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Scaffolding, also called scaffolding or staging, is a temporary support structure that holds both crew and material when work needs to be done at height. Scaffolding can be divided into two main types: suspended scaffolding and supported scaffolding. The six types of scaffolding used worldwide are wooden & bamboo scaffolding, prefabricated modular scaffold systems, H-frame scaffolds, suspended scaffolds, timber scaffolds, and tube-and-coupler scaffolds. Types of scaffolding varies with the type of construction work being performed, which means systems are often tailored to specific project needs.
Scaffolding is used for building repair and maintenance, construction, cleaning, and inspection of high-rise structures, bridges, and skyscrapers. Scaffolding has many benefits, including easy access, safety, and versatility.
Table of Contents
What is Scaffolding?
Scaffolding is a temporary structure, usually made from steel or timber, erected to provide support and a stable platform for workmen and materials during the construction, maintenance, and repair of buildings, bridges, and other structures.
What are the Types of Scaffolding in Construction?
The thirteen types of scaffolding in construction are as follows:
- Single Scaffolding
- Double Scaffolding
- Cantilever Scaffolding
- Suspended Scaffolding
- Trestle Scaffolding
- Steel Scaffolding
- Patented Scaffolding
- Tube and Coupler Scaffolding
- System Scaffolding
- Rolling Scaffolding
- Portable Scaffolding
- Mast Climbing Scaffolding
- Formwork Scaffolding
Single scaffolding is a basic arrangement where a single row of vertical standards and horizontal ledgers is spaced uniformly from a masonry wall. Double scaffolding comprises double rows of standards, ledgers, and putlogs. Cantilever scaffolding extends outward from a building and offers access to hard-to-reach spots.
Suspended scaffolding is suspended from the rooftop through wires or chains. Trestle scaffolding has a working platform supported by movable tripods or ladders. Steel scaffolding has steel tubes joined together with couplers and fittings. Patented scaffolding comprises a readymade platform with specially designed couplings and frames.
Tube and coupler scaffolding has prefabricated pieces joined together with couplers. System scaffolding includes horizontal, vertical, and diagonal standards, transoms, and ledgers. Rolling scaffolding is designed with wheels, making it easier to move around. Portable scaffolding is a framework built on wheels and casters. Mast Climbing scaffolding has anchored mast climbers that can carry heavy loads. Formwork Scaffolding is a temporary mold that offers shape and support to concrete during its cure phase.
1. Single Scaffolding
Single scaffolding, single scaffolding or brick layer scaffolding consists of a single row of standards, ledgers, and putlogs. Single rows of vertical poles(standards) are connected with the help of horizontal poles(ledgers), where shorter tubes (putlogs) are directly inserted into the wall holes. This frame has a ledger installed at vertical intervals of 1.2 to 1.5 while standards are set at 2 to 2.5m intervals. Putlogs are extended from a hole in the wall to the one end of the ledger at a 1.2 to 1.5 meters distance.
Benefits: Single scaffolding is a cost-effective framework that is easy to install and erect, requiring less labor and material.
Uses: Single scaffolding is mainly used for masonry work, where it supports workers who are plastering, painting, and cleaning. It is helpful for small- to medium-height projects.
2. Double Scaffolding
Double scaffolding consists of two rows of standards connected with double ledgers and transoms. The first row of standard/vertical poles is placed 20-30 cm from the wall, while the second row is set up 1 meter away from the first row. When supporting the working platform, key components used in the framework are frames, rakers/diagonal braces, cross braces, and putlogs. It is also referred to as Mason’s scaffolding and independent scaffolding.
Benefits: Double scaffolding’s biggest benefit is its durability. It provides top-level stability for heavy-duty work and has a higher load-bearing capacity than single scaffolding.
Uses: Double scaffolding is mainly used for stone masonry and work where wall support isn’t required. Due to its complex structure, it is also used for decorating high-rise structures, reconstructing tall buildings, painting, and installing heavy equipment.
3. Cantilever Scaffolding
Cantilever or needle scaffolding is a framework extending beams beyond their support points. It has no additional bracing from below; instead, it has a lever system anchored at only one end. It requires careful engineering because the stability of an overhanging structure is a complex phenomenon.
Benefits: The most significant advantage of cantilever scaffolding is that it provides easy access to difficult areas where the ground is uneven or obstructed. Another plus point of this scaffolding is that it allows for effective load distribution on sensitive ground. This flexible framework can be adjusted around obstacles such as above public sidewalks, roads, or gardens.
Uses: Cantilever scaffolding is used in building facades where workers have restricted access, such as over landscape gardens or busy urban spots. It is also used for the construction and maintenance of historic buildings and the undersides of bridges/overpasses. Cantilever scaffolds are suitable for repair work in auditoriums and theatres where scaffolding needs to be placed over floor-based obstacles or seating.
