Posted By Paul Cornet Ian All but the most basic of scaffolds require a design. Scaffolding erected for house construction would usually have loading bays and bridged sections for access into the etc both of which would require the scaffolding to have a design. Information on scaffolds that do require a design can be found at http://www.hse.gov.uk/co...tion/scaffoldinginfo.htm Paul

Posted By Gerry Marchant Check Work at height Regs... they should be providing this basic info I would suggest looking for a more competent scaff org.

Posted By peter gotch 1 Ian. Well before TG20, I would have been looking for ties on either system or tube and fitting scaffolds on ANY signifant housing develpment in the 1980s - nothing has really changed in the last 20 years except as regards the standards expected when scaffolders are erected or dismantling. p

Posted By geoff.beaver@rokgroup.com I don't have an answer only a new question on the same subject! The HSE guidance states that a design is required on nearly all scaffolds except "basic" ones as described in TG20:08. What is their description of basic scaffold please? Also, the vast majority of our scaffolding contractors vehemently reject the need for design on many of the systems prescribed on the HSE "Scaffold inspection" guidance online. They can't all be wrong can they as they can make money out of getting a design? What sort of design is required for what scaffold too? Simple line drawing? Design by engineer? Design and load calculations?

Posted By john houlihan Having worked hands -on as a scaffolder for 24 years and now a professional health and safety advisor within the construction industry I fully understand the all too common problems in supply of designed calculations for scaffold structures. Many years ago design drawings were supplied and worked to but more often than not the design of a lot of scaffold structures were left down to the lead scaffolder or Charge hand scaffolder, this is what set them apart from your average sacffold op. The ingenuity and thought that went into erecting a complex scaffold structure was the challenge and self satisfying gratuity the job offered, something that has been taken away today by near enough all structures requiring a drawing. Saying that there is a big proportion of drawings that do not match up to the charge-hands expectations, they are often rebuked. The supply of design calculations and egineering accountability often adds time to a project and also extra expense and in todays price driven world this unfortunately gets left behind. Scaffold contractors, PC's and Clients are all guilty of this and the over-riding factor is cost! This short sighted approach is a false economy due to the consequential costs of getting it wrong, a scaffold collapse could result in multiple fatalities. Not too long ago, preceding 2005, I was asked to build a loading bay on a new build housing project by a contracts manager of a scaffold company. building a loading bay is a very common and follows a set procedure. I asked the contracts manager if a drawing was available and his reply was " why do you want a drawing, haven't you ever erected a loading bay before". A standard bricklaying loading bay would be erected to withstand 10kn per square metre. I had erected more loading bays than he had hot dinners but I explained to him that without a loading calculation he or I cannot prove the loading bay, he went off shaking his head! So you see the problems the operatives within the industry are faced with on a daily basis. I fully support the requirement of design calculation drawings because it eliminates the 'chance' factor, makes the structure traceable and will ultimately reduce scaffold collapse. In my opinion the way forward is to raise the bar with those responsible for managing scaffold operations, supervisors/contracts managers etc, start at the top. In this 'credit crunch' world we need to keep a close eye on corner cutting practices employed by commercially driven contractors who cannot see the bigger picture! Insist on designs all day long!