26.01.2009

New guidance for tube & coupler scaffolding

The UK’s National Access and Scaffolding Confederation has launched the long awaited Technical Guidance note TG20:08 - A Guide to good Practice for Scaffolding with Tubes and Fittings

The combination of detailed testing, calculations and advice on best practice should ensure that TG20:08 is quickly adopted throughout the whole of the UK.

Designed as an important, practical and user friendly guide for scaffolding contractors and designers the guidance note will also be of use to any construction professional working with scaffolding contractors.

TG20:08 details how tube and coupler scaffolding can be erected to comply with the European standard BS/EN 12811-1, which supersedes BS 5973. The original release of TG:20 resulted in some main contractors in the UK calling for the document to be implemented immediately, at this stage thought the Health & Safety Executive has agreed not to fully enforce the guidance for the first two years.

Fundamentally the principles of BS 5973 will remain unchanged and there are few changes for the scaffolder day to day. The main changes are:

•The processes of justifying the design will alter rather than the scaffold
•Façade/sway bracing must he fitted every six bays
•There are more tie arrangements and alternatives for increased flexibility
•The arrangements for some sheeted scaffolds are more varied than BS 5973

However, the scope of TG20:08 is wider than the previous version giving a larger number of standard scaffold arrangements e.g. two inside boards. It also includes debris netted scaffolds and although not part of BS/EN 12811, it provides guidance for Putlog scaffolds
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The new TG20 Technical Guidance manuals

The guidance has been produced in two volumes, one for every day use by scaffolding contractors and the second for specific use by scaffold designers. Priced at £135 (for the two volumes) plus £6 post and packing the guidance can be ordered directly from the NASC, via www.nasc.org.uk