SCAFFOLD - A General Overview

Scaffolding is a temporary structure used to support people, material thus providing platform to higher level of the permanent structure during construction, maintenance and repair of large structures.

It has various application :

• It is used in new construction, alteration, routine maintenance, renovation, painting, repairing, and removal activities.
• It offers a safer and more comfortable work arrangement compared to leaning over edges, stretching overhead, and working from ladders.
• It provides workers safe access to work locations, level and stable working platforms, and temporary storage for tools and materials for performing immediate tasks.
• It also helps in centering for the formwork.

Components of Scaffolding:

1. Ledger: A horizontal structural member that longitudinally spans a scaffold.
2. Standard: A vertical member of the scaffold.
3. Brace: A member fixed diagonally to two or more members of a scaffold, to provide rigidity to the scaffold.
4. Platform: Gives access to and from places of work to persons, materials and equipment.
5. Base Plate: A member used to distribute the load from the standard to the sole plate or sole board.
6. Toe Board: A scaffold plank or purpose-designed component fixed on edge at the edge of a platform, to prevent material falling from the platform.
7. Transom: A horizontal structural member transversely spanning an independent scaffold between standards.
8. Base Plate: At the base to distribute the load from the standard to the sole plate or sole board.
9. Guard Rail: A structural member to prevent persons from falling off any platform, walkway, stairway or landing.
10. Ladder: A vertical or inclined component which provide access for ascending and descending.

     

Types of construction equipment

STANDARD EQUIPMENTS	SPECIAL EQUIPMENTS
Equipment which are commonly manufactured and available to prospective purchasers.	Equipment which are manufactured for use on a specific project or special type of operations.
It’s initial cost is less.	It’s initial cost is high.
Deliveries of these equipments are obtained quickly as easily available in market.	Delivery of these equipments may delay as purchase order needs to be placed.
It’s resale value is high i.e., salvage value is reasonable.	It’s resale value is low i.e., salvage value is low as they are specific to fixed projects.
This can be used economically for more than one projects.	This cannot be used economically for other projects.
Repair parts may be obtained quickly, easily and economically.	Repair parts may not be obtained quickly, easily and economically.
Example: Transit Mixer, Vibrator, Loader, Hawler etc.	Example: Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM), Trenching Machine, Machines used in Metro Construction etc.