BS5973 to be formally withdrawn by end of 2010
04 October 2010
The UK scaffolding industry should be fully conforming to the European Standard BS EN12811-1:2003 by the end of 2010 rather than the withdrawn British Standard BS 5973:1993.
A recent statement from the HSE has advised the scaffolding industry that time is now running out for the continued use of BS5973:
"As from 1st January 2011 the Health and Safety Executive will no longer acknowledge BS5973:1993 as a recognised standard for the design of tube and fitting scaffolding structures"
Philip White, Chief Inspector of Construction, HSE
However, BS EN12811-1 is a performance document and does not give detailed advice on safe systems of work for erecting, altering or dismantling scaffolds when erected using tubes and fittings. To overcome this, the NASC produced TG20:08 - Technical Guidance on the use of BS EN12811-1, which has been published as a guide to good practice for scaffolding with tubes and fittings.
TG20 Overview
After significant investment in both time and money the NASC (National Access and Scaffolding Confederation) has now launched the long awaiting guidance note TG20:08 - A Guide to good Practice for Scaffolding with Tubes and Fittings
The combination of detailed testing, calculations and advice on best practice will ensure that TG20:08 becomes adopted by the whole of the UK, (including Scotland).
Designed as an important, practical and user friendly guide for scaffolding contractors and designers the guidance note will also be of use to any construction professional working with scaffolding contractors.
TG20:08 details how tube and fitting scaffolding can be erected to comply with the European standard BS EN 12811-1, which supersedes BS 5973. It is now important that all scaffolding contractors digest and start adopting this document. The original release of TG:20 resulted in some main contractors wanting the document to be implemented immediately, undoubtedly this will happen even though the HSE have agreed not to fully enforce the guidance immediately.
Fundamentally the principles of BS 5973 will remain unchanged and there are few changes for the scaffolder day to day. The main changes are:
- The processes of justifying the design will alter rather than the scaffold
- Façade/sway bracing is fitted every six bays
- There are more tie arrangements and alternatives for greater flexibility
- The arrangements for some sheeted scaffolds are more varied than BS 5973
However, the scope of TG20:08 is wider than the previous version giving a larger number of standard scaffold arrangements e.g. two inside boards. It also includes debris netted scaffolds and although not part of BS EN 12811, it provides guidance for Putlog scaffolds
TG20:08 will become the required standard by which tube and fitting scaffolding should be erected and (when required) designed.
The guidance has been produced in two volumes, one for every day use by scaffolding contractors and the second for specific use by scaffold designers.
In summary, the standard for ALL scaffolds to be built to within the UK from January 1st 2011 is BS EN12811-1, and the guidance document for tube and fitting scaffolds to meet this European standard is TG20:08 - Technical Guidance on the use of BS EN12811-1
