Wti Scaffold Blog

To provide television viewing, studio and support facilities for the world’s media at key locations along the route of the British Royal Wedding, Media Structures chose modular scaffolding from Layher Ltd.

The centrepiece of the project was a dedicated media village in Green Park, which is located opposite Buckingham Palace. Here, a three-storey structure was built using 158t of Layher Allround scaffolding to provide up to 200 broadcast camera viewing points within 22 individual studios. The rosette coupler, which is at the heart of the Layher design, enabled a 70m long structure to follow a radius footprint with Layher stairtowers also used to provide multi-level access at key points. Alongside, Media Structures Limited also used the Layher system to create a number of additional studio facilities designed to provide viewing points at ground level.

The scaffolding system was also used in up to 30 camera and commentary positions along the route while at Westminster Abbey, the venue for the marriage ceremony, Media Structures used approximately 100t of Layher equipment to provide the multi-tiered media stand opposite the main entrance. This design also benefited from the use of transparent Keder sheeting to provide protection in the case of inclement weather. Additional camera positions were constructed on adjacent rooftops as well as within the Abbey itself – from cleverly disguised locations either side of the entrance door to the triforium viewing position high in the roof area.

Andy Needham, managing director at Media Structures Limited said, “The Royal Wedding project was an overall team effort including, not least, the back-up and support from Layher’s UK office which helped to deliver a successful conclusion. Less than a month was available from start of build to hand over so it was vital that we selected a scaffold system which was versatile, robust, enabled the optimum use of manpower and allowed the wide range of installations to be completed quickly.”

Sean Pike managing director of Layher UK said, “We believe this is an excellent example of the benefits associated with our scaffolding system designs, particularly when compared with conventional tube and fitting alternatives. The latter, we believe, would have needed vastly more equipment, greater manpower and would have put extreme pressure on the time scale involved. Moreover, factors such as the neat appearance of Layher scaffolding also clearly made a major contribution, given the prestige of the event.”

By understanding the components to scaffold safety workers could actually prevent 4,500 injuries and 50 deaths every year. And can you guess what this would save the American employers? A whopping 90 million dollars in work days lost. If it is important to you to remain safe while using scaffolds at your work place or if you are a business owner and intend to keep your employees and money safe then it is vital to thoroughly comprehend scaffold safety. In this article we will examine and address some of the most frequently asked questions concerning scaffold support, the plane of the scaffold, access and railing.

In what ways can I secure the scaffold?

Scaffolds require support in order to be secure. There are actually three main categories of scaffolds so in result there are three different types of support systems. The first is a suspended model in which it is suspended in the air by ropes or other resources from an overhead structure. The next type is a supported foundation that is made of one or more platforms with beams, poles, or frames. And the last grouping is aerial scaffolds. This type needs shackles in order to achieve scaffold safety and further prevent accidental disengage of the aerial lift.

What kind of plane do scaffolds require in order to be reliable?

It’s essential that your scaffolds maintain the proper plane when seeking scaffold safety. If you do not retain the perfect level in your platform you have more than the possibility of creating hazards for yourself and your team. Having an uneven platform will cause workers to become off balance and fall off of the scaffold. Or objects could even slide from the platform running into the worker or striking someone below.

How should I examine the ladders on my scaffolds?

It is so important that in addition to inspecting your platforms you also perform upkeep on your points of access. Your ladders should be inspected prior to every use for scaffold safety. Remember that your scaffolds must be located in a place so that workers don’t need to step more than 1 ft. from the ladder to the platform. Make sure that your way of access is free of oil spills or grease and don’t use if there is any form of structural defect.

What are the correct measurements for guard rails?

In scaffold safety the last main component is guard rails. It is vital that they possess the correct measurements as well as being firmly secured. Scaffolds that are higher than five feet above a surface or any distance above a body of water must have railing. The top rail must be 42-45 inches high, midrail must be half way between the top rail and platform, and must consist of 2×4 lumbers, flat bar, or pipe.

