In building construction, scaffolds are temporary platforms used by workers to haul materials, clean the structure, and provide overall support to workers. They are the outer structure consisting of planks of varying sizes and lengths.
Scaffolding is one of the very first determinants of a construction project because of its everyday visibility on the outside. According to Lakeside-hire.co.uk, it is not just support that holds the project upright but is used by construction workers to complete various finishing touches on the outside.
Trestle scaffolding is one of the many types of construction support used by workers to make their tasks easier to accomplish. It provides the needed safety harness when doing projects and adding the finishing touches.
When Do You Use Trestle Scaffolding?
A trestle scaffold is a working platform supported by a moving tripod. A ladder can be used in place of the tripod or placed on the side to ease the platform's access. This type of scaffolding is generally used inside the building or on level ground. It is commonly used when painting walls, finishing them or doing repairs up to a height of 5 meters.
This working platform typically consists of a metal bar which supports the whole frame. It is made using inverted V-beams, metal decking, or horizontal planks. The parts of trestle scaffolding can also be made of solid wood up to 3 meters high.
If a trestle scaffold is going to be used to finish balconies or terraces with a 2-meter fall, railings, harnesses, or nets must be used for collective protection. It ensures the safety of the workers and people passing on the ground. Painters, wall finishers, carpenters, and repair technicians use a trestle scaffold for security and easy access to their working areas.
Parts of Trestle Scaffolding
Trestle scaffolding is one of the most accessible working platforms because it does not require licensing and stringent compliance with existing local building codes. The primary purpose of having this type of platform is to provide access to your workers and give them access to the right spots to finish their jobs.
Depending on the complexity of a trestle scaffold setup, it can be outfitted with several compositions. Wood trestle scaffolds are made from sturdy wood, while beam scaffolds are made from sturdy aluminium bars.
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Some of the essentials parts of trestle scaffolding include:
- Sole board
- Baseplate
- Traverse bracings
- Longitudinal bracings
- Toeboards
- False uprights
- Self-closing drop bars
- Scaffold planks
- Coupler
- Standards
Safety with Trestle Scaffolding
The Safe Work Australia regulatory board directly regulates scaffolding safety. The rules and regulations dictate risk management and the identification of hazards when using such equipment.
Trestle scaffolding, however, is not registered under each clause except an employer's obligation to provide safety to its workers. Setting up and dismantling a trestle scaffolding will not require licensing, and experienced professionals are tasked with building required trestle scaffolds in their line of work.
This type of scaffold can also be outfitted with a handrail system, automatic hydraulics for pulling heavy materials up the platform and safety harnesses. Concerning the various other scaffold systems, this type of platform is one of the safest given its flexibility of use.
