Posted By al wood we currently use tube and fit and kwik stage scaffolding on a number of our sites, one of our regular clients is shortly going to be insisting on the use of advanced guard rails when erecting, altering or dismatling these scaffolds. i know the NASC are going to re-write SG4:05 in 2010 and that the tunnelling methods contained within SG4:05 are to be withdrawn in favour of the advanced guard rail system. (seems like a good idea as many scaffolders dont seem to like clipping on) however scaffolders will still be expected to wear a safety harness. my main question is as follows - are there sufficient quantities of the advance guard rails available, do they cover kwik stage scaffolding as well as tube and fit? i have done a search on various scaffold suppliers websites and there is no mention of advanced guard rails in their literature. thanks in advance. al wood

Posted By garyjr It was my understanding that Kwikstage should no longer be getting used because it fails to meet the requirements of BS EN 12811 & 12810. The problem lies with the cantilever brackets not being capable of supporting the same load rating as the main scaffold platform. The other problem is with the materials being manufactured at too many different locations i.e. the Indian components are not as well made as the Chinese parts, which in turn are not as good as the parts made by the original manufacturers. Regarding Advanced Guardrails, new guidance will be coming out NEXT year 2009, which will give detailed guidance on the erection of all basic scaffolding configurations using the various collective protection methods available. It is a contentious point at the moment regarding the use of harnesses. The manufacturers of advanced guardrails feel they offer the same level of protection for the scaffolder as the people using the completed structure (who of course don't need to wear a harness) however there are those within the scaffolding industry who feel for some reason or another that they should still be used even with advanced guardrails - particularly people in the Liverpool/Manchester region. I would look at advanced guardrails very closely because as far as I am led to believe there is only one type which can be used on all types of scaffolding including all systems and tube & fittings. They are a Glasgow based company but I would be breaking this websites rules to supply you with their name, however I have seen other companies break those rules on this site.