In this article we have addressed a few different components In order to better understand scaffold safety procedures. By incorporating your new knowledge of scaffold support, the plane, access, and railing you will be more capable of keeping yourself and workers safe.

Scaffolding training is a good idea for several reasons. To begin with, as a building enterprise owner you would like your employees to have sufficient scaffolding training to prevent accidents on the job that you as the business owner will be responsible. Accidents occur suddenly since that’s their makeup and are by no means a joyful event either for the one who has the injury, or for this company proprietor who could end up facing legal action resulting from using untrained employees to work with scaffolds. It is legislation in South Africa that building companies abide by the building laws that are part of the Occupational Health and Safety Act of the country and appropriate training in scaffolding usage is a part of this. Nevertheless, no one wants to have an accident, much less die, working which is why avoidance through proper training is infinitely better than cure!

Seasoned construction workers working on scaffolds can make the work seem so easy, particularly from down beneath where the observer has both shoes on the ground, but it really isn’t. Laborers might be hundreds of metres from the ground, doing work in windy conditions with simply a steel framework between them and the floor. Harnesses are generally mandatory, as are headgear and goggles to keep construction debris and grit out the eyes, but what’s the correct equipment worth if it’s not properly used, or perhaps used at all? Employees may undervalue the importance and value associated with making use of their protective clothing and apparatus correctly, and not work with it properly, which is a formula for disaster in the long run.

At this stage , appropriate scaffolding training comes into play. It not only instructs workers the best way to construct scaffolding but how to work with it properly to guarantee their safety. Trainees learn how to erect scaffolding so that it provides a firm and stable framework all of the time, as well as tips on how to stack and store it on the ground. Workers additionally learn about various kinds of scaffolding and their load-bearing capacities and should end up being tested on their knowledge both practically and theoretically, if at all possible. Ideally, workers should be given proper instruction during their induction into a business and workers with expertise should be sent on refresher programs. Business owners looking to send personnel on scaffolding training courses can find organizations providing education on the internet but should first make certain that organizations offering scaffolding training are accredited by regulatory bodies.

One last message to DIY house construction fanatics: simply because you are doing the work all by yourself doesn’t imply you are exempt from scaffolding training. You may think the job you’re working on is not located high enough up to present any risk, but you can’t say for sure. The husband of a friend of my mother’s lost his balance off a single-storey scaffold while painting gutters and broke his ankle. The poor man at this point walks with a limp and the gutters still aren’t painted as it took months for the man’s leg to heal and right now he does not possess the heart to climb up that scaffold again to complete the job.

It is often used in any project that requires work at high levels, so scaffolding can even be used on your home if you need work done above the first level of your home. Generally scaffolding is constructed with pipes that are metal, or with bamboos even in some cases.

Metal pipes, also known as scaffolding tubes are the material of choice, particularly if the site of the construction is extremely high. This is the safest and most reliable method of scaffolding tubes and thus is the most commonly used. Bamboo scaffolding tubes are still used today, but are primarily used and most popular in many Asian countries, as this material is easily available and cost effective for Eastern contractors. Whether your scaffolding tubes are metal or bamboo however, the main objective of scaffolding tubes is that they ensure a safe working environment for those that you hire to do your job.

Tube and clam scaffolding, or simply scaffolding tubes with clams are popular everywhere. These devise are extremely versatile and are used with sets of metal scaffolding tubes that are attached with metal clamps. The vertical scaffolding tubes will be connected to horizontal scaffolding tubes through the use of right angle metal clamps. Diagonal scaffolding tubes are then used to connect the scaffolding via swivel metal clamps as a means of securing and stabilizing the entire scaffolding tubes structure.

Four essential components comprise the scaffolding tubes system. These will be your scaffolding tubes which will be vertical, horizontal, and diagonal scaffolding tubes. The other three components in a scaffolding tubes system are right angle metal clamps, swivel metal clamps, and the base plates for the entire scaffolding tubes system. The base plates are the structures that the workers for the job will be standing and working on as they go up the scaffolding tubes system.

