Building a scaffolding is one of the most critical aspects of construction. It is used to support the builders and their materials during the construction process. It Is for this reason that a number of employers need to be more careful about the materials they supply to build the scaffolding. If the wrong equipment is used the scaffolding can be very unsafe to work with. In some cases it might even collapse and cause injuries. In the most extreme incidents, it is even possible that someone could die. In light of this, it is extremely important to hire qualified scaffolders who will do a good job. It is imperative that you recognise the importance of using the correct materials. It is by no means an extra expense to do so. At the end of the day it is a legal requirement to make the process of building and using a scaffolding as safe as possible. Some credible scaffolding companies can be found on Snupit. Nevertheless, here is a list of 8 materials that are needed to make a stable scaffolding.
1. Sole plates
A sole plate makes up one of the most important parts of any scaffolding. It acts as the base that supports the entire scaffolding. Sole plates are often long planks of wood that are placed horizontally on the ground.
2. Base jacks
These are important as they allow for the scaffolding to be levelled. A sturdy scaffolding will need a number of base jacks in order to be as sturdy as possible.
3. Standards
Standards are the parts that get attached to the base jacks. It is a long pipe or tube that connects different parts of the scaffolding together. The standards allow for the scaffolding’s structure to be formed.
4. Ledgers
A ledger refers to a tube or pole that runs horizontally in between the standards. This significantly increases the safety of the scaffolding by making it sturdier.
5. Hook-on-boards
Hook-on-boards get placed horizontally and right next to each other. They are hooked onto the ledger and therefore create the surface area that people can stand on.
6. Access ladders
The purpose of the access ladder is all in the name. It allows for the individuals using the scaffolding to get all the way up to the hook-on-boards.
7. Trapdoors
The trapdoors also have a rather literal name. It is a whole in the hook-on-board area that a worker can climb through. This helps them to move higher or lower up the scaffolding using the access ladders.
8. Scaffold tags
Scaffold tags are great for communication between workers. They are tags that indicate whether a certain area is safe in relation to the scaffolding.
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It is also important to note that construction regulations stipulate a number of guidelines that ensure that a scaffolding is built correctly. For major construction projects, the South African Bureau of Standards will inspect the scaffolding in relation to its design, construction and ability to be used. Ultimately, the main idea is to ensure that the scaffolding can hold the weight that it is projected to hold.
Filed under : Scaffolding