TG20:08 | Toolbox Talk

Published by the

July 2009

To be read in conjunction with

TG20:08 Toolbox Talk Overview Pocket Guide.
Available to order from www.nasc.org.uk
An Attendance Register is also available to download
(free of charge) from www.nasc.org.uk

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Objective
The purpose of this presentation is to give current CISRS
cardholders an overview of NASC guidance TG20:08 and to
provide a summary of the main changes brought about by
the introduction of
BS EN12811-1 and the subsequent withdrawal of BS 5973.

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TG20:08
The NASC has recently issued new guidance that will impact on all
tube and fit scaffold design in the UK.
TG20:08 has been issued as the industry technical guidance on
the use of the European Standard BS EN12811-1 and applies to all
tube and fitting scaffolds from the most basic to the most complex
structure.
TG20:08 is based on the previous UK British Standard BS
5973:1993 . Access and working scaffolds and special scaffold
structures in steel, which was withdrawn by British Standards
because it was not compatible with the new European Standard BS
EN 12811-1.

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Overview
Fundamentally, the principles of BS 5973 remain unchanged and
there are very few changes in the day-today work of a scaffolder.
Although the scope of TG20:08 is generally wider than in previous
guidance, it is the justification of the design that has altered rather
than the scaffold structure itself.
While dealing with many common applications, TG20:08 defines a
range of scaffolds, referred to as Basic scaffolds, for which no
further design is required to establish the capability of the
scaffold.

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The Main Differences | Load Classes

TG20:08 covers 4 load classes only:

Example
Designation 3-4-2 indicates a Load class 3 scaffold, 4 boards wide with 2 inside boards
Designation 3-4-2S indicates a Load class 3 scaffold, 4 boards wide with 2 inside boards and a
bay length of 1.8m

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The Main Differences | Load Classes

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When in use a scaffold can only have one working platform
carrying the full service load shown for its class and one working
platform (above or below) carrying 50% of the service load shown
for the class.
Refer to Table 1 for more detailed information

Scaffolds can be erected with a maximum of 2 inside boards. The

inside boards of Basic scaffolds are assumed to be lightly loaded
for access only (0.75kN/m2).
Maximum spacing for board transoms is 1200mm for load classes
1-3 and 900mm for load class 4 (Heavy duty).

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The Main Differences | Load Classes

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All structures are fully ledger braced unless designed in
accordance with BS EN 12811-1.
Ledger braces should be fitted to alternate pairs of standards at all
lifts.
Lift heights are normally 2m but there is a provision for a 2.7m
pavement lift.
Lines of ties are installed at every lift or at alternate lifts.

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The Main Differences | Boarded Lifts

Basic scaffolds can be defined as either part boarded or fully
boarded.
Definition:
Part boarded scaffolds only have two lifts boarded while all the
others remain un-boarded.
Fully boarded scaffolds have all lifts boarded.

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The Main Differences | Boarded Lifts

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For compliance with SG4 single guardrails have been added to the
TG20:08 illustration for Part boarded scaffolds.
The top platform supports the full imposed service load for its class
and one other platform (above or below) has 50% of the imposed
service load for
the class.
When the scaffold is sheeted or has debris netting fitted, the top lift
must be tied. This applies whether the lift is boarded or un-boarded.
Where the ledger bracing is omitted from the lowest (pavement) lift,
the scaffold must either be tied at the top of the first lift or stabilised
by
other means.
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The Main Differences | Faade

Bracing
Facade/Sway bracing is fitted to the outside standards to the full height of
the scaffold every 6 bays. It should extend across two ledger braced bays
(preferred), be in a continuous line, or fitted over a single bay.
If the scaffold is fitted with facade bracing over a single bay and the
scaffold is greater than 8m in height, then plan bracing will be required.
All facade bracing should be connected to EVERY outside standard with
swivel couplers or to extended transoms with right angle couplers.
Braces should be fixed within 300mm of the intersection of ledger and
standard.
Joints in continuous facade bracing should be made by either overlapping
the two lengths of tube by 300mm and joining them with two parallel
couplers or by using a Class .B. sleeve coupler.
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The Main Differences | Plan Bracing

Where scaffolds are greater than 8m in height and the facade
bracing covers a single bay only, plan bracing must be fitted to
make one braced panel every 12 bays and every 4 lifts.

