What is scaffolding?
Scaffolding is a temporary structure used during construction for a person to gain access to a place of work in order to carry building operations. Here we will discuss different parts of scaffolding, their types, advantages, and disadvantages.
The scaffold has to carry the weight of working platforms, the combined load of the workman as well as the structural materials, and the appliances required during construction at a height above 1.5 meters from ground level.
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The scaffold should be such that, it allows the adjustment of the working platform as per the progress of work. Scaffolds are important not only for new construction but for demolition and repair work of building also.
Parts of scaffolding
Standard
These are vertical members of the framework, supported on the ground ordrums, or embedded into the ground.
Ledgers
These are horizontal members, parallel to the wall and right angles to the standards and support the putlog.
Braces
These are inclined members fixed diagonal.lly to the standards.
Putlogs
These are transverse members, placed at the right angle to the walls with one end supported on the ledger and another end on the wall.
Planks/Boarding’st
These are horizontal members serve as a working platform to support workmen and materials and are supported on putlogs.
Rails/Guard board
These members are provided at a safe height above the working platform to guard against workmen, materials, and appliances from falling down.
Volts
Volts are used to bind all the parts of the scaffold to withstand load and make a frame structure.
Types of scaffolding
- Single scaffolding or-brick layer scaffold or putlog scaffold.
2.Double scaffolding or mason’s scaffold or independent scaffold.
Single scaffolding
This type of scaffold is cheap and common for wall construction.
Most of the members used for this type are made of bamboo poles except the working platform.
This type of scaffold is erected by driving into the ground a single row of the standard at 1.5-3.0 meters c/c and 1.2 meters away from the wall. The feet of the standard is also rested on base plates fixed to a soleplate.
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Ledgers are connected to the standards at 1.2-1.5 meter c/c vertically. The junctions are secured by nails/bolts/trope /lashings. Transverse horizontal putlogs (at a right angle to the wall) are tied at one end to the ledgers and the other end inserted securely into the wall.
The putlogs are also generally placed at 1.2-meter c/c. These putlogs support the boarding/planks of the working platform.
Cross braces are also used to improve the strength and stability of the scaffold. These braces are connected as close to the junction of the ledger and standard and are placed on outer Portion.
The scaffold is removed after external work such as pointing: plastering, coloring, etc. are completed. The putlog holes are then filled.properly with brick and mortar.
Double scaffolding
This type of scaffold is normally used where a cheap single type of scaffold cannot be used.
For example in stone masonry work in which it is difficult to leave holes in the walls for inserting putlogs, in this condition it is necessary to provide two rows of standards which in combination with ledgers, braces, and putlogs, etc.
This type of scaffold is called double (as it employs two rows of the standard) independent (as it is independent of the wall) and stonemason (as this type is convenient for a stone mason work).
In this scaffold, standards are placed at a closer distance, 1.8-meter c/c.
The first-row standard is kept at 150-300 mm from the wall.
These two rows are secured by ledgers in which putlogs are placed above. In addition diagonal braces, raking shores are used to prevent slippage of the scaffold.
Advantages of scaffold
It allow to complete external fiishing like painting, pointing, plastering the wall.
It gives way to go up and down, where it is not possible from inner side of large building.
It is safe way other than working by hanging on rope.
Disadvantages of scaffold
- It create extra cost of the building.
- It is time consuming to construct, and so it increases the time of construction of building.
- It required skilled human resources, as one mistake could take life of many workers.
All 7 Types of Scaffolding – Mostly Used Scaffolding
Types of Scaffolding
- Independent Scaffolding
- Birdcage Scaffolding
- Cantilever Scaffolding
- Hanging (Suspended) Scaffolding
- Mobile tower Scaffolding
- Patented Scaffolding
- Trestle Scaffolding
1) Independent Scaffolding
The Scaffolding that consist of two vertical standard, and two additional standard are used to support the two vertical standard, and the same two standard can be extend by adding the another two vertical standard again and again as needed to extend its length, but that two standard cannot be made three or no other standard can be added to the same standard is known as Independent Scaffolding.
We should keep in mind that any scaffold has two vertical standards, and if with the help of the two vertical standards all the scaffolds can remain independent and can be extended forward then it is known as Independent Scaffolding.
A independent tied scaffold which does not rely on the building for its strength. It has inner and outer rows of uprights or standards.
For example: the scaffold that is made while painting the building, we can see the whole building connected over the two verticals.
2) Birdcage Scaffolding
The Scaffolding that has some additional standard along with the two vertical standards is known as birdcage scaffolding.
Like in the independent scaffolding there are only two vertical standards that cab be extended but in birdcage scaffold there are some additionalstandards along with the two standards, which might me 2, 3, 4 or even more, thus it is known as birdcage scaffolding.
3) Cantilever Scaffolding
A Scaffold in which if additional scaffold (working platform) is needed then it is made by supporting it from the lower one, which means if a new scaffold is needed to be made then its base is supported by the previous lower scaffold and not by the ground level.
The base of the new scaffold is connected by the 1st step lower scaffold in the same structure not directly to the ground level, this type of scaffolding is known as Cantilever Scaffolding. This type of scaffolding can be mainly seen at construction sites.
4) Hanging (Suspended) Scaffolding
Hanging scaffold is a type of scaffold in which the scaffold is neither supported by the ground level nor supported from the base as in Cantilever scaffold, the whole support is given from the upper side of the construction site.
For example: the scaffold that is made during bridge building, painting buildings. This scaffold is suspended from the upper side thus it is also called suspended scaffold.
5) Mobile tower scaffolding
This is a moveable type of scaffold that is made to move from one place to another, which is mainly used in lower height areas like 3 m, 4 m, 5 m, 6 m etc.
It can be shifted from one place to another by its wheels that are present at its base. These wheels make the scaffold easy to move or shift.
6) Patented Scaffolding
This Scaffolding is fully made up of steel in which special coupling of frames are found. Patented scaffold is a readymade scaffold that is easily available in the market.
This type of scaffolding has got brackets and over these brackets a working platform can be formed easily. These working platforms are easily adjustable according to the needs, which can be moved as required level.
7) Trestle Scaffolding
In this type of scaffolding the working platform is supported by tripods or ladder. This tripod or ladder used in this trestle scaffolding is moveable. This scaffolding is mainly used to work inside the rooms for work like painting or repairing or some other works.
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