About Scaffolding

Scaffolding is defined as a temporary framework to support people and materials safely during construction and repair of buildings and other large structures.

Typically it is made from a modular metal tube system, coupled together with boards laid to walk on; though in many parts of Asia you can still find huge modern skyscrapers surrounded by bamboo scaffolding!

Scaff tubes are made of galvanised steel or aluminium; aluminium is lighter but has a reduced load capacity so can only be used in certain situations. Scaff boards are seasoned woods in a variety of thicknesses with metal nail plates at either end to reduce wear. Boards are also sometimes made up of steel, aluminium or laminates depending on exactly what you’re doing. The entire structure is also founded on tougher sole boards if the ground surface is too soft or uneven and heavy duty concrete set baulks are used for heavy load bearing designs.

Couplers are the metal connectors that hold everything together, there are various kinds enabling creative and versatile scaffolding designs; right angled couplers and swivel couplers are load bearer and can also be used with putlog couplers or joint pins and sleeve couplers to join tubes end to end.

These essential materials are then accessorised with a variety of base plates, ladders, ropes, pulleys, hoists, anchor ties, reveal ties, gin wheels, sheeting, safety railings and rubbish chutes.

Scaffolding design is all about applying basic engineering to each given unique situation; scaffold is always built around primary uprights or standards that transfer all the load weights to the floor and rest on the base plate and sole boards to spread the load. Next you add ledgers which connect all the standards together at right angles giving you a basic structure. Transoms are placed or attached to the standards to support the boards then finally diagonal cross braces are added to the ledgers for rigidity and on larger designs façade braces run at an angle from top to bottom of the scaffold to limit any sway in the wind.

The real skill comes in planning how far to space things, how many of each element you need, what can support what weight and usage, which couplers to use by which method and what other features are required to maximise safety and practicality.

Although scaffolds are free standing, they are rarely entirely independent; framework ties are used to attach the scaffolding structure to the main building at multiple points, greatly enhancing stability, if ties aren’t possible; maybe the main building isn’t even there yet, then we use rakers; tubes extending out at right angles to lean against an additional transom fitted at the base.

Scaffolding is an absolute essential in modern construction in every respect; it can enhance projects with intelligent design and firm construction, or hamper them with poor planning and erection, for the safety of your team, the general public and your project at large always work with professional scaffolders; contact us at Deverson today to arrange a survey and quotation from one of them!