Scaffolding has been used since the beginning of human civilization to enable the construction of tall buildings. It’s been speculated that the ancient pyramids of Egypt themselves were built using scaffolding made from timber.

Wooden scaffolding was widely used until 1922. At around this time, metal tubes made from steel started to replace wooden poles.

Today, metal scaffolding is the norm. Tubular scaffolding has been the industry standard since the 1950s. It’s lightweight without compromising strength. Tubular scaffolding is quick and easy to assemble without the need for nuts and bolts. The metals used for scaffolding are typically steel or aluminum.

Steel scaffolding has great strength and durability. At the same time, it has a certain amount of elasticity which helps prevent cracks. Steel can support very heavy loads, and workers can use it to transport heavy equipment and supplies. For tall structures, steel is a necessity as the weight of the scaffolding itself requires structural strength that only steel can provide.

For less demanding conditions, aluminum scaffolding can be a viable alternative.

With the use of metal scaffolding, workers are able to safely access high and remote locations. By incorporating diagonal bracing, structures of great stability can be built.

Metal Scaffolding Systems have three basic elements:

#1 Standards

#2 Ledgers

#3 Transforms

#1 Standards

The standards are the vertical tubes that run throughout the entire structure and keep it upright. They transfer the weight of the structure to the ground via a square base plate which spreads the load.

#2 Ledgers

The ledgers are the horizontal tubes connecting the standards to keep the structure in place and ensure stability.

#3 Transforms

The transoms are horizontal tubes placed across and perpendicular to the ledgers to give the structure more strength and to provide support for the platforms on each level of the scaffold.