Types of Scaffold with their uses
The construction industry around the world saw robust growth in the past decade as nations are focusing on infrastructure development. It is one of those sectors that enhance employment and expand its capabilities to scale up the growth. The modern era has seen the growth of technical devices in various industries to make the work effective and productive. Scaffolds are one of such technical structures that have seen the test of the times and one cannot imagine constructing an infrastructure without them.
System Scaffolds
A scaffold is a temporary work platform suspended or elevated with a construction site. It provides support and protection to the workers who are engaged with the construction work. It offers ease of access to workers along with the mobility of construction materials. Scaffolding helps in the planning and erection of the infrastructure as it ensures constant vigil. It includes planks, coupling, fastening, and other fittings used for the erection and construction. It ascertains strength, protection against faults, stability, and load-bearing capacity. It brings ergonomics at the use and improves efficiency. As scaffolding is the key component of the infrastructure construction engineers make sure that scaffolding and other construction components are strong enough to withstand the significant pressure and load at the construction sites.
The scaffold’s design and erection are based on the type of construction. Different infrastructures need specific types of scaffolding and hence there are a variety of scaffolding types by which engineers work in the construction site as per their ease. There are basically three types of scaffolding namely; supported scaffolding, suspended scaffolding, and other scaffolds such as personal hoists, man lifts, etc.
Supported scaffolding: It consists of platforms that are supported by poles, frames, and outriggers.
Frame scaffolding: These are the most common type of scaffolds as these are economical, easy to use, and versatile. They are regularly used in construction or paintings at one or two-tier height. They can also be stacked with each other and can be used for the multistories construction. Frame scaffolding can be easily assembled and is generally made of high strength steel tubing. It has the advantage of the fast erection and dismantling, perfectly suited for masonry, maintenance, and shoring.
Mobile scaffolding: Mobile scaffolds are erected over wheels or casters. They are easily movable and are designed to work that need a constant movement of the workers such as plastering or painting. They are highly adjustable and can be assembled quickly. These scaffolds are considered safe due to its secure platform and high portability.
Pump Jacks: These scaffolds consist of moveable platforms with vertical poles. It is similar to a jack of the automobile and is designed to lower or raise the platform. They come under budget, easy to operate, and are versatile. They are easily adjusted and are appropriate for vertical maintenance.
Ladder Jacks: Ladder jack consist of a platform that is attached to the ladder. They are portable and cost-effective. These scaffolds are usually used for light and simple applications.
Tube and Clamp: Tube and Clamp scaffolding is used for highly complex projects and are regularly used in refineries, power plants, and petrochemical plants. They can be built to almost any specifications and save a large amount of time and costs. These scaffolds are flexible and can be assembled easily due to its interchangeable components. Tube and Clamp scaffolds have high strengths and are applied at the high load worksite. They are versatile and can be assembled at multiple directions as per the requirements.
System scaffolding: System scaffolding has high flexibility and can be aligned to any required angle. They are used along with tube and clamp scaffolds. These scaffolds can be erected quickly and easily. It can be used in areas that have limited access and can withstand any job stand obstacles. It increases efficiency by decreasing the construction time of the assembly of the scaffold.
Suspended scaffolding: It consists of platforms supported by ropes and other overhead supports.
Two-point swing stage: These scaffolds are also known as swing stage scaffolds. They are suspended by cable or ropes which are attached to the platform at each end. They are chiefly used in multitier construction or maintenance like window washing.
Single point scaffold: Single point scaffold are simple and highly adjustable. They are suspended by one cable from an overhead support. These scaffolds are also used by window washers in high rise buildings.
Multi-level scaffolds: As the name suggests, these scaffolds have multilevel suspension and can be raised or lowered as per the requirements. These scaffolds have multiple platforms at different levels that increase productivity and efficiency.
These scaffolding processes are common around the construction and maintenance industry. Some other types of scaffolding that are used in this industry include bracket scaffolding, eaves scaffolding, room scaffolding, wooden scaffolding, wooden scaffolding, facade scaffolding, etc.
Scaffolding offers safety and helps in improving the productivity of the work. However, mismanagement in the assembly of the scaffolding can result in accidents, injuries, or even death. Some of the common reasons for scaffolding accidents are as follows:
➢ Missing braces, cross-bracing, and base plates. ➢ Broken pin on frames ➢ Underextended or overextended planks ➢ Improper access and missing guardrails ➢ Slippery platforms ➢ Scaffolds not properly tied to the building ➢ Scaffold too close to power lines
Qualified specialists should check the scaffolds before giving access to the workers for construction and should ensure the assembly of scaffolds are as per the regulations. Each scaffold should support four times the maximum load. There should be safe and hassle-free access to all the platforms of the scaffold. It should be 20” in width and slope should be 2 to 10 degrees. Workers should climb the platforms of the scaffold with both hands and make sure that they do not work on rungs that are slippery. Overloading of the scaffold should be avoided and only a specific amount of load should be put over it. Dismantling of the scaffold should be done from the top as per the guidelines. Scaffolds have been used for centuries and are evolving with changing times as per the infrastructure needs
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