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Tube and Coupler

This document provides guidance on scaffold post spacing for tube and coupler scaffolds constructed with locally manufactured steel tubing. It notes that many local tubes are too weak based on current safety standards, making scaffolds susceptible to collapse if posts are spaced too far. To compensate for weaker tubing, the guidance provides maximum allowable post spacing in a table based on the tubing strength - with weaker, non-approved tubing requiring closer post spacing than stronger tubing meeting ASTM or BS standards. Departments are instructed to use this updated post spacing immediately for new scaffolds.

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Shams Tabrez
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279 views1 page

Tube and Coupler

This document provides guidance on scaffold post spacing for tube and coupler scaffolds constructed with locally manufactured steel tubing. It notes that many local tubes are too weak based on current safety standards, making scaffolds susceptible to collapse if posts are spaced too far. To compensate for weaker tubing, the guidance provides maximum allowable post spacing in a table based on the tubing strength - with weaker, non-approved tubing requiring closer post spacing than stronger tubing meeting ASTM or BS standards. Departments are instructed to use this updated post spacing immediately for new scaffolds.

Uploaded by

Shams Tabrez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Tube & Coupler

Scaffold Post Spacing


This is a bulletin to notify affected departments of a safety hazard involving tube
and coupler scaffolds constructed of locally manufactured steel tubing.

The Problem: If installed using currently allowed distances between scaffold


posts (also called standards), most locally manufactured scaffold
tubing is too weak to achieve the safety factor required by the
current GI 8.001, Safety Requirements for Scaffolding (Section
6.1.8) and Construction Safety Manual (Section II-9.4.1.1).
Bulletin
tin

Safety Hazard: A scaffold constructed of weaker steel tubing is more susceptible


to collapse unless the distance between scaffold posts (standards)
is reduced to compensate for the weaker tubing.

The Solution: The weaker the tubing, the closer the scaffold posts (standards)
need to be spaced to maintain Saudi Aramco’s required safety
factor. Effective immediately, use the post spacing in the table
y Bulle

below when erecting new tube and coupler scaffolds. “Stronger


tubing” refers to tubing manufactured to a Saudi Aramco-
approved pipe fabrication specification: ASTM A500 (Grade B),
ASTM A53 (Grade B), or BS 1139. For identification purposes,
“stronger tubing” is embossed with the approved specification.
“Weaker tubing” isn’t embossed with a Saudi Aramco-approved
specification.

Maximum Allowable Post Spacing — Light and Medium Duty Tube & Coupler Scaffolds
Light Duty Medium Duty
120 kg/sq.m. (25 psf) 240 kg/sq.m. (50 psf)

Transverse Longitudinal Transverse Longitudinal


Safety

Post Spacing Post Spacing Post Spacing Post Spacing


(Bearer/Transom (Runner/Ledger (Bearer/Transom (Runner/Ledger
Span) Span) Span) Span)
Safet

Weaker Tubing Don’t use tubing that isn’t


Not embossed with embossed with ASTM A500 (Grade
ASTM A500 (Grade B),
1.2 m 1.8 m B), ASTM A53 (Grade B), or BS 1139
ASTM A53 (Grade B), (4.0 ft) (6.0 ft) in scaffolds intended or rated for
or BS 1139 Medium Duty or heavier loads.

Stronger Tubing
Embossed with
ASTM A500 (Grade B), 1.2 m 2.4 m 1.2 m 1.8 m
ASTM A53 (Grade B), (4.0 ft) (8.0 ft) (4.0 ft) (6.0 ft)
or BS 1139

Some variations of the above requirements are permitted. If you have questions or
need more information, please contact your Area Loss Prevention Office.

Issued by Saudi Aramco Loss Prevention Date: 02/27/01

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