Alloy towers are one of the most important parts of our scaffolding services, but do you know how to erect them? For this blog, Network Scaffold will share our 12 step guide to erecting stairwell alloy towers. 12 Steps to Using Stairwell Alloy Towers Have two people available to erect all towers for safety reasons. Before the tower is erected you will need to ensure site conditions are safe. Operatives need to be competent and familiarise themselves with the manual for assembly. Sufficient equipment also needs to be available to erect the tower at the height required whilst checking components are not damaged or incompatible plus checking the tower breakdown. Insert the adjustable legs and baseplates into the opening base ladder frames. Place the two ladder frames on the staircase in the position required, roughly 1.5 metres apart with the baseplates fully located on the steps of the staircase with the offset plate facing inwards towards the centre of the frame. Connect the two bottom rungs of the frames using a diagonal brace. The brace hooks should be located at the centre of the bottom rungs of the ladder frames which prevents clashing using an erection platform. Level the frames by turning the adjustable leg nuts so that the bottom rung of the frame on the upper step is at the same level as the top rung of the frame on the lower steps with the adjustable legs extended if necessary to achieve this. Fit a trapdoor platform with the trapdoor end located at the lower part of the stairs, to the bottom rung of the frame on the upper step and to the top rung of the ladder frame on the lower step. Make sure the platform is level. There is a small bubble level on the underside of all stair deck alloy towers to ease levelling. This platform will be used for the temporarily safe erection of the tower and will be removed later when being used further up the tower. From the bottom of the staircase, fit a six rung upper frame to the top of the ladder frame on the lower step. Lock the frames together with the interlock clips. Climb into the middle of...
Read Moreabout How to Erect Stairwell Alloy TowersOne of the questions we receive from clients looking for plastic hoarding is; do I need planning permission for it? According to the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 2007, advertising on a hoarding wall qualifies as what is known as ‘deemed consent.’ Advertisements that are classified as deemed consent does not require planning permission from the local planning authority as long as they comply with particular criteria. For this blog, Network Scaffold will explain construction hoarding and permissions that could be required in greater detail. What is the Criteria of Consent for Construction Hoarding? For advertising on site hoarding to qualify for deemed consent, it will need to meet the following conditions – No advertising is displayed earlier than three months before building operations start. The local planning authority has been notified of the day when the advertisement will be first displayed, at least 14 days before the first display date. The person proposing to display the advertisement needs to notify the local planning authority in writing and send a copy of the relevant planning permission. No advertisement is more than 38 square metres in area No part of the advertisement is more than 4.6 metres above ground level The advertisement won’t be displayed for more than 3 years However, if you need plastic hoarding for construction work in a conservation area, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, a National Park, the Broads or an area of special control, advertising hoardings are not permitted. Final Considerations for Plastic Hoarding Any graphics placed on hoarding walls will only benefit from deemed consent if they are placed on construction sites. Advertisements on hoardings for residential sites will always require consent. Talk to the Specialists Today If you are looking for the finest plastic hoarding on the market, get in touch with Network Scaffold Services today. We are the leading supplier for customers across Derby, Nottingham and the surrounding...
Read Moreabout Do I Need Planning Permission for Plastic Hoarding?
Construction hoarding is defined as a fence or barrier between a construction site and the public; with the purpose to simply keep workers safe. Construction sites that are based along pedestrian walkways need plastic hoarding to ensure that there is no interference on-site from the general public. Although additional labour is required, this is definitely a necessary hassle to help keep your site safe. For this blog, Network Scaffold Services will share some of the benefits of hoarding plus some intriguing insights. The Advantages of Construction Hoarding Here are the three main benefits of construction hoarding – Public Safety – As previously mentioned public safety is one of the most benefits of using our construction hoarding. This is the reason a lot of construction sites that are near to public access areas use our products. Hoarding also shows people they cannot enter the area plus you can further enforce the message with signage on your hoarding. To make sure the hoarding is reliable, we would recommend using a system that is wind resistant and safely secured into a base or the ground to prevent tipping. Site Security – One of the best things about using site hoarding is that it keeps your project away from prying eyes. If you are looking to keep your project under wraps, hoarding acts as a visible barrier between your site and the public. The public will also not be able to see your materials and tools being stored on-site, protecting them from potential theft. Branding Your Site – From a marketing perspective, construction hoarding is one of the simplest branding opportunities you can have. Your investment in keeping the public safe can also double as a way to advertise your upcoming project. Branding your site will add brand recognition plus could potentially increase interest and sales once the site opens. Get in Touch for More Information If you have any questions about plastic hoarding available from Network Scaffold Services, please do not hesitate to contact us today. We are also the leading provider of scaffolding and safety decking for clients across...
Read Moreabout What is Construction Hoarding?
