The most common form of suspended scaffolding is the two-point or swing stage.

However, suspended scaffolding restricts the number of people who can work to those able to fit onto the small working platform or to the strength of the supporting wiring, ropes, or chains. The benefit of suspended scaffolding is that it does not require the mass construction of supported scaffolding, and as such, can be used on projects of a smaller scale. The scaffolding system involves the use of pulleys, levers, and switches, which collectively enable you to descend (or ascend) down the side of the building to access parts of the structure ordinarily unreachable. Have you ever been walking down the street and noticed a platform dangling from the edge of a building? The contraption is known as a suspended scaffold and involves a working platform that hangs from the roof via wiring, ropes or chains. cathedral or church.įor more information regarding supported scaffolding, please head over to our article discussing the different types of scaffolding in construction. Examples of tasks that require supported scaffolding include, bricklaying in the construction of a house, or when repairing old stone masonry on a large building, e.g. These are used on more standard construction projects when access to ground space is not an issue. Here at St Ives Scaffolding, we employ a variety of types of support scaffolding, including single scaffolding, double scaffolding, and cantilever scaffolding. The frame can be stationary, as is the case with single or double scaffolding, or it can be freestanding and mobile – just attach a set of wheels to the base. As a rule, supported scaffolding consists of lumber and poles used to create a frame. Ladders are used when climbing up this category of scaffolding, or to provide a connection between the middle lengths of scaffold, known as platforms. Typically, it is formed of one or more platforms, each of which is supported by rigid struts, for example, poles, legs or frames. It describes all types that are built from the ground upwards, and use the floor for its support. Supported scaffolding is the most common category of scaffolding. You will likely have seen supported scaffolding as you walk down the street, you may even have walked down the alleyways it creates when constructed over the pavement. So, you'll be able to make a more informed decision when deciding how best to use St Ives Scaffolding in your next construction project. In this article, you will learn what each of these broad categories of scaffolding is, and when they are best employed. Yet, despite the many types of scaffolding, there are only three main categories: suspended, support, and aerial. However, amongst this terrain of bars and bolts, there is a surprising amount of variety.įrom single to double, and steel to trestle, the construction of scaffolding is dependent on the project being undertaken. Scaffolding hasn't changed much in the millennia since it was first created, relying on the same underlying principles. If you are a layman or you're just starting in construction, you might assume scaffolding is all the same - in some way that's correct.

Swing stage scaffold definition