Scaffolding is a way to provide a safe and stable platform that's needed when working on an elevated surface. It offers support for concrete formwork, inclement weather, and projects that might potentially be unsafe to work on without assistance. Depending on what you need, though, there are varying degrees of scaffolds available for different circumstances - temporary vs. permanent worksites or jobs, high-risk vs. low-risk buildings.
Scaffolding is usually used on buildings with heights of 16 feet and above, but you can use some for lower projects - it just simply depends on the user, contractors, and type of scaffolding. For temporary worksites, a scaffold is normally used when the work is to be done for a short time or refurbishing or renovating an existing part of the building. Short-term projects are more likely done on a modular platform, while permanent worksites usually use steel frames with guardrails.
Scaffolding is used in building work for all sorts of reasons. In most cases, it's needed to elevate forms/workers above the rest of the structure to perform their duties safely and correctly. Other times it's used to cover or protect workers from inclement weather like rain or snow. You can also use scaffolding to provide a stable platform for concrete formwork so that a structure is properly secure and safe for workers.
The moment a building project is started, a scaffold is built to provide the best possible conditions for workers. It's a safety measure that aims to minimize the risk of injury or death on the job site. In modern times, working at heights is inevitable in many work settings. The use of scaffolding at construction sites and accessible buildings protects workers by minimizing their risk of falling. Using scaffolding on these projects also minimizes the risk of site workers' injury due to accidental slips or falls.
A scaffold's main role in structural building work is to provide elevated platforms that help workers safely transport materials, place formwork, and complete their daily tasks safely.
Scaffolding is used for a variety of activities these days. Here are some of the most common uses of scaffolding:
Workers commonly can stand on scaffolding to clean windows and other parts of skyrise buildings.
Scaffolding can be crucial for construction, since it allows workers to stand at height on a stable surface. This is especially true for skyscrapers and other high rise structures, but its use is also common for construction work done closer to the ground.
3. Industrial inspections
Inspections are one of the top uses of scaffolding, since scaffolding allows inspectors to reach areas they couldn’t otherwise access in order to perform visual inspections or other kinds of NDT testing.
Inspectors commonly use internal scaffolding or other temporary structures for internal inspections, like those performed inside huge industrial boilers or pressure vessels, as well as for external inspections. Regardless of the specific inspection, the use of the scaffolding is the same - it allows inspectors to stand at height and conduct various types of testing in order to satisfy inspection requirements.
Inspections are typically the first step in a maintenance process, since they uncover areas that may require maintenance. After inspectors find these areas, maintenance workers will address those defects by standing on scaffolding to perform their work.
5. Other uses
Various types of scaffolding are also used in:
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