There are generally two types of scaffolding: ground-supported and cantilevered. Ground-supported scaffolding is usually the default. This article will start with the erection of ground-supported scaffolding. The following points should be noted during on-site erection:
1. The foundation should be level and compacted, and appropriate base plates and ramps should be set according to the soil properties. Appropriate drainage measures are also necessary. Since scaffolding is made of steel pipes, prolonged soaking in water will cause corrosion, posing a significant safety hazard. Having worked on many projects, this point is often not handled well.
2. Scaffolding erection should start from one end and proceed layer by layer to the other, ensuring the correct step length, span length, joints, and support points. The erection of scaffolding should comply with relevant safety standards and specifications to ensure its structural rationality and stability. During the erection process, the vertical and horizontal deviations of the members should be constantly corrected to avoid excessive deviations.
3. Erection workers must wear safety belts and comply with safe operating procedures to ensure safe operation. This is also a common problem encountered during scaffolding erection. Many workers, especially experienced ones, often take a chance, thinking that wearing safety belts will interfere with construction. Having worked on several projects, this situation is almost always present; there are always one or two people not wearing safety belts.
4. Regarding scaffolding wall ties. The type of wall ties varies depending on the calculation plan, and may be two steps and two spans, two steps and three spans, etc. The most common problem on site is missing wall ties or failure to install them according to the plan requirements. Often, some are missing here, some there. Furthermore, scaffolding wall ties need to be installed from the first step. If this is not possible, outriggers or other measures must be taken. This point is easily overlooked on-site.
5. The scaffolding materials must meet the design requirements. Substandard fasteners, steel pipes, and other materials must not be used. Although scaffolding materials need to be inspected upon arrival, the inspection is often not thorough enough. If deformed or cracked steel pipes are found during later erection, they must be replaced immediately.
6. When scaffolding reaches a certain height and width, scissor bracing is required. Scissor bracing should be installed starting from the bottom. Generally, each scissor brace should be at least 4 spans wide and no less than 6 meters long, with the angle between the diagonal brace and the ground between 45° and 60°.
7. Issues regarding the installation of safety nets, steel mesh netting, and toe boards on scaffolding. The main concern is how many projects now offer flame-retardant properties and fire resistance ratings for safety nets. Regarding flame-retardant properties, the afterflame and smoldering time of flame-retardant safety nets must not exceed 4 seconds. Regarding fire resistance ratings, the combustion performance of the safety nets must meet relevant standards, and appropriate safety nets should be selected based on different locations and uses. For example, the safety netting for external scaffolding should have a high fire resistance rating to prevent fire from spreading upwards from the vertical surface.
In addition, other requirements must be met, such as the width of the close-mesh safety net being no less than 1.2m and the length of the tie rope being no less than 0.8m; the weight of the horizontal net being greater than 5.5kg and the weight of the vertical net being greater than 2.5kg; the materials used for the same net should be the same, the wet-to-dry strength ratio should be greater than 75%, and the total weight of each net should not exceed 15kg.
Post time: May-08-2026