability to the scaffold. And since there is no piercing involved, it could possibly be used on protected buildings.
That being said, they are quite complex to install, not to mention time-consuming.
Hybrid Ties
Hybrid ties are innovative, integrating elements of the basic tie types. They are bespoke solutions crafted specifically to meet specific structural requirements. The customisation ability of the hybrid ties make this a draw, as you can essentially tailor it to suit structures that more standard ties can’t possibly secure.
That being said, these designs can be quite complex to manufacture. And anything that requires a lot of skill to manufacture will inevitably be more expensive, or perhaps even take longer to make.
Types of Scaffold Ties Conclusion
The choice between the ties mostly revolves around whether or not penetration is an option on the job – as the Through Ties are both the most affordable and by far the most stable option when it is an option. Outside of that, it really depends on the structure itself, and its surrounding elements.
Hopefully our guide today has provided you with enough information to support you in making a well-informed choice about which scaffold tie type is right for you.
