Aluminium Scaffold

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December 30th, 2010 admin

Aluminium Scaffold

A Basic Introduction to Scaffolding

Scaffolding has been used ever since man began making buildings more than one storey high and needed to find a practical way of working off the ground. Although the materials and designs have changed over the centuries, the purpose of scaffolding remains the same – to provide a safe, temporary platform from which all types of construction, repair and maintenance work can be carried out on tall structures.

Today in Britain the design and erection of scaffolding is a skilled occupation. Scaffolders can be awarded a range of nationally recognised qualifications that test both theoretical knowledge and practical competence. Only a properly qualified person is allowed to design scaffolding, and it is a legal requirement that any scaffolding gang must include at least one person who is fully qualified and experienced.

There are a number of different types of scaffolding to hire but they are all made up of the same basic components:

Tubes – usually made of steel or aluminium, tubes are fitted together vertically and horizontally to form the framework of a scaffold.

Couplers – the fittings that join the tubes together. There are different types, some enabling tubes to be joined end-to-end, others that hold tubes at right angles to each other.

Boards – traditionally made of wood, although steel or aluminium decking is also used, boards provide a flat surface for walkways and working platforms.

Ties – devices ofvarious materials and designs used to fix scaffolding securely to the building that it adjoins.

The stability of any scaffolding is obviously very important so it must be erected on firm foundations. Metal base plates are commonly used to help support and spread the weight of the scaffolding but where the ground is soft or uneven thick sole boards are also used. Even these might not give enough support to large stretches of heavy duty scaffolding and when a more solid foundation is needed it can be provided by baulks set in concrete.

There are strict safety regulations covering the design, erection and use of scaffolding and a number of things are added to scaffolding to help minimise the risk of accidents. These include guard rails and toe boards to prevent workers from falling, and safety nets to protect people at lower levels being hit by dropped tools or materials.

Modern scaffolding has developed a great deal from the wooden structures used by the Ancient Greeks and Egyptians. Much of it is now supplied and erected by specialist scaffolding contractors who can be found through an online scaffolding quotations website. Simply give brief details of the scaffolding hire service you need and you will receive several competitive quotes from approved scaffolding contractors in your local area. Your scaffolding will be up in no time!

About the Author

If you need a local company that specialises in scaffolding, simply visit http://www.scaffoldingquotes.co.uk/index.asp and follow the easy instructions to receive estimates from a number of local companies to help you make massive savings on your home improvements.