This kind of scaffolding tube system is the most commonly used when the contractor requires unlimited versatility. The reason for this is that the horizontal scaffolding tubes can be placed at virtually any height alongside the vertical scaffolding tube. Vertical scaffolding tubes are also known as legs, and these can be spaced any distance apart, up to and including the maximum distance set by engineering standards. While the tube and clamp scaffolding tube system is extremely versatile, it is also the most labor intensive, and as such, is often only used when versatility is a priority to all other issues on the job site.

Companies worldwide count on the Boss aluminum scaffold tower. These towers have been manufactured since 1993 and are compliant with HD 1004 and tested by BS1139. Boss is a well trusted brand in the construction industry. They are known for quality and safety. Scaffold towers are used in many different sections of construction from household do it yourselfers to seasoned contractors. With the Boss versatility anyone can use the boss aluminum scaffold tower. There are several options to choose from which will be discussed in this article.

Starting off with the do it yourselfers, Boss offers the Boss Room-mate, with its compact aluminum modular access platform its functionality is unlimited.

The Boss Room-Mate offers:

One person operation folding base unit
600mm x 1800mm slip resistant platform
Casters with positive locking brake mechanism
Great for outside work, doing siding, windows and cleaning gutters

The Boss StairMax offers:

4.2mplatform height from lowest stair
1.3m slip proof deck with locking gate
Easy to store and transport
Great for hanging plants along staircases, painting and repairing entryways on staircases

The Boss Zone 1 offers:

non conductive, non sparking, non corroding, non oxidizing, clean fiberglass modular access tower with built in ladder system
High visibility

This model is used for contractors needs inside and outside any commercial building.

Boss aluminum scaffold towers come in 8 styles and trends. Boss also offers steps, platforms and ladders.
The safety features only Boss offers are a definite pro for this product. The versatility of Boss products are a pro for contractors and laborers anywhere. The biggest con with Boss products is that even though the boss aluminum tower can be used by everyone from the do it yourselfer to the national contractor, the do it yourselfer will find it difficult to take the tower indoors for basic remodeling work.

When looking to purchase be aware of the safety features offered by Boss. Inspect the product to make sure it meets your needs. Competitors will say they are just as good if not better than Boss, however Boss’s features not only in safety but versatility outshine any competitors’ claims.

Using scaffold towers as part of your home improvement construction project means that for your safety it is a good idea to be aware of the health and safety recommendations. Treat your home as a workplace when using scaffold towers. Before you undertake work on scaffolding towers carry out an assessment in accordance to The Work at Height Regulations 2005. In the workplace this assessment is to confirm that there is no alternative to working at height and that the most suitable equipment has been selected for the job in hand, the same should apply to your home construction project.
Scaffold towers are, when used correctly, a safe means of gaining access to work which is being done at height. They are used widely throughout the UK. Where incidents can occur is when there has been inappropriate erection or the misuse of the scaffold towers, also known as access towers. Numerous accidents occur because of these reasons but with the correct health and safety practices these are being lowered and can be prevented.
When erecting scaffold towers you need to be aware that aluminium and the thin-wall steel towers are relatively light and can overturn easily with incorrect use. All parts must be in their correct place to ensure the required core strength. If sections are left out there is a good chance that the towers can collapse.
There are two approved methods which are recommended by the Prefabricated Access Suppliersandrsquo; and Manufacturersandrsquo; Association, which have been developed in conjunction with the Health and Safety Executive. However all manufacturers also have the duty to provide the instruction manual which explains the erection sequence and this should include any bracing requirements. The same applies to any organisations which hire the towers to you.
The first approved method is an advance guard rail system, which makes use of guard rail units which are specifically designed for the job. These guard rail units are locked in place form the level below and moved up onto the platform level. They provide collective fall prevention and are put in place before the operator accesses the platform in order to fit the permanent guard rails. It is the progressive erection of guard rails from the protected areas at the lower level which makes sure that the operator will not be exposed to the risk of falling from an un-guarded platform.
The second approved method of erection is the andldquo;through the trapandrdquo; method. It involves the operator taking up a working position in the trap door of the platform. From this position you can add or remove the components which are acting as guard rails on the level above the platform. This method is designed to make sure that the operator does not stand on an un-guarded platform, yet can install the components to a particular level while you are positioned within the trap door of that level.
Before use the scaffolding towers you should inspect the access towers well to see that they are in a safe working condition. Naturally you or any other person using the scaffold towers should not be under the influence of any state altering medication or other substances.
Take the time to plan your work well as this will help you keep safe when using scaffold towers.

