Any work that is done at a certain height requires the use of scaffolding. This all-important piece of equipment allows buildings to be constructed, repairs to be done, and painting restorations to be completed at incredible heights. The scaffolding components vary widely based on the type of building, project requirements, and surrounding conditions of the construction. However, there are the fundamentals that form the basics of any scaffold structure.

Scaffolding Components – From Foundation to Ceiling

Like a house being built, the base plates form the foundation of the scaffold as they are the load-bearing base of the scaffold and are used to distribute weight and support the vertical poles. By connecting the two together, this ensures a strong scaffolding foundation. Base jacks are usually made of steel and are adjustable to various lengths and the amount of weight it needs to carry.

Standards are the “load-bearing walls” of scaffolding components and are also known as uprights, verticals, or legs as they are the long pipes or tubes that connect the scaffold to the ground. They are usually connected to the base plates to ensure equal load distribution. They are usually of fixed lengths, so taller scaffolds require them to be connected to route the load through the structure.

Ledgers, which are tubes running horizontally along the length of the scaffold, are used to support the working platform, and dependent on placement, determine the height at which the planks are staged. They are placed in between each standard and structured parallel to the building’s wall.

Transoms, or bearers, are placed on top of ledgers and at right angles to them (running horizontally from back to front), define the bay width. Main transoms provide support for standards by holding them in position as well as supporting boards. Intermediate transoms are placed alongside the main transoms to lend additional board support.

The Glue that Holds the Components Together

Think of couplers as the cement that keeps the bricks in place as that is what the intended purpose of this component is, to help connect the various structural elements of the scaffolding together. They are extensively used in tube and coupler scaffolds.

Maintaining stability whilst using the scaffold is where braces come in as they are diagonal tubes that reinforce the scaffold’s rigidity. Bracing components provide strength by controlling the unbraced length of the scaffolding leg, ensuring the scaffold leg doesn’t fall over.

Making sure that all your scaffolding components are safe and readily available for your build, whether you choose Selflock or Kwikstage, is what you can expect from Disc-O-Scaff. Contact us to find out more about the best scaffolding solution for your build.