Scaffolding materials include steel, timber, bamboo, and aluminium. Among these, steel scaffolding is the most popular. What is steel scaffolding? What are the advantages and disadvantages of steel scaffolding? What are the types of steel scaffolding globally? Why use steel scaffolding? In this article, we talk about steel scaffolding and the things you want to know about it.
Steel scaffolding is a type of scaffolding made from steel tubes, plates and steel accessories. It is sturdy, high-load, and easy to erect. Steel scaffolding typically has standard sizes, is durable due to galvanising or coating, and has a long lifespan. They are used in a wide range of construction projects globally, in all countries, especially for large and heavy-duty projects.
15 Advantages of Steel Scaffolding
Steel scaffolding has a high load capacity of up to 800 KN
Steel scaffolding includes light-duty scaffolds, medium-duty scaffolds, and heavy-duty scaffolds. Heavy-duty steel scaffolding can load up to 800 KN. It can be used not only for normal building scaffolding but also for heavy-duty shoring, infrastructure, and industrial construction.
Durable with up to 50 years of an extended lifespan
Steel scaffolding is resistant to cracking or damage during construction. Hot-dip galvanised steel scaffolding can last 20-50 years with proper maintenance.
Cheaper than Aluminium scaffolding
Steel scaffolding is made of carbon steel. The cost of steel is less than that of other metal scaffolding, like aluminium. Thus, steel scaffolding is cheaper than aluminium scaffolding.
Prefabricated Sizes and Lengths
Steel scaffolding is typically designed and prefabricated in sizes, lengths, and diameters. Even the traditional and convenient tube and clamp system has standard diameters and 6m standard lengths.
Easy Erection and Dismantle
The most commonly used steel scaffolding nowadays is the modular system scaffold, which features locking mechanisms, making erection and dismantling quick, easy and safe.
48.3mm Standard Diameters
The standard diameter of steel scaffolding is mostly 48mm. The standard diameter makes scaffolding easy to assemble with standard couplers and fittings.
Complete Standards, Regulations, Assembly Guides
Steel scaffolding is a type of ancient scaffolding that has been used for thousands of years. Thus, there are complete scaffolding standards, regulations, and guides for steel scaffolding. Include the international scaffolding standards of BS1139 standard, EN74, EN 39, EN 10219, EN 12810, AS1576, JIS 3444, etc.
Steel Scaffolding Has a Wide Application
Due to its heavy-duty load-bearing capacity and versatile features, steel scaffolding is widely utilised in all types of construction projects. Whether it involves infrastructure, high-rise construction, heavy-duty shoring, access, staging, building and equipment maintenance, masonry, indoor or outdoor work, mobile or fixed, steel scaffolding ensures safety, saves costs, and time.
Steel Scaffolding Has Designed Safety Protection Elements
Steel scaffolding is perfectly designed, featuring strict safety components and elements. For example, steel scaffolding platforms are equipped with hooks and wind-resistant locking devices to ensure safety and stability. In steel scaffolding systems, they always include side protection elements, such as toeboards, guardrail posts, and guardrails, to provide additional safety.
Steel scaffolding is non-combustible
Steel scaffolding is safe from fires. Safer than timber scaffolding materials.
Easy for Access
Steel scaffolding is equipped with modular stairs or ladders. The stairs and ladders provide safe access from top to bottom, featuring handrails, toeboards, and side protection, which significantly increases construction safety.
Great For High-Rise Construction
High-rise construction requires heavy-duty, easy erection, quick and safe. Steel scaffolding is perfect for high-rise construction.
Height Adjustable
Steel scaffolding can be designed to be height-adjustable, accommodating a wide range of height requirements in construction. The adjustable steel scaffodlnig materials include steel props, screw jacks, and shoring jacks etc. They are used for uneven ground conditions and different height shoring and concretes.
Steel Scaffolding Suit For Large Construction Projects
Sturdy, high-load, and easy to erect, with safety-designed modular parts, the steel scaffolding is perfect for large construction jobs and projects.
Environmentally Friendly
You do not need to cut trees; you can reuse the steel scaffolding for a long time. The steel scaffold products make a significant contribution to the environment.
Disadvantages of steel scaffolding
Compared to aluminum scaffolding, steel scaffolding is more prone to rust, especially if you choose painted and E-galvanised (zinc-plated) steel scaffold products.
The weight of steel scaffolding is heavier than that of aluminium scaffold materials. Harder to handle in construction.
Steel scaffolding is electrically conductive. Some construction projects may not be suitable for use.
What are the Different Types of Steel Scaffolding in Construction
Steel scaffolding can be utilised for various types of construction projects.
- Single steel scaffolding with single rows of standard needs to be fixed to the wall.
- Double steel scaffolding is independent with two or more rows of standards
- Cantilever scaffolds are used when obstacles prevent scaffolding erection from the ground
- Suspended Steel Scaffolding with Suspended Working Platform above Ground
- Portable Trestle Steel Scaffolding (A-frame) with Ladder, easy to set up for a work platform
- Rolling and Mobile Steel Scaffolding Tower with scaffold wheels
- Staircase Steel Scaffolding with access way to each work platform
- Shoring Steel scaffolding holds the load during the formwork for concrete
What are the Different Types of Steel Scaffolding Material
When you need to choose steel scaffolding material for your construction, building, or shoring project. You can select different types and systems of steel scaffolding.
