FAQ

The subject of winches is quite a broad one and they have or can have very wide applications in scaffolding.
Typical scaffolding winches with a lifting capacity of up to 150kg can be mounted directly on the scaffolding structure. The manner of assembling the winch should be specified by the manufacturer, but the general rules are that the winch should be anchored with a long anchor and additional brace - or the riser where the winch is assembled should be anchored with a triangular anchor (V) in the node where the winch is placed and in the node below. However, an old assembly rule says that it is worthwhile to anchor the whole riser from the bottom to the top with a triangular anchor - this gives much greater certainty in using the winch.

The user of the winch should stand at a distance of at least 4 metres from the winch rope (so that he can observe the load being pulled in and the scaffolding itself). The most popular winch on the market is the GEDA 120s.

Please remember that a person operating a winch with electric and mechanical power supply should have appropriate training and certificates issued by the Office of Technical Inspection.

Frame scaffolding belongs to the group of wall scaffolding, which means that to be stable it has to be anchored to the building. The stability of the scaffolding can be ensured by anchoring it to the building. There are 3 types of anchoring:
- short anchorage (anchor), attached to the inner frame stand - it transmits forces perpendicular to the facade
- long anchorage - fixed by two frame racks - transmitting forces both perpendicular and parallel to the facade
- triangular anchorage - two short anchors fixed to the inner frame stand at a 45 degree angle to the facade

Details concerning execution of the anchors as well as the typical arrangement and strength of the anchors are always given in the installation instructions.

As an alternative to scaffolding anchoring, it is possible to extend the scaffolding base and scaffolding to ensure a relationship between the height and width of the shortest side such that the maximum height is 3 times the shortest side of the base (according to PN-M-47900-2:1996, the maximum height is 4 times the shortest side of the base) - this does not apply to scaffolding covered with net and tarpaulin and scaffolding with assembled: control panels, protective canopies, winches, etc.

The answer to this question is of course affirmative. Each assembled scaffolding requires periodic inspections. The longer the scaffolding is used, the more detailed inspections should be. Inspections must always be carried out after strong wind, rainfall and other negative factors which may cause dangerous circumstances for work. Inspections should also be carried out if the scaffolding has not been in operation for more than 10 days. The regulations state that inspections should be carried out at least once a month, but the scope and activities covered by the inspection are always determined by the assembly and operation instructions. The site manager or an authorised person (competent person) is responsible for carrying out the inspections.

The scope of inspections for PD70 scaffolding is as follows:

1.) Daily inspections:
Daily inspections should be carried out by the people using the scaffolding, i.e. the employees working on the scaffolding.
The daily inspection involves checking that:
a) the scaffolding has not been damaged or deformed,
b) the scaffolding is properly anchored,
c) electrical cables are well insulated and do not come into contact with the scaffolding structure,
d) the condition of the working and communication platform surfaces is appropriate (cleanliness of platforms, in winter conditions - slip protection of platforms),
e) there are no phenomena having a negative impact on the safety of the scaffolding.

2.) Decade (ten-day) inspections:
Decade inspections should be performed every 10 days. They should be carried out by a scaffolding maintainer or an engineering and technical worker, e.g. foreman or site manager. The purpose of the decade inspection is to check that there are no changes in the entire scaffolding structure that could cause a construction disaster or create dangerous conditions for operation of the scaffolding.

3.) Ad hoc inspections:
Ad hoc inspections must always be carried out after a break in operation of the scaffolding for more than 2 weeks and after each storm with wind strength above 6 on the Beaufort scale (i.e. 12 m/s). The temporary inspection should be carried out by a commission with the participation of a foreman and building inspector. It may be ordered at any time by the building supervisory authority. Any faults encountered should be rectified after each inspection before starting work. The site manager or person authorised by him is responsible for carrying out the inspections. The results of the decade and ad hoc inspections should be recorded in the construction log by the persons performing the inspection.