Safety decking from Network Scaffold Services offers a safe loading solution for a wide variety of construction projects. We have recently started offering safety decks plus plastic hoarding to help give our clients the complete selection of scaffold systems. Network Scaffold are renowned for top quality safety procedures, so investing in durable, multifaceted safety decks was a valuable venture to create the most efficient working environments on construction sites across Derby and the surrounding areas. Safety decks are a fall prevention work platform that protects site workers from any falls from height; which is the number one risk for scaffolders. They also provide a loading workable platform that is often necessary to complete a construction project. 5 Reasons to Choose Our Safety Decking 1. Reduce Installation and Dismantle Times – Traditional scaffolding tubular birdcages are more difficult to put up and take back down. Using safety decks can cut your installation and dismantling times by 70% (according to industry statistics) plus reduce the labour for staff and get the job done much quicker. 2. Ease Pressure on Building Areas – Decking solutions are extremely lightweight with any pressure they add to a build being minimal. You will also limit the weight on the level itself as it lowers the amount of loading required as this will be on deck instead. 3. Self-Contained – Safety decks are an entirely standalone piece of equipment and are completely self-supporting which ensures there is little disruption to your project when it is brought in and taken back out. 4. Installation Doesn’t Require Any Work at Height – One of the main reasons safety decks are used is to maximise safety on sites. Throughout both the installation and dismantle your workers won’t need to worry about working at height. 5. Increased Load Capacity – Internal decking increases your loading capacity meaning your workers can get on with their job with less risk attached to getting on and off the scaffold. Get in Touch With Any Questions If you have any questions about safety decking from Network Scaffold Services, please do not hesitate to contact us...
Read Moreabout Why Should I Use Safety Decking?
A new mixed-use development has been announced for the edge of Nottingham, which will create 3000 homes with plenty of scaffolding needed. The £83m packages of Government funding will support the delivery of the infrastructure at Fairham and create new homes and jobs in the area. This project will also deliver a new school, community centre, health centre, sports pitches, community parks plus woodland. Robert Hepwood, Land and Planning Director at Clowes Developments, said: “This funding package from the Government really helps us to make progress on-site across Fairham and start to realise our vision of a green and distinctive new district for Nottingham. “By working in partnership with public bodies we can now accelerate the delivery of new jobs and new homes for Nottinghamshire. We’re sure that people will begin to see further progress on-site throughout this year with our first new homes due to start construction in the autumn.” Next, we will discuss why scaffolding will be crucial to help the project be completed in the quickest time. Knowing When You Need Scaffolding Scaffolding from Network Scaffold Services is required once a thorough risk assessment has concluded it is needed. A risk assessment must by law be carried out on any job where any employees are working at height. It is not a legal requirement when an individual is completing the work privately, but it is common sense to take your safety seriously. Employees that are working at height must by law be safeguarded. Although low-risk jobs such as minor roof repairs to domestic properties could use a ladder, we would always recommend utilising scaffolding or a working platform for Health and Safety reasons as they increase stability and reduce the risk of accidents happening. If you are planning to be working at heigh for long periods of time or moving about at height, then it is important to have a safe working platform such as an appropriately designed scaffolding system. Talk to the Experts If you have a domestic or commercial project in the planning stages, don’t forget to enquire about scaffolding from Network Scaffold. For more information please contact us...
Read Moreabout New Homes in Nottingham Will Need Scaffolding
Fall protection systems for scaffolding are a system that is implemented to prevent a fall from occurring on-site. For this blog, Network Scaffold Services will talk you through fall protection systems in greater detail. They should be appropriate for the intended task with scaffolders fully trained and competent in how to use them safely. All equipment needs to be inspected regularly (on a monthly basis) by a competent person and before each use. If a worker falls, the arresting force on the safety harness must be under 610kg. Lanyards need to be suitable for use plus the size of the worker. Anchor points must be reasonable and ready to take the force of someone falling. You will need to have procedures and an emergency plan in place describing in detail how to rescue a worker who falls from height. Individuals using fall arrest systems cannot work alone. What are Different Types of Fall Protection Systems? Personal fall protection systems will ensure an individual worker is protected while work is undertaken at height and as already stated, must be appropriate for the intended work. A fall restraint system prevents the worker from getting too close to some place they could fall from. Work positioning systems will allow a worker to be stable when working hands-free. Fall arrest systems will catch an individual or a worker if they fall and can be used with a life rail system and horizontal lifeline that allows them horizontal movement while being hooked on. This type of system requires a high level of supervision and competency. All workers must be fully trained for using fall arrest systems and safety harnesses. Ongoing competency needs to be demonstrated and assessed. Get in Touch with the Scaffolding Experts If you would like to know more about fall protection systems, please do not hesitate to contact Network Scaffold Services today. We are the leading scaffolding providers for domestic and commercial clients across Derby and the surrounding...
Read Moreabout Understanding Fall Protection Systems for Scaffolding