An Introductory Guide to the Scaffold Tower
Posted on December 29, 2009 by Samuel Cheeseman
Scaffolding is a temporary structure which is usually erected around a building to aid repair or construction. It is most often built using metal pipes or tubes but bamboo may occasionally be used in some Asian countries. Scaffolding is designed to support the weight of workers and building materials while a structure is being worked on. A scaffold tower is a form of independent scaffolding, they are produced by many large companies such as Boss tower scaffold. The towers are free standing and so will require not require the structure they are being used upon to provide any support. A scaffold tower is often used as an alternative to ladders in smaller construction projects where work needs to be completed at height as it is much safer and will provide a larger working area. Unlike traditional scaffolding the towers are quick and easy to erect and dismantle and mobile scaffold towers fitted with wheels can now also be purchased for improved mobility. Folding scaffold towers are also available. Narrow scaffold towers also prove to be very effective when working in confined areas. This means that the advantages offered by scaffolding and ladders can be enjoyed in different areas of a site without the need for an entire building or multiple buildings to be covered in scaffolding. The tower is simply moved from place to place as needed. Contractors which carry out work in the roofing, plastering, building and painting and decorating trades find these towers particularly advantageous for these reasons. A tower can easily be transported between jobs at multiple sites within a single day or week. A small mobile option can also make a great DIY scaffold tower for the home improvement enthusiast.
Safety
There are obviously going to be safety concerns when using scaffolding of any kind due to the added risks associated with working at height. In the UK there are various laws and guidelines which will help ensure the necessary safety precautions are in place. An assessment should be carried out in accordance with The Work at Height Regulations 2005. These regulations are for use in the work place but it will be a good idea to apply them to any scaffolding work including that which takes place in your own home or on other private property. The regulations are in place to make sure that there is no other alternative to working at height and that the work will be completed using the equipment which is best suited to the task. A company who provides tower scaffold services will be able to offer further advice about the regulations.
Procedures have been developed to ensure that towers are erected safely and in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Instructions should always be provided by any company offering scaffold tower hire or sales. The Prefabricated Access Suppliers and Manufacturers Association have developed two methods for constructing scaffold towers in the UK with the Health and Safety Executive. The first method is the advance guard rail system where the guard rails are locked in place by the operator who is standing on the platform below, which already has guard rails in place. This allows the tower to be built progressively higher while always using platforms with fitted guard rails. The operator does not move up to the next platform until he has fitted a rail to it from the platform below.
The second procedure is known as the ‘through the trap’ method. This method also ensures that the operator will never need to stand on a platform that is unprotected by guard rails. The trap door is used as an access point to a platform which is currently unguarded. Working from the trap door a person can add or remove guard rails to and from a level safely.
If during construction of a tower you notice that any part of the scaffolding structure is damaged or pieces may be missing, the tower should not be used and make-shift repairs should be avoided. Although the structure may look solid, any weaknesses caused by damage or missing parts could mean extra stress is placed upon components which cannot handle it. The worst case scenario here is that the entire tower will collapse.
Before any kind of scaffold stair tower is constructed a site survey must be carried out to make sure that the surface is firm and will not become unstable under the considerable weight about to be placed upon it. Other common sense safety precautions must also be taken into consideration. Vertical sheeting should not be fixed to a scaffolding tower as a strong wind could cause the structure to become unstable. Care should always be taken when using scaffolding towers in windy conditions especially when using any kind of sheet materials. Rain will also make scaffolding considerably more hazardous.
Scaffolding Tower Materials and Components
The primary components used in the construction of all scaffolding are the tubes (or pipes), couplers and boards. Scaffold tower parts are most commonly produced from either steel or aluminium. Where steel is used the metal is usually galvanized to provide resistance to corrosion. The major differences between the two materials are their weight and flexibility. Aluminium scaffold towers are both lighter and more flexible than steel towers. Flexibility is actually a benefit rather than a liability in tower scaffold parts as it means the tubes are more likely to bend rather than break under impact if they are accidentally hit, or if something is dropped onto them from height. An aluminium scaffold tower is a popular modern choice for these reasons.
Couplers are the devices which join the tubes to each other. The three major types are knows as swivel couplers which allow tubes to be joined at any angle, right angle couplers to join tubes at ninety degrees and putlog couplers which join the scaffolding to the structure currently being worked on. Putlog couplers are not used in load bearing joints. Sleeve couplers can also be used to join tubes vertically. All of the components of a tower are widely available as scaffold tower spares.
The scaffold boards are often made of wood which is then attached to the tower using hooks or nails. Steel and aluminium boards are now commonly used with scaffolding towers as they are typically more durable and secure. The aluminium boards are much more lightweight than either steel or wood and also more expensive.
Stair tower scaffolds are essential for many construction companies and small independent contractors as well as DIY enthusiasts. They can often provide the same levels of flexibility as a ladder but with the benefits of a full scaffolding system. The ability to erect and dismantle the towers in small time frames along with their mobility and levels of safety make them extremely versatile and suitable for many construction projects both inside and out. The aluminium telescopic scaffold tower is proving especially popular with its lightweight design making transportation between sites even easier. If you wish to purchase a good quality small scaffold tower for your home DIY projects then slightly older steel or alloy scaffold towers can be found which are reasonably priced.
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Comments (2)
Interesting article. Were did you receive all the info from…
Just wanted to give you a shout from the valley of the sun, great information. Much appreciated.