4 TYPES OF SCAFFOLDING COMMONLY USED IN BUILDING

CONSTRUCTION
Scaffolding
Scaffolding is a temporary rigid structure made of still, bamboo or timber. The primary aim of
constructing a scaffold is to create a platform on which mason can work at different heights. Scaffolds
also help to lift materials for the immediate uses at different heights.

Common Types of Scaffolding

The following 4 types of scaffoldings are commonly used in building construction work.
1.
2.
3.
4.

Brick layers Scaffolding or Single Scaffolding

Masons Scaffolding or Double Scaffolding
Steel or Tubular Scaffolding
Needle Scaffolding or Cantilever Scaffolding

1. Single Scaffolding / Brick Layers Scaffolding

In this type of scaffolding, a series of vertical members made of bamboo or timber (named as
Standards), are firmly fixed into the ground in a row parallel to the building wall. The distance in
between two standards is generally kept within 2.4 to 3 m.
These standards are connected to each by a longitudinal horizontal member (named as Ledgers).
Ledgers are tied with standards at every rise of 120 cm to150 cm (i.e. 4 ft to 5 ft). Rope lashing is used to
tie the standard with ledgers.
The putlogs (or transverse horizontal members) are placed at a horizontal spacing of 120 cm such that
one end is supported on the ledgers and the other end is held in the holes made in the wall. Rope
lashing is used to fasten the putlogs with ledgers.
If the height of the scaffolding is very high, to maintain its stability, sometimes diagonal members
(named as Braces) are provided. Braces are cross diagonally fitted with the standards using rope lashing.

2. Double Scaffolding / Masons Scaffolding

This type of scaffolding is commonly used in case of stone masonry. It is stronger than brick layers
scaffolding.
The primary differences between brick layers scaffolding and masons scaffolding are as follow:

In case of brick layers scaffolding single row of standard is fixed into the ground. But in case of
masons scaffolding two rows of standards are fixed into the ground. First row of standards is

fixed close to the wall and second row of standard is fixed at a distance of 1.5 m from the first
row. This is why it is named as double scaffolding.
In case of brick layers scaffolding one end of putlog is fixed with wall. But in double scaffolding,
putlogs are not fixed with the wall. Put logs are supported at both ends on ledgers. Therefore
masons scaffolding is completely independent of the wall surface. And there is no need to make
any hole on the wall surface.

Sometime raking shores are provided to prevent the slipping of scaffolding away from the wall.

3. Steel or Tubular Scaffolding

The method of construction of steel scaffolding is similar to that of brick layers and masons scaffolding.
The primary differences are

Instead of using timber, steel tube of diameter of 40 m to 60 mm are used

Instead of using rope lashing, special types of steel couples are used for fastening
Instead of fixing the standards into the ground, it is placed on base plate

The gap between two standards in a row is generally kept within 2.5 m to 3 m. These standards are fixed
on a square or round steel plate (known as Base Plate) by means of welding.
Ledgers are spaced at every rise of 1.8 m. Length of the putlogs are normally 1.2 m to 1.8m.
Advantages of the Steel Scaffolds are as follow:

It can be erected or dismantled more rapidly in comparison to timber scaffolding. This helps in
saving construction time.
It is more durable than timber. Therefore it is economical in long run.
It has more fire resisting capacity
It is more suitable and safe to work at any height.

4. Needle Scaffolding / Cantilever Scaffolding

Needle scaffolding or cantilever scaffolding is required in the following cases

When it is not possible to fix standard into the ground

When construction is done on the side of a busy street
When construction work is carried out at very high level in case of tall building

In this type of scaffolding instead of fixing the standard into the ground, it is placed at some height
above the ground level. The platform on which stands are placed is called needle. A needle is a
cantilever structure, made of timber, projected out from the holes in wall.
To prevent lifting up of the needle, the inside end of the needles are supported by struts wedged
between the needles and the head pieces.

The projected outward end of the needle is supported by an inclined strut which rests on the window
sill.
The joints between the inclined strut and the needle are clamped by means of dogs.