How does scaffolding work?

The kind of scaffolding you see at most domestic building sites is made up of major parts:

* Upright metal tubes (standards)

* Shorter metal tubes (transoms)

* Horizontal metal tubes (ledgers)

* Wooden platform (battens)

The standards are joined to the ledgers, and then the transoms are added at right angles to support the wooden battens. In order to give the structure stability and strength, diagonal braces are added and often scaffolding clips are used to tie the structure together. In addition, guard rails or netting may be added for additional safety.

Products called “ system scaffolding " are becoming more often obtainable and are better suited to the do-it-yourself market. These systems slot together and have built-in strength and flexibility. The same safety regulations apply to both systems and whether you are building yourself or using a contractor, you ought to be aware of all the relevant questions of safety.

Am I able to put up scaffolding myself?

Although the basic principles of erecting scaffolding are straightforward, you require to be absolutely definite that you can put up a safe structure. Not only will you be using the scaffolding yourself, but the tradesmen you employ will even be using it, and there may be people at your plot who are not involved with the building, such as utility engineers, building inspectors and your relatives and friends. If the scaffolding is risky and any of those people are hurt, either by falling from the scaffolding or being hit by scaffolding, you could face a large personal insurance claim. More relevant than whether you put the scaffolding up by yourself is whether you require scaffolding Perth at all.