Bamboo is still an accepted thing in a lot of Asian countries.

The right way of the laying a scaffold along with the pattern and the usage has been given by the The European Standard. The basic prerequisites are for the scaffold structures that are built on the contiguos structure for support. In general these requirements also apply to other types of working scaffolds.

The very vital use of a working scaffold is to ensure that they is protection as well as reachability to work that has to be done. This document sets out performance requirements for working scaffolds. These are substantially independent of the materials of which the scaffold is made. The standard is intended to be used as the basis for enquiry and design.

Secrets of Scaffolding

The key elements of a scaffold are standards, ledgers and transoms. It is the use of the vertical tubes well known as standards or uprights are the ones that help in bearing the entire loand of the structure that rests on a square base plate. The base plate has a shank in its centre to hold the tube and is sometimes pinned to a sole board. It is the use of ledgers that help in joining the standards. Transoms rest upon the ledgers at right angles. Main transoms are placed next to the standards, they hold the standards in place and provide support for boards; intermediate transoms are those placed between the main transoms to provide extra support for boards.

An appropriate base is compulsory. In practice one has to ensure that there is use of tough materials for the scaffold so that it can safely hold up the weight. Though scaffolding should essentially have a base plate on any of the concrete or plane surface it is not a mandatory thing. In places such as pavements one has to make use of tarmac base plates.

There are certain things that are essential for ensuring the safety of the working platform. There has to be provision for close boards along with double guard rails that have toe and stop boards. There has to be safety and protection ensured while using it.

The Prefabricated Access Suppliers’ and Manufacturers’ Association has approved two methods that can be followed by one as they are enforced in coordination with the Health and Safety Executive. One of the standard methods that is made use of in particular is an advanced guard rail system that runs on guardrail units. The second approved method of erection is the “through the trap” method. The position of work of the operator is one that entails him to be in the trap door of the platform.

Safer with Scaffolding

Without scaffolding, tall buildings would fall into disrepair quickly through lack of maintenance. One can make a scaffolding for any building irrespective of its shape or height. Scaffolding makes walkways safer for construction workers to do their jobs with optimum freedom of movement.

A scaffolding necessarily has to be done up with bearing some of the vital things in mind. A scaffold that has been done in an inaccurate manner can be very hazardous for the people using it as well as in the surrounding place of it. It is crucial that all the appropriate safety measures are honored strictly, and experts always construct that scaffolding.

The scaffold towers are the safe as well as easy to use towers for performing the works that require you to be above the ground. If you are going to buy the scaffold towers, you should have at least ABC knowledge about the scaffold towers available in the market. If you have some previous ideas about the scaffold towers for sale, it will help you make the right decision. Go through the following article to know about the scaffold towers for sale.

The scaffold towers are available in various shapes and metals. There are the steel scaffold tower, the aluminium scaffold tower, and the fiberglass scaffold tower. The scaffold towers are also available as the portable scaffold towers and the movable scaffold towers.

