Scaffolding Systems ~ these are temporary stagings to provide
safe access to and egress from a working platform. The
traditional putlog and independent scaffolds have been covered on
pages 140 to 144 inclusive. The minimum legal requirements
contained in the Construction (Health Safety and Welfare)
Regulations 1996 applicable to traditional scaffolds apply equally
to special scaffolds. Special scaffolds are designed to fulfil a
specific function or to provide access to areas where it is not
possible and or economic to use traditional formats. They can be
constructed from standard tubes or patent systems, the latter
complying with most regulation requirements are easy and quick
to assemble but lack the complete flexibility of the traditional
tubular scaffolds.Birdcage Scaffolds ~ these are a form of independent scaffold
normally used for internal work in large buildings such as public
halls and churches to provide access to ceilings and soffits for
light maintenance work like painting and cleaning. They consist of
parallel rows of standards connected by leaders in both directions,
the whole arrangement being firmly braced in all directions. The
whole birdcage scaffold assembly is designed to support a single
working platform which should be double planked or underlined with
polythene or similar sheeting as a means of restricting the amount
of dust reaching the floor level.Slung Scaffolds ~ these are a form of scaffold which is suspended
from the main structure by means of wire ropes or steel chains and
is not provided with a means of being raised or lowered. Each
working platform of a slung scaffold consists of a supporting
framework of ledgers and transoms which should not create a plan
size in excess of 2„500¾2„500 and be held in position by not less
than six evenly spaced wire ropes or steel chains securely anchored
at both ends. The working platform should be double planked or
underlined with polythene or similar sheeting to restrict the
amount of dust reaching the floor level. Slung scaffolds are an
alternative to birdcage scaffolds and although more difficult to
erect have the advantage of leaving a clear space beneath the
working platform which makes them suitable for cinemas, theatres
and high ceiling banking halls.Scaffolding Systems