Outcomes;

Calculate scaffold quantities

Identify scaffold duties

Calculate Live and dead loads

Calculate lengths of sole boards

Scaffold
class
Light

Minimum Bay
Size

Maximum Bay Max hight

Size
of lift

Length Width Length Width

0.45m 0.45m 3.0m
2.4m
2 boards

Medium
Heavy

0.9m
1.0m

0.9m
3 or 4
boards

1.0m

2.0m

10 boards

2.4m

1.8m

2.0m

8 boards

1.8m 1.275m
5 boards

2.0m

Light duty Minimum access through a scaffold. For persons with hand tools only.
Live load maximum 225kg per platform per bay. Maximum concentrated load per platform per bay 100kg.
Used mainly by:

Electricians

Painters

Window cleaners

Light maintenance work

Medium duty For persons with materials and hand tools.
Live load maximum 450kg per platform per bay. Maximum concentrated load per platform per bay 150kg.
Used mainly by:

Carpenters

Welders

Glaziers

Plasterers/renderers
Heavy duty For trades like brick layers and demolition contractors.
Live load maximum 675kg per platform per bay. Maximum concentrated load per platform per bay 200kg.
Used mainly by:

Brick layers

Stone masons

Demolition work

Scaffold Max load Per

Platform per
Class
Bay

Max concentrated
load Per Platform per
Bay
(Should be over transom)

Light

225kg

100kg

Medium

450kg

150kg

Heavy

675kg

200kg

Hight of
scaffold

Steel

Aluminium

Up to 15m

Up to 30m

Up to 45m

Total Dead load for scaffold =

1060kg
Add up all components in the scaffold.
or = 1.06 Tonne

To find total Dead Load multiply the quantity of the

components by there known weight. Then add all the
components weights together to give a total Dead
Load.

Eg. Two 2 meters standards weigh 12kg each

2 x 12 = 24kg

Dead load is the weight of the scaffold itself and its

accessories used to construct it.
To calculate the Dead Load of the scaffold at any one
point, you must:

1.Calculate the quantity of scaffold that bears down at

one point.
2.Multiply the quantity by the weight of each
component.
3.Adjust the weight by finding the percentage of
weight that is transferred to that one point.

Full weight

weight

weight

Adjustable
base plate

Ledger

Planks

Standards

Transom
Bracing

Component

Length

Weight

Standard

2.0m

12kg

Standard

3.0m

18kg

Transom

1.2m

8kg

Ledger/guard rail

2.4m

10kg

Brace end (1.2 bay)

2.0m

10kg

Brace face (2.4bay)

3.6m

17kg

Captive plank (225mm)

1.2m

10kg

Captive plank (225mm)

2.4m

20kg

Ladder access putlog/transom

1.2m

8kg

750mm

7kg

4m

20kg

Adjustable base plate

Ladder

Quantity
A

Weight
A

total dead load A

Adjusted
A

Length

Weight

Standard

2.0m

12kg

Quantity
A
-

Standard

3.0m

18kg

18

18

Transom

1.2m

8kg

162

Ledger/guard rail

2.4m

10kg

802

40

Brace end (1.2 bay)

2.0m

10kg

Brace face (2.4bay)

3.6m

17kg

172

8.5

Captive plank (225mm)

1.2m

10kg

Captive plank (225mm)

2.4m

20kg

10

2004

50

Ladder access putlog/transom

1.2m

8kg

750mm

7kg

4m

20kg

Component

Adjustable base plate

Ladder

Weight
A

Adjusted
A

total dead load A 131.5

Total Dead load for leg B = 99.5kg

The live load is the total amount of weight allowed on the scaffold
that includes persons plus materials for each platform in each
bay.
To calculate the live load on one standard, we assume that each
standard in that bay will only support a third of the live load of
that bay. This allows for uneven distribution of the load across
the working platform.

Live load = 225Kg for a light duty scaffold per working platform.
450Kg for a medium duty scaffold per working platform.
675Kg for a heavy duty scaffold per working platform.

Live Load x No. of working platforms supported by the standard 3

Live load Leg A Medium Duty 300kg

=

Soleboards are designed to distribute the weight of

the scaffold evenly over the surface the scaffold is
to be erected on.
The size of the soleboard is dependent on the bearing
pressure of the ground. Bearing pressure will be
supplied to you by an engineer in kg per m.
(LL)

(DL)

Live load + Dead load

Bearing pressure
(BP)

Width of Soleboard = Minimum

soleboards length

Live Load

= 300kg

Dead Load

= 131.5kg

Bearing Pressure=2.4 Tonne

Width of Sole Board=225mm
LOST =
LL+DL WOS = Length of Sole Board
(Length of sole board) BP
300kg+131.5kg 0.225 =0.799
2400kg

= 0.80m, 80cm or 800mm

Do all variations of
calculations from
Assessment Instrument

OVER AND OVER!!!!!

Great Heights Scaffold Company

HANDOVER CERTIFICATE

Number: 9991

Each of the following must be completed by the responsible scaffolder:

1. Client: ________________________________________________________
2. Site address: ____________________________________________________
3. Scaffold location: ________________________________________________
4. Type of scaffold: Tube & coupler / Frame / Tower-frame / Modular / Other
(Circle the appropriate type.)
5. Number of working platforms: ______________________________________
6. Duty category of working platforms; Light / Medium / Heavy / Special
(Circle the appropriate type.)
7. Number of lifts above base lift: _____________________________________
8. Scaffold height: _________________________________________________
9. Number of bays long: _____________________________________________
10. Scaffold length: _________________________________________________
11. Type of access: Ladder / Stair / Ramp / Other(Circle the appropriate type.)
12. Design drawing reference: ________________________________________
13. Date of handover: _______________________________________________
14. Time of handover: _______________________________________________
15. Name of responsible scaffolder: ____________________________________
16. Signature of responsible scaffolder: _________________________________

Great Heights Scaffold Company

HANDOVER CERTIFICATE

Number: 9991

Each of the following must be completed by the responsible scaffolder:

1. Client: Slap It Up Constructions

2. Site address: 1001 sea View Street, Wollongong, NSW
3. Scaffold location: West Face of Building
4. Type of scaffold: Tube & coupler / Frame / Tower-frame / Modular /
Other
5. Number of working platforms: One
6. Duty category of working platforms; Light / Medium / Heavy / Special
7. Number of lifts above base lift: Six
8. Scaffold height: 12 meters
9. Number of bays long: Ten
10. Scaffold length: 24 meters
11. Type of access: Ladder / Stair / Ramp / Other
12. Design drawing reference: TA / 1234
13. Date of handover: Todays Date
Day/Month/Year
14. Time of handover: Now
AM or PM or 24 hour
15. Name of responsible scaffolder: You
16. Signature of responsible scaffolder: Yours