BQS309_BCM 311

ADVANCED CONSTRUCTION
TECHNOLOGY

LECTURE NO.2:
[Scaffolding]

WHAT ARE SCAFFOLDS?

These are temporary working platforms erected

around the perimeter of a building or structure to
provide a safe working place at a convenient
height.

These are temporary or movable structures

assembled from different members at a
construction site and are used to support workers,
material and equipment to aid in construction,
maintenance and repair of buildings.

FORMS OF SCAFFOLDING

Scaffolding can take the form of

either PUTLOG SCAFFOLDING or
INDEPENDENT SCAFFOLDING

PUTLOG SCAFFOLDING:
These are scaffoldings which have an outer
row of standards joined together by ledgers
which in turn support the traverse putlogs
which are built into the bed joints or
perpends as the work progresses.
They are only suitable for new works in
bricks or blocks.

ILLUSTRATION OF PUTLOG
SCAFFOLDING:

INDEPENDENT SCAFFOLDING:
These are scaffoldings which have two rows
of standards with each row joined together
with ledgers which in turn support the
traverse transoms.
The scaffold is erected clear of the existing
or proposed building but is tied to the
building or structure at suitable intervals

ILLUSTRATION OF INDEPENDENT
SCAFFOLDING:
DISTINCTION OF THE PUTLOG
SCAFFOLDING FROM THE INDEPENDENT
SCAFFOLDING:

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION
OF SCAFFOLDING

All Scaffoldings can generally be classified

as SUPPORTED meaning they are either on
FIXED

SUPPORTS,

MOVABLE

SUPPORTS or

ANCHORAGE

SUPPORTS

TYPES OF SUPPORTED
SCAFFOLDS

Supported Scaffolds can be of the following

types namely;
oCantilever

Scaffolds
oTruss Out Scaffolds
oSuspended Scaffolds
oBirdcage Scaffolds
oSlung Scaffolds
oMovable Scaffolds
oAerial Scaffolds
oGantries

CANTILEVER SCAFFOLDS:
These are a form of independent tied
scaffold erected on cantilever beams and is
used where it is impracticable, undesirable
or uneconomic to use a traditional scaffold
raised from the ground level.
It requires special skills and should be
carried out by a trained and experienced
personnel.

ILLUSTRATION OF CANTILEVER
SCAFFOLDING:

TRUSS OUT SCAFFOLDS:

These are a form of independent tied scaffold
erected on cantilever beams and is used where
it is impracticable, undesirable or uneconomic
to use a traditional scaffold raised from the
ground level.
The supporting scaffold structure is known as a
truss-out
It requires special skills and should be carried
out by a trained and experienced personnel.

ILLUSTRATION OF TRUSS OUT

SCAFFOLD:

SUSPENDED SCAFFOLDS:
These consist of a working platform in the
form of a cradle which is suspended from
cantilever beams or outriggers from the roof
of a tall building to give access to the
faade for carrying out light maintenance
work and cleaning activities.

ILLUSTRATION OF SUSPENDED
SCAFFOLD:

BIRDCAGE SCAFFOLDS:
These are a form of independent scaffold
normally used for internal work in large
buildings such as public halls and churches
to provide access to ceilings and soffits for
light maintenance work such as painting and
cleaning.

ILLUSTRATION OF BIRDCAGE SCAFFOLD:

SLUNG SCAFFOLDS:
These are a form of scaffold which is suspended
from the main structure by means of wire ropes
or steel chains and is not provided with a means
of being raised or lowered.
Each working platform of a slung scaffold
consists of a supporting framework of ledgers and
transoms which should not create a plan size in
excess of 2.5 m by 2.5 m and be held in position
by not less than six evenly spaced wire ropes or
steel chains securely anchored on both ends.

ILLUSTRATION OF SLUNG SCAFFOLD:

DISTINCTION BETWEEN SLUNG
SCAFFOLD AND SUSPENDED SCAFFOLD:

MOVABLE / MOBILE SCAFFOLDS:

These are otherwise known as mobile tower
scaffolds. They can be assembled from preformed framing components or from
standard scaffold tube and fittings.
It is used mainly for property maintenance
and must not be moved while it is occupied
by persons or equipment.

