Scaffold Towers
Scaffold towers (also known as scaffold towers, tower scaffolding or tower scaffolds) are used around the world as a stable platform at height, from which work can be done to the outside or inside of a building, a wall or any other construction of considerable size.
Scaffolding Towers
Scaffolding towers are, in fact, an advanced variation of scaffolding, and can have specific additional properties such as increased mobility and increased ease of construction and dismantling. Scaffold towers or scaffolds being set up are said to be erected, and are said to be dismantled when being taken down.
Scaffolding
A common type of standard scaffolding used in the UK is the tube and fitting scaffold, which is assembled by fixing together all the different components. The main components are standards, ledgers, transoms and platforms.
Scaffolding Tools
The main tools involved in scaffolding are basic construction tools, ladders, power machines and also very specific safety equipment such as safety glasses, ear protectors, fall arrest equipment and so on. Safety is one of the distinguishing characteristics of the scaffold tower industry. Strict rules and regulations have been issued by the OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) and the EU-OSHA (European Agency for Safety and Health at Work). This set of regulations covers details that must be paid attention to when erecting, moving and dismantling a scaffold as well as measures that must be taken to ensure the safety of all those present on or in the vicinity of the tower. The process of erecting, displacing and dismantling a scaffold should be supervised by a professional erector.
Dependent and Independent Scaffolds
There are a great number of different scaffolds and scaffolding towers: they can be generally classified into either independent or dependent scaffolds. The difference is that dependent scaffolds draw their stability from the wall they have been attached to and built against whereas the independent scaffolds can stand erect by themselves.
Mobile Scaffold Towers
Mobile scaffold towers are a type of scaffolding tower that have casters attached to the end of all standards on which they stand: these can be swivelled and moved around to be employed as work support in different locations without less need of dismantling and then reconstructing them.
Steel and Aluminium Scaffold Towers
Aluminium and steel are the most commonly used materials around the world for scaffolding and tower scaffolds. While iron is the expensive option, it is the one which will inevitably last longer and represents a good investment for people who must use a scaffold tower on a regular basis. Aluminium, the cheaper option, is light thus easy and quick to move the scaffold tower from one location to another. It corrodes and becomes unsafe to use much more quickly than is the case with steel but for DIY, domestic or one-off users it is a more feasible option.
Other Materials
In certain industries such as oil refinery, aviation, gas and chemical manufacture it is necessary to use glass fibre structures as these will not spark or corrode in situations where gasoline, solvents, electricity and so forth are present. In Asia, bamboo is used as a construction material. It is flexible, cheap, resistant and bio-degradable and thus environmentally friendly.
Scaffolding Regulations and Maintenance
Maintaining a scaffold or tower scaffolding is of crucial importance, especially if the structure is intended to last for a long time. All scaffolds must pass a safety standard test and be labelled thereafter with the sticker or label of the appropriate regulatory body.
Scaffolding and Scaffold Tower Hire
Scaffolding towers and scaffolding can either be bought or hired. Different situations will favour a different option but generally, for one off uses scaffolds are usually hired but if regular use is likely to be necessary they are purchased.