Hiring And Buying
When hiring or purchasing a scaffolding tower there are many features and issues to keep in mind. As a structure that is designed with the intention of providing a safe mode of access to high areas it certainly pays to invest in a well-designed and British Standard approved structure. Using a budget model or one that has not gone through rigorous checks and protocols may result in a serious accident and is simply not worth the risk.
Regulatory Bodies And Regulations
There are two main regulatory bodies that maintain the standards set for the scaffolding industry within the United Kingdom. The official government body, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), monitors compliance with the British Standards (BS) that apply to scaffold towers and their many elements. Unfortunately the present Standard, BS EN 12811-1:2003, is not thought to be detailed enough to cover the specific design features of scaffolding towers and as such the old standard, BS5973 (or the 'Code of Practice for Access and Working Scaffolds and Special Scaffold Structures in Steel'), is still used extensively by the HSE.
The second regulatory body, the National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC), also works to maintain high levels of safety and design within the industry and has published a set of guidelines known as TG20 that advise manufacturers and providers in the best ways to comply with both BS5973 and BS EN 12811-1. Other safety standards that scaffolds must meet include BS2482 (for the boards used in platforms), Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1993, and the Working at Height Regulations 2005 (WAHR).
Environment And Task
When considering which scaffold tower to rent or purchase, remember to factor in the conditions under which it will be used. If you are intending to use the scaffolding tower on uneven ground or a steep slope, or over a flight of stairs, a specially designed model may be necessary. Scaffolding towers also have set maximum safe working loads for each design and heavy-duty models may be a worthwhile investment if the job the scaffold will be used for involves machinery, heavy construction materials or around-the-clock use.
Fittings
If you are concerned about the fixtures that hold the scaffold tower together it is worth investing in a model that makes use of the swage fitting type rather than locking pins. Pins are known to be used on cheaper models and can seize up or rust if they are exposed to the outdoors for too long, making them hard to dismantle and dangerous to use. Swage fittings are of a much better design, locking into one another without any need for nuts or bolts, thus reducing the risk of wear and tear.