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The Main Differences | Ties

It is recommended that Independent tied scaffolds have lines of
ties installed at every lift or at alternate lifts. A scaffold achieves
its maximum height when the lines of ties are at every lift.
It is also recommended that ties should be connected to both the
inside and outside standards. If ties are connected to the inside
standard only, the anchor point must be able to provide a
horizontal restraint parallel to the building facade, unless it can be
provided by other means such as suitable end returns or butting
tubes in recesses or inside corners.
The ties should be evenly distributed over the scaffold and at least
50% of the ties should be fixed to ledger-braced standards. This
applies to unclad, debris netted and sheeted scaffolds.
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Warning regarding use of Tie Patterns (c)

and (f)

The tie patterns shown in (c) and (f) should be used with caution. Although
the number of ties has been reduced, the tie force shown in the safe height
tables for each tie position is doubled. Consideration needs to be given to the
type of anchor that is being used. Most anchors have a maximum load
capability in concrete of 6.1kN. In reality a significant number of anchors will
be put into softer material, including brick and lightweight blocks. In this
instance the anchor capability could be reduced to below 4kN.
For this reason, tie patterns (c) and (f) have been limited to the
maximum safe heights shown for Standard Duty ties only. Where the
Standard tie duty is doubled (i.e. 2 x 6.1kN) to 12.2 kN, then at least two
anchor points will be required at each tie position. If the base material
is made from softer material, this could increase the number of anchors
required at each tie position to three or four. If this happens, it may be
preferable to increase the number of tie points, and tie patterns (b) and (e)
could be considered more suitable.
Please note that information in the tables for safe heights of
scaffolds with Heavy Duty ties cannot be used with tie patterns (c)
and (f).

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Additional items for reference

It is recommended that sheeting and debris-netting, where
needed, should always be fitted to the outside of the scaffold
members.
In unclad scaffolds greater than 15m
in height, in all sheeted scaffolds and
in all debris netted scaffolds, one
transom should be fitted with right
angle or swivel couplers within 300mm
of each ledger-braced frame at every
lift, unless a through tie is already
fitted within 300mm of the ledger
braced frame with right angle or
swivel couplers.
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Additional items for reference

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In unclad scaffolds less than 15m in height, all transoms may be fitted
with putlog couplers, including those fitted within 300mm of each
ledger-braced frame.
In accordance with NASC guidance SG4, every
non-boarded lift should be fitted with a single
guardrail (at least 950mm to the top of the
guardrail from the working platform level) as a
minimum on each temporary working platform
This guardrail must remain in place as the
temporary working platform moves to another
lift. All working lifts must be complete with
double guardrails.

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Additional items for reference

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Both facade and return guardrails should be connected to the
corner upright at every lift with swivel or right angle couplers.
Scaffolds must not be loaded with materials by mechanical means,
such as a rough terrain forklift truck.
All scaffolds that are not covered by the tables in TG20:08 require
a
structural design.

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Building Faades
In TG20:08 it is assumed that the building facade is impermeable
and only has a small number of openings. If the building facade
has a large number of openings, then the scaffold will be
subjected to a higher wind loading and therefore should be
specially designed.

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Responsibilities of Employers &

Management
Before commencement on site your employer has a duty to provide
you with a safe system of work, which may include but not be limited
to providing you with details of:

the pre-site survey report

a copy of the scaffold design drawing or the safe height
calculations, in accordance with TG20:08, and the designation of the
scaffold
overall dimensions of the scaffold structure
details of the tie pattern and type of tie required
a copy of the risk assessment and the scaffold plan (method
statement)

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The NASC Guide - TG20:08 represents good scaffolding

practice
but compliance with it does not give immunity from
relevant
legal requirements.

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Summary
Overview
Load Classes/Duty
Boarded Lifts
Faade/Sway Bracing
Plan Bracing
Ties
Additional items for reference
Building faades
Responsibilities of Employers & Management
Any Questions ?

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