Scaffolds are used either as a protection or as a way for accessing otherwise unreachable parts of a construction site. Supported scaffolds are put up over sidewalks in order to guard pedestrians against debris that may fall to the ground due to construction work being done above the said sidewalk. They also provide construction workers a way to reach the facade of the building and also serves as the frame for safety nets to be installed in the site.
Supported Scaffolds
The New York City Building Code sets standards and specifications for the installation of various scaffolds including supported, suspended and outrigger scaffolds. Safety requirements for scaffold maintenance, safety precautions and protection for workers as well as inspections are outlined in the Code.
Here are some specifications for supported scaffolds. According to BC §3314.3.1, supported scaffolds must be designed by a registered design professional with a few exceptions as follows:
- The supported scaffold is not an outrigger scaffold (thrust out).
- A manufacturer's rated capacity of greater than 2,000 pounds hoisting equipment will not be located in this scaffold.
- The scaffold’s load will be 75 lbs per square foot or lesser.
- The scaffold is less than 40 feet high.
- The side-arm or otherwise known as end-arm scaffold brackets will be used only for the supporting the workers.
- The scaffold can be light duty, medium duty or heavy duty scaffold.
Plan Requirements
In preparing your plans for the scaffold, you should follow BC §3314.3.3. The Plan should show plan and elevations views, showing full dimensions and details the location of the scaffold, all connections and attachments to the structure’s base including anchorages, fastenings, tie-ins, tie-backs, lifelines and the likes. It should also detail any structural modification to be done to the base structure, The netting to be used specifying type and manufacturer, overhead protection, hoisting equipment located on the scaffold and any other equipment that will be attached to the scaffold. It should also note maximum levels to be load at the same time as well as maximum loads for the scaffold as well as platform levels, support bases and offsets. Finally, it should detail structural members for the supported scaffold and the founding of the scaffold including floors, roofs, ground and sidewalk sheds among others.
These are just a few things that should be kept in mind for suspended scaffolds. There are other things to be considered like the height of the building, the actual type of scaffold to be used, loads, capacity of the scaffold and even the equipment to be used. Overall, these requirements are put in place in order to protect the general public as well as any construction personnel that will work in and around the scaffolding area. It is best to follow all rules and regulations pertaining to suspended scaffold since this will allow seamless work as well as avoidance of penalties from violations as well as prevent accidents.