An overview of Modern Day Scaffolding
Scaffolding is known as a short term structure employed to support individuals and material when building, fixing or developing houses, buildings as well as other architectural structures. It is a system of metals, pipes or tubes and wooden panels, although the pipes and boards can be made out of other types of materials like Bamboo used in Asian countries. Developing countries often use materials made from their surroundings: natural materials, as they do not have the money to import metal or steel.
The purpose of scaffolding is to provide a safe working environment and platforms with safe access to the work that needs to be done. The standard scaffolding materials commonly being used today is tubes, couplers and boards and planks. The tubes are created from either steel or aluminium, but can also be made of fibre glass. The tubes, obviously, come in different sizes, depending on the size of the architectural structure being constructed.
The boards and planks used in the scaffolding supply a sturdy, safe surface for workers that are using the scaffold. They’re usually made from timber and come in different sizes. The boards are enforced with steel plates called hoop irons or nail plates.
Couplers are the fittings that hold the tubes of scaffolding together. They are usually called scaffold couplers and one will find 3 different kinds: right-angle couplers, putlog couplers and swivel couplers. Other common materials being used include base plates, step ladders, ropes, anchor ties, reveal ties, gin wheels and sheeting.
The key elements of scaffolding are classified as standard, ledgers and transoms. The standards, also referred to as uprights, are the vertical tubes: extended from the ground up. They are used to transfer the entire weight of the structure to the ground where they rest on something referred to as a base plate that spreads the load. The base plate has a shaft in its centre to hold the tube.
Ledgers are horizontal pipes that connect between standards, Transoms rest upon the ledgers at right angles. Main transoms are put next to the standards; they hold the standards in position and provide assistance for planks. Intermediate transoms, as indicated by its name, are those positioned between the main transoms to provide added support for boards.
Now, with any project, when working with scaffolding, you’ll want to have the right tools. There is such a wide variety of products that can be used that it’s difficult to keep track. One of the biggest errors being made when working with scaffolds is usually that the proper gear are not used.
In fact, choosing the incorrect tools and machinery isn’t the only mistake people make when it comes to scaffolds. Not constructing the scaffold properly, with the right materials, machines and help can cost you dearly down the road. Apart from this, an absence of servicing is yet another big mistake made by builders today, and also failing to prepare your structure for the load and weight it will need to support. Like a lot of projects, building and looking after a scaffold is an incredibly difficult task, so you really need to be prepared and know what you are doing.
For more information about scaffolding visit the website http://www.vertexsa.co.za
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