ILLUSTRATION OF MOBILE / MOVABLE

SCAFFOLD:

GANTRIES:
These are elevated platforms used when the
building being maintained or under
construction is adjacent to a public
footpath.

ILLUSTRATION OF GANTRY:

THE ADVANTAGES OF MOBILE

SCAFFOLDING:
Simplicity

Of Assembling And
Dismantling Procedure
Easiness And Rapidity Of Relocation
The Height Of The Bridge May Be
Changed With A Pitch 0,42m
Telescopic Legs With Support Screws
To Secure Positioning Of Scaffolding

BASIC COMPONENTS OF SCAFFOLDING:

Base Jack load bearing base of a scaffold. Also called a

baseplate and is used together with a soleplate.

Standard upright component with connector joints. Used

to transfer load to the ground.

Ledger horizontal brace fixed between uprights to allow

fixing of transoms

Batten/board decking horizontal working platform

Coupler fitting to join components together

Tie used to tie a scaffold to a structure

Transom horizontal cross-section load bearing component

that holds the batten.

Brace diagonal and/or cross-section bracing component

used to increase rigidity.

TUBES
These

are typically made of steel or

aluminium. We can also hove composite
types of wound tubes of fibre glass in a
nylon or polyester matrix.
In some of the lower cost construction
there is extensive use of gum bamboo
or timber gum-poles tied together to
form the scaffold frame.

WORKING PLATFORM BOARDS

These

are made of seasoned timber and are

used to provide a working surface for scaffold
users. The boards are usually protected at the
end by metal plates (hoop irons) or nail plates.

If

the surface on which the base is to be

placed is soft, sole boards are placed beneath
the scaffolding to prevent sinking.

SCAFFOLD
BOARDS FIXED
ON TRANSOMS

COUPLERS
These are fittings that are used to hold the tubes together
without the use of drilling so as to ease assembly and
disassembly. They are of 3 basic types:

Fixed couplers used to connect two tubes at right

angles to ensure stability while providing structural
strength to the frame;

Swivel couplers these have a swivel pin connecting

each half of a coupler enabling the joining of scaffold
tubes at any angles while preventing movement of the
frame; and

Putlog couplers are used for connecting scaffold tubes

and members e.g. for fixing handrails or fixing putlog (a
short horizontal pole projecting from a wall) to a leger.

FIXED COUPLERS

SWIVEL COUPLERS

What to Consider in Scaffold Design

type of scaffold required

foundations including ground conditions

the weight bearing capacity of the surface where the scaffold is to

be erected

dead loads e.g. resulting from the size and weight of the scaffold

live and environmental loads e.g. wind loads

containment sheeting

supporting structures

entry and exit

tying and anchorswhere anchors will be placed on the supporting

structure and types of anchors
to be used

bracing, and

Edge protection.

HAZARDS OF SCAFFOLDING
Falls
Electrocution
Falling

objects

Scaffold
Bad

collapse

planking

Equipment

failure

PROTECTIVE SYSTEMS USED WITH

SCAFFOLDING

Fall arrest harness (Safety Harness)

Industrial safety helmets (Hard hats)

Safety footwear/boots

Hand protection (gloves)

Hearing protection (ear muffs/plugs)

Eye protection (safety glasses)

High visibility vests (reflective vests)

Canopies/nets

Screens/panels

Barricades

Body wear

CONNECTING DEVICES

SCAFFOLD USE IN KENYA

There

is widespread use of timber

scaffolding in Kenya which comprises
mainly of Gum Poles.

This

is mainly
considerations.

because

of

cost

 The

aluminum and steel scaffold systems

used in Kenya are sourced mainly from
Dubai, China and locally.

Cup-lock

scaffolding is locally sourced and is

commonly used for multi storey
construction projects due to their high load
bearing capacity.

There

is also use of the A-frame scaffold

sourced from China but it is not used for
heavy loads because of its low load bearing
capacity.

DUBAI SOURCED

KENYAN SOURCED

CHINESE SOURCED:

Most

contractors in Kenya prefer

to use timber scaffold, because
their usage allows for lower long
run operating costs.

Because

of incidents of theft,
contractors have undergone
severe losses from theft of the
steel and aluminum components.

THANK YOU!