Scaffolding has been helping builders for tens of thousands of years and continues to support the development of construction possibilities and the safety of workers. The materials and components have been refined and advanced by pipe civil engineers over the centuries to give the industry diverse types of scaffolding. Their uses have expanded with their specification advancement, resulting in exciting architectural outcomes.
So when did it all start?
Palaeolithic types of scaffolding
An indication of the use of scaffolding has been noted in archaeological dig sites of the Palaeolithic period, 17,000 years ago. The presence of wall sockets implied the use of a scaffolding-type structure to enhance construction access.
Herodotus (485-435 BC), a Greek historian, included commentary on the use of wooden scaffolding by the Egyptians in the building of pyramids (+/- 2500 BC – 1500 BC). His research states:
“At first, it (the pyramid) was built with steps, like a staircase….The stones intended for use in constructing the pyramids were lifted by means of a short wooden scaffold. In this way they were raised from the earth to the first step of the staircase; there they were laid on another scaffold, by means of which they were raised to the second step.”
A thousand years later, monks were trained in construction methods to establish more churches and abbeys. They also used scaffolding and continued this construction-by-monks tradition for hundreds of years, ending in the 1900s.
Metal types of scaffolding
As an outcome of the industrial revolution, the manufacture of metal piping and development of metal scaffolding became a possibility. Until this time, traditional scaffolding used bamboo scaffolding poles and rope as the primary components. Bamboo is light and has an immense power-to-weight ratio. It was used in construction of The Great Wall of China and is still one of the main types of scaffolding used extensively today in Asian countries and some southern European countries.
Traditional scaffolding using timber poles with rope combination started losing popularity when Daniel and David Palmer-Jones invented a safer method of connecting metal poles for scaffolding, effectively a form of coupler scaffolding, to replace the tied-rope methodology. Their proposed standard fixings, called “Rapid Scaffixers”, and subsequent Patent Rapid Scaffold Tie company, resulted in their product being awarded a supply contract for the Buckingham Palace remodelling project in early 1900.
Contemporary scaffolding uses
In today’s built environment industry, metal pole and componentry scaffolding is used for:
- Construction
- Maintenance
- Repair work
It protects, elevates and supports the construction team and enhances their ability to conduct tasks.
Scaffolding is a temporary structure, and its main benefits are to achieve safe work at heights and for underpinning (individual or connected components).
The incorrect use of scaffolding in construction contributes to a material portion of site accidents and regulators therefore, look to scaffolding contractors and construction workers to conform to regulations.
Types of scaffolding componentry
Scaffolds are constructed from various scaffolding materials depending on the scaffold work platform that is required for the task:
- Standards – These are the perpendicular tubes. Their engineering function is to receive and transfer passive and active loads to the baseplates. Their additional function is to extend the height of working platforms. Standards work in conjunction with connecting pins and socket joints.
- Ledgers – These tubes are installed horizontally along the length of the 3D structure. They form connections from standard to standard. Multiple bays are connected in this manner and deliver the height of the working teams’ elevated operations platform.
- Transom – Transoms are used to support standards and are also installed horizontally but along the width of the 3D structure. They are, therefore, at right angles to the ledgers. A transom’s length indicates the width of the working bay.
- Scaffolding Tubes – These are hollow pipes manufactured from steel or aluminium. Steel tubes are generally heavier and less easy to manoeuvre and assemble than aluminium but are a highly durable and cost-effective form of tubular scaffolding.
- Couplers/special couplings – Putlog couplers, swivel couplers and right angle couplers are the components that join the vertical and horizontal tubes. Right angle couplers and swivel couplers are the only suitable options for load-bearing connections.
- Diagonal Braces – These are additional lengths of steel or aluminium that aid in the additional disbursement of passive and live loads. These allow for larger scaffolding structures.
- Boards, decks and planks – These are the “floorboards” of the working bay that the team stand on to conduct operations. They are manufactured from timber, steel or aluminium.
- Base Plates – Also know as a base jack, these are the adjustable “feet” of the overall structure which are the load-bearing base for the scaffold and can be used for refined levelling of the structure.
