Scaffolding

Scaffolding, also called scaffold or staging, is a temporary structure used to support a work crew and
materials to aid in the construction, maintenance and repair of buildings, bridges and all other man-
made structures. Scaffolds are widely used on site to get access to heights and areas that would be
otherwise hard to get to. Unsafe scaffolding has the potential to result in death or serious injury.
Scaffolding is also used in adapted forms for formwork and shoring, grandstand seating, concert stages,
access/viewing towers, exhibition stands, ski ramps, half pipes and art projects.

COMMON TYPES OF SCAFFOLDING

The following 4 types of scaffolding are commonly used in building construction work.

1. Brick layer’s Scaffolding or Single Scaffolding

2. Mason’s Scaffolding or Double Scaffolding

3. Steel or Tubular Scaffolding

4. Needle Scaffolding or Cantilever Scaffolding

1. Brick layer’s Scaffolding or Single Scaffolding

In this type of scaffolding, a series of vertical members made of bamboo or timber (named as
Standards), are firmly fixed into the ground in a row parallel to the building wall. The distance in
between two standards is generally kept within 2.4 to 3 m.These standards are connected to each by a
longitudinal horizontal member (named as Ledgers). Ledgers are tied with standards at every rise of 120
cm to150 cm (i.e. 4 ft to 5 ft). Rope lashing is used to tie the standard with ledgers.The putlogs (or
transverse horizontal members) are placed at a horizontal spacing of 120 cm such that one end is
supported on the ledgers and the other end is held in the holes made in the wall. Rope lashing is used to
fasten the putlogs with ledgers.If the height of the scaffolding is very high, to maintain its stability,
sometimes diagonal members (named as Braces) are provided. Braces are cross diagonally fitted with
the standards using rope lashing.

Fig 1 . Single Scaffolding / Brick Layer’s Scaffolding

2. Double Scaffolding / Mason’s Scaffolding

This type of scaffolding is commonly used in case of stone masonry. It is stronger than brick layer’s
scaffolding.

The primary differences between brick layer’s scaffolding and mason’s scaffolding are as follow:

• In case of brick layer’s scaffolding single row of standard is fixed into the ground. But in case of
mason’s scaffolding two rows of standards are fixed into the ground. First row of standards is fixed close
to the wall and second row of standard is fixed at a distance of 1.5 m from the first row. This is why it is
named as double scaffolding.

• In case of brick layer’s scaffolding one end of putlog is fixed with wall. But in double scaffolding,
putlogs are not fixed with the wall. Put logs are supported at both ends on ledgers. Therefore mason’s
scaffolding is completely independent of the wall surface. And there is no need to make any hole on the
wall surface.

Fig. 2. Double Scaffolding / Mason’s Scaffolding

3. Steel or Tubular Scaffolding

The method of construction of steel scaffolding is similar to that of brick layer’s and mason’s scaffolding.
The primary differences are

• Instead of using timber, steel tube of diameter of 40 m to 60 mm are used

• Instead of using rope lashing, special types of steel couples are used for fastening

• Instead of fixing the standards into the ground, it is placed on base plate

The gap between two standards in a row is generally kept within 2.5 m to 3 m. These standards are fixed
on a square or round steel plate (known as Base Plate) by means of welding.Ledgers are spaced at every
rise of 1.8 m. Length of the putlogs are normally 1.2 m to 1.8m.

Advantages of the Steel Scaffolds are as follow:

• It can be erected or dismantled more rapidly in comparison to timber scaffolding. This helps in
saving construction time.

• It is more durable than timber. Therefore it is economical in long run.

• It has more fire resisting capacity

• It is more suitable and safe to work at any height.

Fig. 3. Steel or Tubular Scaffolding

4. Needle Scaffolding / Cantilever Scaffolding

Needle scaffolding or cantilever scaffolding is required in the following cases

• When it is not possible to fix standard into the ground

• When construction is done on the side of a busy street

• When construction work is carried out at very high level in case of tall building
In this type of scaffolding instead of fixing the standard into the ground, it is placed at some height
above the ground level. The platform on which stands are placed is called needle. A needle is a
cantilever structure, made of timber, projected out from the holes in wall.

To prevent lifting up of the needle, the inside end of the needles are supported by struts wedged
between the needles and the head pieces.The projected outward end of the needle is supported by an
inclined strut which rests on the window sill.The joints between the inclined strut and the needle are
clamped by means of dogs.

Fig. 4. Needle Scaffolding / Cantilever Scaffolding