In the construction industry, scaffolding is a crucial facility for ensuring construction safety and efficiency. Among them, disc-lock scaffolding, with its unique design and superior performance, has emerged in the market in recent years and is gradually becoming the first choice for many engineering projects.
First, the technological evolution and industry transformation of disc-lock scaffolding: Originating in Europe, disc-lock scaffolding has undergone three important development stages since its introduction to China in the late 1990s. Each stage was accompanied by the improvement of technical standards and the deepening of market understanding.
Before 2015, it was a standard-laying period, and the industry was in a stable development phase. In 2008, the industry standard JGJ231, “Safety Technical Specification for Socket-Type Disc-Lock Steel Pipe Scaffolding in Building Construction,” was initiated, setting the tone for the industry’s development. After two years of careful refinement, the standard was officially promulgated and implemented in 2010, providing standardized and institutionalized guidance for the application of disc-lock scaffolding in engineering projects, laying a solid foundation for its subsequent development.
The period from 2015 to 2018 was a period of market expansion. As time went on, the safety advantages of modular scaffolding gradually became apparent, like a gradually shining gem in the construction industry, attracting increasing attention. Market awareness and acceptance steadily increased, and more and more companies saw the business opportunities and entered the field, with approximately 600 companies engaged in modular scaffolding in 2018. On November 15, 2016, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development released the industry product standard JG/T503 “Socket-type Modular Steel Pipe Scaffolding Components,” which officially came into effect on May 1, 2017, further refining the production and inspection standards for modular scaffolding components and promoting the large-scale development of the industry.
From 2019 to the present, modular scaffolding has entered a period of policy dividends. Policies actively promoting modular scaffolding across the country have led to a surge in the modular scaffolding market. The updated industry standard JGJ/T 231-2021, “Safety Technical Standard for Socket-Type Disc-Lock Steel Pipe Scaffolding in Building Construction,” released on June 30, 2021, came into effect on October 1 of the same year. The new standard not only optimized design, installation, and dismantling but also imposed stricter requirements on its use and management, further promoting the rationalization of disc-lock scaffolding rental prices and expanding its market application.
Secondly, Core Specifications and Engineering Adaptation Logic
In practical engineering applications, disc-lock scaffolding is mainly divided into two series: Type A and Type B. Each series has its unique specifications and uses, adapting to different engineering scenarios.
Type A, commonly known as the 60 series, has a 60mm diameter upright and uses Q345B material, which has high strength and toughness. In terms of connection structure, it adopts an internal connection method, meaning the connecting rods are connected inside the uprights. This connection method makes the overall structure more stable. Therefore, Type A disc-lock scaffolding is mainly suitable for heavy-duty support applications such as bridge engineering, capable of withstanding enormous loads and providing reliable protection for safe construction.
Type B, also known as the 48 series, has uprights with a diameter of 48mm and is made of Q235 stainless steel. Its connection method mostly uses outer sleeve connections, but some use inner connecting rod connections. This connection method ensures structural stability while making assembly and disassembly more convenient. Type B disc-lock scaffolding is mainly used in building construction, decoration and renovation, and stage engineering. In building construction projects, it can flexibly adapt to different building structures and construction needs; in decoration and renovation scenarios, its convenient assembly and disassembly characteristics can reduce the impact on the indoor environment and improve construction efficiency; in stage engineering, its aesthetic appearance and good stability can also meet the requirements of stage construction.
Besides the series distinction, the member parameters of disc-lock scaffolding are also important basic data for construction scheme design. Taking uprights as an example, the disc spacing is uniformly set at 500mm. This design makes the upright’s modular size 500mm, with commonly used sizes ranging from 0.5m to 4m. There is also a 200mm base. For example, in the 48 series, the theoretical weight of a 1m upright is 5.9kg. These precise figures provide a strong basis for calculating project quantities, allowing construction workers to accurately select the appropriate upright size according to project needs, avoiding material waste and shortages.
Horizontal bars also have a clearly defined modular size and specifications. Their modular size is 300mm, with sizes ranging from 300mm to 3000mm. In actual construction, when adapting to a 1.5m step distance, 1.2m and 1.5m horizontal bars are commonly used, effectively meeting the connection requirements of different spans. For example, when constructing a standard floor support structure, selecting horizontal bars of 1.2m or 1.5m based on the building’s span can make the entire support system more stable and improve construction efficiency.
Third, Cost Calculation Models and Practical Application Techniques
Cost control is crucial in engineering projects. For disc-lock scaffolding, mastering its cost calculation models and practical application techniques can help companies effectively control costs and improve economic efficiency.
The usage indicators for disc-lock scaffolding are the foundation of cost calculation. In building construction projects, the usage of disc-lock scaffolding for basement formwork is generally 15-17 kg/m³, for above-ground formwork it is 13-15 kg/m³, and for external scaffolding, calculated based on the unfolded area, it is approximately 27-28 kg/m². These usage indicators are not fixed and need to be precisely adjusted in practice, taking into account factors such as the project’s step distance, formwork height, and load-bearing capacity calculations. For example, if the step distance of a project is small, the number of uprights and horizontal bars required in the same space will increase accordingly, leading to an increase in the amount of disc-lock scaffolding used; conversely, if the step distance is large, the amount used will be relatively less.
There are also some pitfalls to be aware of during the procurement process. First, strictly verify the theoretical weight basis of the supplier’s quotation. Taking the 48 series uprights as an example, their wall thickness should be 3.25mm. Some unscrupulous suppliers may manipulate this parameter, reducing the wall thickness to lower costs, but this will also affect the quality and safety of the disc-lock scaffolding. Therefore, before signing the contract, the weight parameters must be clearly defined, and the settlement method must be clearly stipulated in the contract to avoid price traps of “apparently lowering but actually raising” prices and ensure the consistency of the cost calculation basis. Only in this way can companies effectively control costs and maximize economic benefits while ensuring project quality.
Post time: Oct-30-2025