- Guard Rails – Safety rails to prevent the crew from falling off.
- Toe Boards – A low-level guard rail system to prevent tools or materials from falling off the structure.
- Putlog scaffold – Putlogs or putlock scaffolding is when transoms are connected to the building to form part of the support system for some types of scaffolding setups.
Popular types of scaffolding structures
Scaffolding comes in many shapes and sizes, subject to the project and team needs. There are two main types of scaffolding – either independent scaffolds, where the scaffold doesn’t rely on the building for support but will be tied to it for security, or dependent scaffolding, where the structure uses the building for support to create a secure scaffold structure.
Steel is generally the preferred material for scaffolding in construction as it is cost-effective, provides superior structural strength, tensile strength and, therefore, durability.
In the process and power piping industries, steel scaffolding is the most common type. Steel scaffolding helps create a stable platform which can be erected and dismantled quickly. Steel scaffolding is suitable and safe for working at great heights. For big construction works, steel scaffolding is preferred over other types of tubular scaffolding.
The terminology that is used in the built environment industry to describe the basic types of scaffolding structures is generally listed and defined as follows:
Cantilever Scaffolding – As the name suggests, the resulting 3D structure of this scaffolding creates a working area that extends over ground level or an area of the building without making contact with ground level or building itself. This is usually due to limited ground area or the surface being unsuitable for carrying scaffolding or being too complex to access. Cantilever scaffolding is also called needle or single frame scaffolding. It is a great benefit to the construction industry and projects with space or access constraints.
Trestle Scaffolding – Again, the name does hint at the description of this type of scaffolding. Trestle Scaffolding does not go over the five metres in height and is kept as a simple structure so that it is a good form of mobile scaffolding. Their base plates have castors connected and are mostly used indoors and for low complexity work, e.g. painting ceilings or double volume walls, electrical work at heights, installing window treatments and related hardware, etc.
Single Scaffolding – The ‘single’ in this name refers to one row or, more precisely, one plane or one façade. It can also be called putlog or putlock scaffolding. This single plane of scaffolding is mainly constructed with ledgers and standards. The transoms are used to connect the scaffolding to the building structure. This is a popular scaffolding structure for construction projects including those involving bricklayers, plasterers or workers doing a bagged finish with a slush on masonry.
Double Scaffolding – Yes, this scaffolding is literally consists of two rows of scaffolding, the first next to the building wall and the second about 1 metre further away, but connected by cross beams and braces. As would be expected, it offers greater strength and scalability and it more suitable for heavy loads. This offers more workspace, more options for workers to move past each other, and more temporary storage space for equipment and bulky materials. The structure is a favourite of those working in stone masonry.
Suspended Scaffolding – Our industry clearly likes to keep our terminology uncomplicated. This structure is a platform scaffolding structure but without base plates because it is suspended using cable, specialised ropes or chains. These suspension items are anchored to the tops of tall structures with health and safety approved anchor points such as the truss or roof truss. The working platforms can be manually or mechanically lowered and raised. It is a popular choice for exterior painting projects and window cleaners or for maintenance work on commercial buildings. The platform can be lowered or raised to access lots of different levels and, if there is a track along the top of the building, the platform can also be moved horizontally.
Kwik-stage Scaffolding – This type of scaffolding is quick to assemble and as quick to disassemble, making it useful as mobile scaffolds or or short-term construction projects. The ease of assembly does not detract from the strength, making Kwik-stage a good option for projects that range from small to large.
Hazards and risks when working with scaffolding
As we mentioned earlier, a large number of accidents that occur when using scaffolding for construction due to teams not following safety measures or management not ensuring sufficient inspections are taking place. This is unfortunate as up to 65% of work that occurs in built environment projects require scaffolding facilitated access.
The higher the access point for scaffolding to reach, the greater the risk of accidents.
The risks that are identified as the most frequently encountered on sites are as follows:
- Incorrect guardrail installation resulting in worker falls from heights.
- Entire scaffolding structures falling down with workers because of incorrect assembly.
- Inappropriate storage of materials and equipment from scaffolds or insufficient toe boards causing equipment and materials to fall, injuring or killing people on site.
