What You Need to Know About Scaffolding

A scaffold is essential because it can be used as a precaution to keep construction workers safe when they’re working in heights. Falling from high places is the number one cause of construction deaths. So, it is only natural for the US Department of Labour to cite fall protection and scaffolding requirements as invaluable in construction.

Safety is important. In this case, security rests on the type of scaffolding and materials used to set them up. Let us look into this more by discussing the styles and then the materials.

Types of scaffolding

There exist various types of scaffolds for multiple conditions. Read on to find out what they are:

1. Single vs. double
Single scaffolding generally consists of putlogs, ledgers, standards, etc., and are placed alongside the wall at a distance of about 1.2m. People typically use them for brick masonry.

For brick masonry, it’s single scaffolding. For stone masonry, you use double scaffolding. To make a double scaffolding, you have to have two rows of scaffolding to support putlogs. Its first row is 20 to 30cm away from the wall, while its second row is 1m away from the first row. Rakers and cross braces are provided to make it stronger.

2. Cantilever vs. suspended scaffolding
For cantilever scaffolding, a stream of needles assists the standards. The needles are then taken out through the holes in the wall. This type of scaffolding is generally used in situations wherein:
● The ground cannot support standards
● The wall’s upper part is being constructed
● The surface near the wall needs to be traffic-free

When the working platform is suspended from roofs using wire ropes or chains, it is suspended scaffolding. They are used for repair works, paintings, etc.

3. Steel vs. patented scaffolding
People build steel scaffolding by fixing steel tubes with each other by steel couplings or fittings. They are effortless to construct and dismantle. People more commonly use them these days because they’re durable and have high fire resistance.

Patented scaffolding, on the other hand, are ready-made scaffolds. They are made of steel and use special couplings and frames. They can be adjusted as they are arranged on brackets.

Supplies and Equipment

The scaffolding may be the skeleton of construction, but they use various materials and pieces of equipment. We tackle some of them below.

Props

There are different kinds of props used for scaffolding. There is aluminium, steel props, and an acrow prop tripod.

● Aluminium props are used for temporary support and are fully adjustable.

● Steel props are designed to support temporary beams and are galvanized to prevent corrosion, meaning you can use them longer.

● Acrow prop tripods are used to hold formwork props vertically. They speed up the erection process and can be easily removed after use.

Edge Protection

One of the materials under edge protection is handrails, which are used to decrease the risk of falling from a scaffold platform.

Another is void protection, which ensures workers’ safety when they are working around unprotected stair voids.

Temporary fencing is also used as edge protection. It is used to benefit workers and pedestrians and contain materials and equipment in one area.

To conclude, scaffolding is necessary because they ensure the safety of workers. By providing their security, they also provide the continuous progress of construction.