The Steel Scaffold Tower

The most common and the traditional type of the scaffold tower is the steel scaffold tower. People have been using the steel scaffold towers for many years. The scaffold towers made of steel are very durable and sturdy. They are mainly used for performing the heavy duties such as construction works. If you expect heavy duties from your scaffold towers, then the steel scaffold tower is right for you. The steel scaffold towers are also comparatively cheap than the other types of scaffold towers. But one negative thing about the steel scaffold towers you should keep in mind is that they are heavy and difficult to move from one place to another. So, you can opt for the steel scaffold towers, if you want your scaffold towers perform heavy duties.

Aluminium Scaffold Towers

If you want lightweight, easy to use scaffold towers, you can opt for the aluminium scaffold towers. Aluminium is lighter than steel. So, the scaffold towers made of aluminium are lighter than the steel scaffold tower. Though the aluminium scaffold towers are lighter, they are very suitable for industrial as well as residential uses. You can use it for such purpose as the construction works. You can also use the aluminium scaffold towers for such simple works as painting or installing a window. The aluminium scaffold towers are rust free and durable. But they are more expensive than the steel scaffold towers.

Fiberglass Scaffold towers

If you want to use a scaffold tower, which is extremely safe; you can use the fiberglass scaffold towers. They are safe as well as functional. The scaffold towers made of fiberglass are safe because fiberglass prevents electrocution. Unlike the aluminium scaffold towers, the fiberglass scaffold towers are not conductors of electricity. The fiberglass scaffold towers are also very lightweight, durable and easy to use. They are as durable as the other types of scaffold towers. But the fiberglass scaffold towers are more expensive than the steel and aluminium scaffold towers. So, if you work in an environment which is exposed to electricity, you can easily opt for the fiberglass scaffold towers.

These scaffold towers are also available as the portable scaffold towers and the movable scaffold towers. The portable scaffold towers are easy to dismantle and set up. They can be easily carried from one place to another. The movable scaffold towers are even more suitable to use. You will not have to dismantle and set up them each time you change the place of work. They come with wheels.

These are the scaffold towers available for sale. Having some ideas about the scaffold towers for sale will help you make the best buy.

So often I’m asked the same question: how do I get over my conservatory to get to the roof or gutters? Although I’ve been asked this several times, the answer is incredibly easy.

When the walls above your conservatory need to be painted, or the gutters cleaned, or you simply want to wash the conservatory roof, the easiest thing to do is build two scaffold towers: one on each side of the conservatory, and connect the hired scaffold towers with staging boards that stretch across the top of the conservatory. Essentially, you make a little bridge.

If you don’t have very much room surrounding your conservatory, you can hire narrow scaffold towers of a metre wide. If your conservatory spans the back of your house, then you may find that your neighbours are very accommodating when offered use of the scaffold towers, for letting you set up over the boundary fence. A little gentle negotiation and everyone will win; maybe they need to do some work at height: sort out their gutters, or neaten up a few loose tiles.

Putting up a scaffold tower is pretty easy work, some may even say fun! Unlike the scaffolding that hangs off city buildings, scaffold towers come with colour-coded components, presented with clear construction guidelines. Ladders and trapdoors are incorporated in the tower, so it’s just a matter of following the guidelines. Scaffold towers were designed with DIYers and individual contractors in mind; people who need to work at height quickly and easily – as well as safely.

Hiring two single-width 4.2 metre scaffold towers with staging boards would be plenty to get you securely and almost effortlessly above your conservatory in very little time.

Staging boards come in lengths up to 7.2 metres, so you can figure out the length staging board you require, simply measure the width of the conservatory and add 800mm each side, which will give you plenty of staging board to complete a safe bridge.

Each staging board is 600mm wide, so you’ll have enough room to move and have your tools to hand. To be extra safe, especially if you’re not wholly comfortable with heights, you can hire handrails to complement the staging boards. The handrails on both sides of the boards will make falls much more unlikely, and give you the confidence to work safely.

As I said, accessing your conservatory really is quite simple! Your best approach is to work with a contract hire business that will be able to provide you with good quality equipment and advise you on your own particular project.