The chief difference between the two types of metal tubes is the lower weight of aluminium tubes (1.7 kg/m as opposed to 4.4 kg/m) and also their greater flexibility and so their lower resistance to force. The tubes come in a variety of lengths and a standard diameter of 48.3 mm. If steel, they are either 'black' or galvanised. Tubes are usually made either of steel or aluminium, although there is composite scaffolding, which uses filament-wound tubes of glass fibre in a nylon or polyester matrix. With one basic 24 pound unit a scaffold of various sizes and heights could be assembled easily by a couple of labourers without the nuts or bolts previously needed. The basic lightweight tube scaffolding that became the standard and revolutionized scaffolding, becoming the baseline for decades, was invented and marketed in the mid-1950s. The basic components of scaffolding are tubes, couplers and boards.Īssembly of bamboo scaffolding cantilevered over a Hong Kong street Until the release of the revised TG20 the HSE continue to allow scaffold to be built in accordance with BS 5973. This is the reason for the 'limbo' situation. However, TG20 received a mixed response from the UK industry and as a result TG20 is being re-written and the new version is due for release sometime in 2008. TG20 is largely based on BS 5973 with extracts taken directly from the old code, it also uses permissible stress design method. The standard is intended to be used as the basis for enquiry and design.

These are substantially independent of the materials of which the scaffold is made. This document sets out performance requirements for working scaffolds. The purpose of a working scaffold is to provide a safe place of work with safe access suitable for the work being done. In general these requirements also apply to other types of working scaffolds. Requirements given are for scaffold structures that rely on the adjacent structures for stability. This European Standard specifies performance requirements and methods of structural and general design for access and working scaffolds. The ancient Egyptians, Nubians and Chinese are also recorded as having used scaffolding-like structures to build tall buildings. The Berlin Foundry Cup depicts scaffolding in ancient Greece (early 5th century BC).

Scaffold synonym