4. Suspended Scaffolding
Suspense or swing-stage scaffolding comprises a scaffolding system hung from the roof or top of the building through wires, chains, or ropes. This type of scaffolding is commonly used for high-rise building maintenance and construction. It can be raised or lowered alongside the building exterior per project requirements.
Benefits: The most significant benefit of suspended scaffolding is its adjustable height. You can adjust this scaffolding at different heights without dismantling or reassembling the framework. Another benefit of suspended scaffolding is its access to difficult areas, such as tall building facades. It is beneficial in busy places like streets and pedestrian pathways where it extends from above rather than the ground and thereby causes minimal ground interference. Another plus of suspended scaffolding is that it is a more cost-effective and space-friendly framework for repair and maintenance work compared to traditional scaffolding.
Uses: Suspended scaffolding is commonly used for window washing, cleaning, painting, and repair work on high-rise buildings. It is a helpful structure for painting, repairing, and sandblasting underage decks. They are commonly used in shipyards where this structure allows workers to work on the ship side area. Another everyday use of suspended scaffolding is in the installation and maintenance of exterior features of tall buildings, such as signs, lights, and architectural elements.
5. Trestle Scaffolding
Trestle scaffolding is a framework where two movable tripods or ladders serve as scaffold legs while a platform is installed over the stands. This type of scaffolding is used for work inside a room or at a height that doesn’t exceed 5 meters.
Benefit: The most significant advantage of trestle scaffolding is that it is portable and lightweight. You can quickly move it from one work site to another. Another plus is that the height of the platform can be adjusted according to job requirements. You can assemble or dismantle trestle scaffolding quite quickly.
Uses: Trestle scaffolding is used to paint walls and ceilings within the building. It is also useful for minor repair work at medium heights, such as installing ceiling components and fixing light fixtures.
6. Steel Scaffolding
Steel scaffolding is a framework for connecting steel tubes with steel couplers and fittings.
Benefits: Steel scaffolding is highly durable and provides heavy load-bearing capacity. It can withstand harsh weather conditions. Its fire resistance feature makes it useful in environments prone to fire hazards. It offers a safe, robust, and stable platform for workers to work on high-rise construction. It is easy to assemble and dismantle.
Uses: Steel scaffolding is quite helpful in the construction industry, offering support for facade renovation, building structures, and extensions. It is used for maintenance and repair on historical sites, commercial buildings, and public utilities. It also builds stages, seating, and temporary event structures.
7. Patented Scaffolding
Patented scaffolding comprises a prefabricated scaffold framework made from steel or aluminum. This framework has a unique locking mechanism and specialized fittings, such as special couplings, bracelets, and frames. The whole system is designed so that assembly and disassembly are quick and safe.
Benefits: The most significant advantage of patented scaffolding is its quick setup and dismantling process due to pre-engineered components. Another plus point is its built-in safety features, such as guardrails and a secure locking mechanism. They support heavy loads and are resistant to weathering and corrosion.
Uses: Patented scaffolding is mainly used in commercial and residential building projects, industrial maintenance and repair, public infrastructure work, event staging, and interior and exterior renovations.
8. Tube and coupler scaffolding
Tube and coupler scaffolding consists of steel or aluminum tubes connected with couplers and clamps. It is built with a framework of vertical tubes (uprights), horizontal tubes (bearers and runners), and diagonal tubes (braces) joined together with a swivel of fixed clamps.
Benefits: The versatility is the most significant advantage of tube and coupler scaffolding. It can be built to adapt to irregular dimensions or contours of buildings. Since it is made of steel or aluminum tubes, this framework ensures stability and can bear heavy loads.
Uses: Tube and coupler scaffolding are mainly used for the construction and maintenance of complex-design buildings. It is also used in industrial environments such as power stations, chemical plants, and refiners, where the framework needs to be customized according to unique geometric shapes.
9. System Scaffolding
System scaffolding, also known as modularised scaffolding, contains pre-engineered vertical and horizontal parts that need to be put together in a systematic way. These pre-engineered components are transoms, posts braces, ledgers, braces, and base plates.
Benefits: System scaffolds offer easier erection, assembly, and dismantling due to their modular components. Their secure locking mechanism and safety features, like guardrails, make them safer than their traditional counterparts. They are made of steel or aluminum and have a heavy load-bearing capacity. Although they require an initial high investment, their ease of dismantling/assembly and reusability across various projects reduce their overall cost.