- Shocks or similar injuries from live electrical connections to incorrect positioning of scaffolding or incompetent electricians.
- Insufficient safety harnesses, poor placement of equipment of materials, too much equipment or materials on decks and undersized scaffolding structures that cause trips, slips and falls from working bays at heights.
- Incorrectly locked scaffold wheels causing unplanned movement of scaffolds, resulting in damage to property, equipment and injuries to workers.
Due to the myriad risks and fatigue factors related to work on sites and tall buildings, it is best practice to inspect scaffolding at the beginning of each workday. It is also advised that a supervisor checks on the work conduct of teams on scaffolding during the course of the morning and the afternoon. This stops shortcuts or oversights from occurring. Standard checklists are available to ensure compliance with Occupational Safety and Health regulations. Please ask us for help with these if you need them.
The design of different types of scaffold structures
National industry regulations state that if a temporary scaffold structure is not erected according to general standards and recognised, published configurations, then the structure must be specifically designed by a certified professional. The bespoke design will need to be over-engineered for:
- Passive and live load strength
- Vertical and horizontal stability
- Sufficient workspace for the headcount, materials and equipment
- Ease of access to each platform
- Safety harness attachment
- Safe erection
- Safe dismantling
The operations management is responsible for supplying sufficient information to the engineer to allow that professional to design a scaffolding solution that meets industry safety standards, project requirements and user practical needs.
An example of the type of data that the engineer needs is:
- Type of structure being built or being worked on
- Size and dimensions of structure
- The location of the project
- The typography of the site (relevant to the scaffolding)
- Geotechnical data if any unusual ground substrate is expected
- The duration of use of the scaffold structure
- The work that the teams will be carrying out whilst on the scaffolding
- The proposed length, width and height of the scaffolding structure
- The maximum number of workers expected at any one time
- The type of equipment and materials (quantity) that will be stored on the boards
- The number of deck lifts
- The maximum working load expected at any one time
- Method of access: ladder, stairs, elevator
- Sheeting, screening, etc.
- Foot traffic redirection requirements
- Hoist requirements
- Space, condition, environmental or other restrictions that the professional may not be immediately aware of
The designer will supply the project with specifications and/or a drawing that will relay the following information:
- The name and definition of the scaffolding structure required for the project
- Bay lengths
- Height between bays
- Decking arrangement (i.e. 5 + 2)
- Maximum number of lifts permitted simultaneously
- Load class and leg loads
- Horizontal and vertical joint spacing
- Additional elements needed
- Special erection instructions
- Special dismantling instructions
- Special usage instructions
- Technical drawing of specifications
Inspections of scaffold structures
The scaffolding supplier is not responsible for the users’ actions on-site nor for the inspection of the structure erected by the teams. The teams on site are responsible for:
- Adhering to regulation installation instructions, manufacturer instructions or supplier instructions.
- The erected structure must be inspected by a competent professional by the hirer.
- Inspections must take place at the start of each workday but must never exceed a gap of seven days.
- If unexpected circumstances arise, e.g. unusual weather conditions, then an emergency inspection must occur.
- Inspections, erections and dismantling must always be carried out by appropriately qualified personnel. The personnel’s training and experience must be relevant to the application on-site as well as to the complexity of the design or usage.
The inspections should produce reports, no matter how small, that highlight concerns or corrective actions needed or actioned. This builds up a pattern that could result in helpful training if a repetitive pattern is observed.
Types of Scaffolding systems at BPS Access Solutions
BPS Access Solutions is the leading specialist supplier of scaffolding components, mobile scaffold towers and podium steps, and also diverse options of:
- extension ladders
- combination ladders
- step ladders
- loft ladders
- and so much more high-quality height adjustable access equipment!
Our products are all rigorously tested, meeting all necessary safety regulations and featuring full, clear use instructions and guidelines. It doesn’t matter if you’re an experienced user or you’re just buying your first scaffolding products, we have the expertise to help you get the job done safely.
Browse our site to view the diverse products we keep in stock!
Call us now with any questions: 0333 006 9776, or call our local telephone number: 01959 576568.