- Ringlock scaffolding
- Cuplock scaffolding
- Kwikstage scaffolding(quick stage)
- Quick lock scaffolding
- Quick erect scaffolding
- Tube lock Scaffolding (steel tube with fittings)
- Speedshore scaffolding
- Crab 60 shoring system
- 60mm Heavy-duty ring lock system
- OD48.3×4.0mm Type 4 Scaffold Tube + Drop Forged Scaffolding Couplers
- OD48.3×3.2mm Type 3 Scaffold tube + Forged & pressed scaffold clamps BS1139
- OD48.6×2.4mm JIS /KS Standard Scaffolding Pipes + JIS and Korean Scaffolding Clamps
- Light Weight Shoring Props
- Medium-duty steel Props
- Heavy Duty Scaffold Props
- Walk Through Frame Scaffold
- Ladder Frame Scaffolding
- H Frame Scaffolding
- Shoring Frame Scaffolding
- V Shore Scaffolding
- Column Frame Scaffolding
Steel boards and Steel Stairs
- Steel battens or metal decks without hooks to fixed by board clamps
- Steel planks with hooks and sit on horizontal parts
- Steel stairs form access ways
Steel Scaffolding Grades
The type of steel used in the steel scaffolding is carbon steel. The carbon steel material makes steel scaffolding sturdy and firm, capable of withstanding a high load. The grades of the carbon steel scaffolding are S235, S275, S355, STK 400, and STK 500. (Check more about steel grades)
The carbon steel scaffolds are mostly hot-rolled. For anti-corrosion purposes, the steel scaffolding is always treated with surface treatments such as galvanising, painting, powder coating, and zinc plating.
Steel Scaffolding Sizes
The standard steel scaffolding tube diameter is 48.3 mm, and the wall thickness of the 48.3 mm tubular scaffolding is typically 3.2 mm or 4.0 mm.
There are also other diameters for the scaffolding steel tubes. For Example:
- O.D. 38mm for adjustable screw jacks
- O.D. 42mm for walk-through frame scaffolding
- O.D. 60mm for high-load shoring frame scaffold
- O.D. 32mm, O.D. 27mm, O.D. 25mm and O.D. 21 mm for frame scaffold cross braces
- O.D. 60mm for high-load Post Shores
- O.D. 89mm for bridge legs
- O.D. 76 mm for heavy-duty props
Steel Plank Sizes
- Width: 210mm, 225mm, 240mm, 250mm, 230mm, 400mm, 420mm, 450mm, 480mm, 500mm
- Thickness: 38mm, 40mm, 45mm, 50mm, 63mm, 67mm, 76mm
- Steel wall thickness: 1.0mm to 2.0mm
Steel Scaffold Parts & Components Plus The Function
- Fixed and Adjustable steel base plates (Foot Parts of the scaffolding system)
- Steel scaffold standards (Vertical Parts of the Scaffolding System)
- Steel scaffold ledgers (Horizontal parts connect between two standards)
- Steel transoms (Horizontals, but used to support boards and battens)
- Diagonal Braces ( Diagonal parts between verticals and horizontals)
- Horizontal Braces (Diagonal parts between squares of the horizontals)
- Steel boards and metal decks (Platform parts forming the work standard area)
- Steel Toe Boards ( Side protection parts surrounding the work platform)
- Steel Ladders ( Climbing parts for scaffolding access)
- Steel Stairs ( Climbing parts with board steps)
- Steel Brackets and Cantilever Frames ( Components form cantilevers when scaffolding can not be erected from the ground)
- Steel Tie Bars ( Fixing parts between scaffold brackets and support boards on brackets)
- Steel Guard Rail Post and Guard Rails ( Single and double rail parts used to protect the surrounding work platform)
What are the alternatives to steel scaffolding?
Steel scaffolding alternatives are aluminium, timber, and bamboo scaffolding. Bamboo scaffolding is a traditional scaffold commonly used in China. Now, fewer companies use bamboo scaffolding.
Steel Scaffolding vs. Timber Scaffolding
Steel scaffolding is better than timber scaffolding. Because steel scaffolding can be fabricated with customised sizes, in different types, systems, and modules. Using steel scaffolding components and parts makes erection easy and convenient by connecting and fixing standard or modular fittings and connectors.
Timber scaffolding is used for some parts of a construction scaffold, but it cannot be used as a scaffold’s vertical and horizontal parts. They are mainly used as boards, film-faced plywood, and timber formwork beams in construction staging and shoring.
Steel Scaffolding vs. Aluminium Scaffolding
Steel scaffolding is less expensive than aluminium scaffolding and can withstand a higher load. Aluminium scaffolding is lightweight but expensive in raw materials. Therefore, steel scaffolding is commonly used in large-scale construction projects.
Steel Scaffolding Lifespan
Steel scaffolding is strong and durable and can be used for many years without breaking. If steel scaffolding is protected by galvanising, it can last up to 50 years. Standard steel scaffolding can be used for at least 4- 20 years.
Steel Scaffolding Erection Steps
- Place the steel base plate and confirm the scaffold position
- Put steel scaffold verticals/scaffolding frames on base plates
- Fix steel scaffold ledgers between scaffold verticals, or fix cross braces between two frames
- Adjust the scaffold base plate to make all sides of the scaffolding ledgers at the same horizontal level
- Set up the scaffold braces
- Place scaffold boards and decks
- Place the stairs and ladders
- Keep the 2nd 2ndand following tiers to the needed height
- Set guard rails
Conclusion
Steel scaffolding is a cost-effective, high-load, safety type of scaffolding. Almost all constructions, shorings and supports can use steel scaffolding. They are prefabricated and pre-engineered, making the scaffolding industry efficient and safe. Using steel scaffolding saves you cost and time.