Today I was doing a safety inspection on a small building site (two semi-detached houses) to check the brickies were working safe, that the scaffolding was safe, that they were using brick-guards, ladders tied etc etc. The scaffold is up to it's last (fourth) lift, and I was curious that above the second lift there is no diagonal bracing - no ledger bracing and or facade bracing, just standards/ledgers/transom tubing. I called the scaffolder and he said he was using the Ready lock system which doesn't need diagonal bracing if the transoms are set hard up against the wall of the building. I'm also concerned that the scaffold is just on 3 sides of the building and not tied at all to the building, the 4th side of the building is just six inches away from the neighbour so that wall is being built from the inside (brickies standing on platforms/towers) I need to check what he says about not needing diagonal bracing, where can I read/learn about the Ready Lock scaffold system? John

Thanks TFCSM, yes I did find the forum through google. I'll have to register as it keeps chucking me out when I find an interesting thread.... Construction Forums are often not very reliable, like this place sometimes!! So I was hoping for a guide. There are plenty of guides and inspection guidance on standard scaffolding, but I'm not familiar with 'Ready Lock', he also referred to it as 'Easyfix'. I've had problems with the scaffolder before - before I came along there was no initial handover cert., no inner guard rails, no weekly inspections....... :o/

Oh dear the spell checker has gone mad, these I pads are not what they are cracked up to be, hopefully you got the jist of the thread

Sounds like what I know as "Kwikstage" I seem to recall there's NASC guidance aimed specifically at this system. The thing surely needs to be tied, and on a new build it should be readily possible to use window reveals to tie-to using tube and fitting items as required. You state the 4th side is only 6 inches from the neighbouring property?! I can't fathom how building stds allow that. How do you maintain/point or repoint in the future?!!

ron, thanks, we cross-posted. Sorry I think the buildings will be joined, client owns the neighbouring building which is 150 years old. I have a few of the NASC guidance booklets so I'll take a look for one on 'systems', but for peace of mind I will try and persuade some bracing using the smith6720 advice. The scaffolder has been a nightmare and is clearly not up to steam on some things, like internal edge protection each time he adds a lift and other details.

Thanks Ron. I guess the ventilation gap between the structures is a subject beyond my remit but I'll have a word with the client who is also the designer, and he'll know if the old pace is damp proofed. I've been in the building and it has basements as all these old buildings in Leamington have.

John This type of scaffolding is "not" kwikstage scaffolding it is tube and fitting which must be errected to TG20:, unless you have the information previously stated, the scaffolding is erected as per any tube and fitting scaffolding, with facade bracing, ties as per design or general requirements required by TG:20:

I do remember that the Kwikstage system does not need diagonal bracing as the transome above secures the face and rear of the scaffold BUT they must be installed when erecting until the lift is complete and may then be removed - They must be reinstalled for striking - there were some instances back in the late 70-early80s when these collapsed whilst being dismantled but the manufacturers instructions make this clear. The other two systems commonly seen are the cuplock from SGB and the NSG-Plettack system, each has their own foibles. Bob