Uses: System scaffolding is commonly used for facade work, window installation, and bricklaying. They are widely used for repair and maintenance tasks in industries such as refineries, and petrochemical plants. System scaffolding offers quick access solutions in complex industrial environments like power plants and shipyards. Since they are highly adaptable, they are mainly used to create temporary structures for concerts, festivals, and sporting events.
10. Rolling Scaffolding
Rolling scaffolding is a mobile scaffold designed with wheels at the base. It comprises various components such as cross braces, horizontal braces, and diagonal braces.
Benefits: The most significant advantage of rolling scaffolding is its high mobility. It offers easy movement at the workplace. You can move it to a different position without disassembly. It increases work efficiency while providing safety and stability during work. Rolling scaffolding is that it can be adjusted at various heights per project requirements.
Uses: Rolling scaffolding has proven useful for repair/maintenance tasks, painting, plastering, and the installation and fitting of window frames.
11. Portable Scaffolding
Portable scaffolding is also referred to as mobile scaffolding, in which the scaffold system is mounted on wheels or casters so it moves easily without any disassembly.
Benefits: Portable scaffolding offers mobility. You can quickly move around the sites. Versatility is another benefit. You can use this type of scaffolding for different indoor and outdoor settings. It has a locking mechanism that locks the wheels and lets the workers use a stable platform for work.
Uses: Portable scaffolding is mainly used for painting and plastering. Technicians also use it for maintenance tasks such as electrical installation, HVAC system repair, and general upkeep. It is ideal for a facade or structure where frequent movements are required and workers need to do repair or decorative work.
12. Mast Climbing Scaffolding
Mast climbing scaffolding, also known as mast climbers, involves a platform moving vertically alongside one or more vertical masts. These masts are anchored to the ground or to the building structure and provide stability to the platform, which can ascend or descend to the required working heights.
Benefits: Mast climbers is that they can be adjusted to different working heights. Workers don’t need to climb or assemble scaffolds quite often. These free-standing scaffolds are capable of handling heavier loads. Another benefit of tied mast climbers is that they provide stability to workers at greater heights while reducing worker fatigue and risks of accidents.
Uses: Mast Climbing scaffolds are commonly used for painting, cleaning, glazing, and cladding building exteriors. They are also useful for restoring historical buildings where workers need to work with precision and care. The climbers have a stationary base that lets workers get stable access to installing windows in high-rise buildings.
13. Formwork Scaffolding
Formwork scaffolding is a temporary or semi-permanent mold where liquid concrete is poured to create the structural components of buildings and other structures.
Benefits: The most significant advantage of formwork scaffolding is that it supports concrete structures during their setting and cure phase to maintain structural integrity. Another plus of the latest formwork scaffolds is their adaptability and versatility. You can create various types of shapes and sizes that align with complex architectural designs. The high efficiency of modular form ensures quick assembly and disassembly.
Uses: Vertical forms are used to create structural walls and columns in commercial buildings and residential complexes. Horizontal formworks are used for floors, slabs, and beams. Formwork scaffolding is quite useful for large-scale infrastructure projects such as dams, bridges, and tunnels.
The two main types of Scaffolding are supported Scaffolding and suspended Scaffolding. A supported scaffold frame has one or more platforms supported with rigid and load-bearing components such as outriggers, frames, legs, or poles. Suspended Scaffolding comprises two or more platforms suspended from the building through ropes, chains, or other non-rigid overhead support.
The most common type of suspended Scaffolding is two-point adjustable suspension scaffolding, also called swing-stage scaffolding. It consists of a working platform suspended by cables or ropes at one end of the building. This type of suspended Scaffolding is used mainly for window cleaning, building maintenance, signage installation, or painting on tall structures.
Lean-to and shore scaffolds are prohibited from use on job sites by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Fabricated frames are the most common type of supported Scaffolding. They are cost-effective, cheaper to assemble, and offer a great deal of flexibility. Fabricated frames consist of a base section that touches the ground with feet. These legs go up to the first tier, which contains the working platform for workers. This modular design is useful for single—and double-story height residential work. You can also find much higher fabricated frames for commercial or industrial work.
Suspended Scaffolding is used for high-rise buildings. It’s a framework that is suspended from above, usually from the rooftop, through ropes, wires, or chains. It allows workers to reach the top of the tall building easily. Suspended Scaffolding is cost-effective, easy to build, and takes less time to construct than supported Scaffolding.
Aluminum scaffolding is used for painting residential and commercial spaces. This lightweight scaffold system is easy to assemble and can be moved easily internally and externally.
A heavy-duty modular scaffolding system is a common type of Scaffolding used in the UAE because it’s easy to set up. Construction managers in the UAE rely on modular scaffolds, which are used for various applications such as staircase access, masonry work, repair, and renovation.
