Suspended scaffolds cut high-rise masonry costs

On tall buildings, suspended scaffolds eliminate multiple tiers of frame scaffolding and keep masons working at their most comfortable level
By Kenneth A. Hooker

caffolds are essential to masonry construction, providing masons with safe and convenient access to their work. On tall buildings, though, the cost of scaffolding can be a significant portion of the contract price. This cost can be reduced by using suspended scaffold systems designed specifically for masonry construction. These systems eliminate the cost and labor needed to erect multiple levels of conventional scaffold framing. Because the platform height of a suspended scaffold can be constantly adjusted, masons always work at their most comfortable, productive level. And if weather enclosure and heat are required, suspended scaffolds have only one level to enclose.

from outrigger beams that are anchored above. These outrigger beams may be mounted on the roof or at an intermediate floor above the working level. The wire ropes that support the scaffold wrap around drum winches or pass through traction hoists that are operated manually to raise or lower the platform. In one commonly used system, the wire ropes, winches, and scaffold frames are 7 feet on center, as in a conventional built-up scaffold. The masonry contractor planks the work surface with 2x10x16-foot scaffoldgrade wood plank that span Suspended scaffolds are supported by three supports. The top of the scaffold must be planked wire ropes hung from outrigger beams anas well, to protect against in- chored to a higher floor or roof slab. Stop bolts through the outrigger beams limit the How they work juries from falling objects. movement of the wire ropes. Suspended scaffolds for masonOther systems come comprotection, as well as all necesry construction are work platplete from the manufacturer with sary guard rails and screening, alforms, suspended by wire ropes aluminum decking and overhead ready in place. Some also allow for two-level platforms so that masons can reach stocked materials comfortably. Masonry scaffolds typically use multipoint suspension, with a wire rope and hoist on the building side and the outside of each frame. Multipoint suspension increases the load capacity and the stability of the scaffold. Depending on the building configuration, the scaffold sections may be connected end to end or kept separate so they can move The suspended scaffold support system is complex and must be specificalindependently. ly engineered for each job. Design, installation, and removal services norThe distance scaffolds may be mally are provided by the scaffold supplier as part of a rental agreement.

suspended has no specific limit. However, on taller projects, the scaffold usually is first hung from an intermediate floor, so that masons can begin work on lower floors before the building is topped out. The scaffold commonly is installed once the main structural frame is up about 10 stories. When the 10th floor slab is poured, the scaffold supplier arranges for anchors or sleeves to be embedded in the concrete to hold the outriggers. Heavy-duty masons multipoint suspended scaffolds are rated for 50-psf loading and are available in either 5- or 8-foot widths. The 5foot width is less expensive and works well when only limited amounts of material need to be stored or transported on the scaffold. The wider platform allows space for brick, block, and mortar to be wheeled along the scaffold to supply masons working on the wall. Narrower platforms rated for 25-psf loading may sometimes be used when all materials are stocked from the building floors.

the system and make sure its functioning smoothly and safely. Second, since many masonry contractors dont routinely work on high-rise buildings, their need for suspended scaffolding is sporadic. Maintaining the equipment in inventory for only occasional use is hard to justify, especially when each projects requirements are likely to differ.

When to use them

Opinions vary on the height a building needs to be to make suspended scaffolds cost-effective. One manufacturer claims that the equipment cost for suspended scaffolds beats the cost of conventional scaffold framing at about seven stories. Others say a suspended scaffold is worth considering on any building taller than about 100 feet or 10 stories. One manufacturer that handles both types of equipment says that a suspended system costs about as much to rent as 500 conventional scaffold frames. A masonry contractor who already has a large supply of frames in stock, and simply needs to supplement them, may find it less expensive to rent more frames and build the scaffold tall enough to serve the project. For buildings 100 to 150 feet high, the contractor should consider both types and decide which is better. The added convenience derived from working on a fully height-adjustable platform may make up for some of the increased installation cost. Above 150 feet, using a suspended scaffold is almost always more cost-effective. Since scaffold equipment is rented on a monthly basis, it becomes expensive to rent frames to support scaffolds for work on high floors, long after the work on lower floors is completed. On some low-rise buildings special conditions at ground level may make it desirable to use suspended scaffolding. For example, an adjacent building may prevent installation of scaffold framing at the base of the building. In remodeling projects where upper stories
Scaffolds are raised or lowered manually using traction hoists at each vertical support. Though many suspended scaffolds are 5 feet wide, wider platforms provide space for palletized brick.

are added to an existing building, the owner may not want the lower stories obstructed by scaffold framing.

Contractors views
Dan Macario, president of Genco Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, says that his company has used suspended scaffolds on high-rise projects for more than 45 years. The costs for tubular-frame and suspended scaffolds break even at six or seven stories, says Macario. We use medium- or heavy-duty suspended scaffolds for projects taller than that, depending on how the job is to be stocked. We rent the components and follow the engineering drawings provided by the supplier, but we have a crew thats trained to install the support beams, construct the platforms, and rig the hoists. Suspended scaffolds reduce our costs on high-rise jobs and also keep the base of the building accessible when were working above the first floor. Ed Smith of Hansen & Hempel, Elmhurst, Illinois, says that his company uses suspended scaffolds on projects nine or more stories high. The masons like being able to adjust the scaffold height in small increments so they can keep working at a comfortable level. Jacob Bros. Inc. of Cincinnati

Suspended scaffolds usually are rented

Suspended scaffolds for masonry work are rarely, if ever, purchased from a supplier. Rental agreements are far more common. In fact, some suppliers will only rent, not sell, the systems. The rental agreement usually includes not only the scaffold, hoists, and wire rope, but also the outrigger beams and anchoring system. The scaffold supplier installs the equipment, moves the outrigger beams to higher floors as necessary during the job, and removes the equipment when the project is completed. Renting is preferred for two reasons. First, methods of configuring and anchoring suspended scaffolding vary from job to job, depending on the building design. In fact, each installation needs to be engineered individually to perform properly. Suppliers employ staff engineers to handle this design work and qualified crews to install

used a suspended scaffold on its first high-rise job a couple of years ago, partly to reduce costs and partly to improve access to the lower floors on the tight building site. Although the suspended scaffold accomplished those goals, foreman Rick Davis found several limitations to its performance. The building had a number of inset bays, which created gaps between the work platform and the wall that the scaffold we used couldnt be modified to eliminate, says Davis. The gaps were hard to work across and, in fact, led to an OSHA citation. The job was stocked from the floors, but as the scaffold moved to the upper wall sections on each floor, laborers couldnt easily pass materials to the masons. Although their potential advantages are affected by the specific building design, suspended scaffolds can be an economical alternative to tubular-frame scaffolds for high-rise masonry construction. PUBLICATION #M910111 Copyright 1991 The Aberdeen Group All rights reserved