Yes! Each scaffolding must be formally commissioned after it has been assembled and before it can be used. Acceptance of the scaffolding should be carried out by the site manager (a person with building and construction industry certification). The person (company) assembling the scaffolding hands it over for use, and the site manager, after verifying it, accepts it and makes a respective entry in the construction log or in a special scaffolding acceptance record. A model record can very often be found in the assembly instructions (e.g. PD 70/100 scaffolding assembly instructions, page 30). The record should specify basic information about who was assembling, who will be using it, what is the payload, etc. This is described in detail in Article 110 of the Health and Safety Executive Order of the Minister of Infrastructure of 2003. However, the regulations do not specify exactly who is to accept the scaffolding in the event that there is no building permit but only a notification or notice. According to European directives this is to be a competent person.

In order to properly place scaffolding on sloping ground, it must be properly prepared. In the ground you should dig horizontal "terraces" with a minimum width of 80 cm. Additionally, if the slope exceeds 10%, you should use an additional bolted brace about 20 cm above the area along the slope. The brace is screwed to the scaffolding frame with a rotary joint. To compensate for differences in terrain you have to use adjustable feet of different heights (remember not to screw them out too high) and in case of big differences in terrain you have to use compensating frames, which are available in sizes of 50 cm, 100 cm and 150 cm. The same is done with concrete or asphalt covered terrain, but you have to use special feet with a tilting base, which must be secured against slipping.

According to the regulations and rules of assembly and use of scaffolding, a kickboard is an essential element. Always! It is a component of the railing, which for system scaffolding should be placed at a height of 1 m; kerbboard must be 15 cm high (2.5 cm thick). An additional intermediate handrail is placed at half height in a way that effectively protects against falling. In PD scaffoldings we use railing and kickboard holders already installed by the manufacturer. Another matter are internal handrails - they must be installed when the scaffolding is more than 20 cm away from the building wall. Please note, however, that this distance is calculated from the edge of the platform and not from the frame. From the internal side you also mount a full railing, i.e. 2 handrails and a kickboard. In order to install them you should use special railing and kickboard connectors or optionally use a frame adapted to the installation of handrails on the inside.

The Polish standard says that at least two braces should be mounted on each floor. The system of braces can be read from the assembly and operating instructions. For this purpose, you should read the descriptive part and assembly diagrams. The general rule is that the distance between adjacent rows of braces should not be greater.

In accordance with the provisions of the Regulation of the Minister of Infrastructure on occupational health and safety during construction works (of 6 February 2003, Journal of Laws No. 47, item 401) each scaffolding located near roads, streets and pavements should have protective canopies and a protective net cover. It should be remembered, however, that the use of nets does not in any case release from the obligation to use complete railing, i.e. two handrails and a kickboard.

In Polish law, there are only one scaffold fitter's qualifications, regardless of their type. Regardless of whether the smallest mobile scaffolds or the largest configurations of modular or facade scaffolds will be assembled or disassembled, you must have the scaffold assembler's qualifications. In order to obtain such qualifications, you need to complete an 80-hour course (including practical classes) and take a "state" exam in a training center accredited by the Institute of Mechanization of Construction and Rock Mining. The assembly of wooden scaffoldings is a different issue, as the fitter's powers apply only to metal scaffoldings. We recommend the website www.kursmontera.pl where you can find all the necessary information.

First of all, to perform bricklaying work, you must meet a few additional conditions. It is not allowed to perform heavy works - and such works include bricklaying works from a frame scaffolding with a frame width of 70 cm. For this work, we need a frame with a width of at least 1 m. Moreover, platforms with a length of 3 m and a maximum of 2.5 m cannot be used. Also for the scope of work you are asking about, I would suggest our PD 100 frame scaffolding (1 m wide frame) and platforms 2.5 m, which can be loaded in accordance with the 4th load class 3 kN / m2 of the platform surface. Additionally, please use the so-called traverses screwed into the frame, which will allow you to smoothly adjust the height of the working platform.