SCAFFOLD BASIC DESIGN EXAMPLE

Figure 1. Basic scaffolding working platform.

Let us design the components of a medium type scaffold with the configuration1 as shown in
Figure 1 and for the general building works (brickwork, window and mullion fixing, rendering
and plastering)2.

Table 1. Loading conditions.

Nominal load: 0.5 kNm-2 Imposed load: 2.0 kNm-2

Wind load: Lateral load:

1. Platform
The platform is of 1.8 m wide, and may be considered to be made up of 4 planks of 450 mm
width3.

1.1. Plank thickness

The putlogs4 are the secondary beams for the platform.

1 Refer reg. 94(b). Construction of tubular scaffold.

2 Refer Table 1. Service loads for working platform, BS 1139-5:1990, Guidelines for Approval of
Design Scaffolding.
3 Refer reg. 87(1)(b). Planks must not less than 200 mm, but if thickness > 50 mm, width must ≥ 150

mm.

1
Span for platform = Spacing of putlogs, i.e. 1.2 m.
The planks extends over three putlogs.

Figure 2. Platform rests on three putlogs.

Given the bending strength of timber platform5 is 16 Nmm-2, and a safety factor of 2,
allowable bending stress6  is 8 Nmm-2 and allowable shear stress  allow is 4 Nmm-2.
max

For simply supported beam carrying a uniformly distributed load, maximum bending moment
M is at mid-span and equal to

wL2
M (1)
8
where w  2.5 kNm  1.8 m  4.5 kNm 7 and L  1.2 m
-2 -1

4.5 kNm -1  1.2 m 

2
M   0.81 kNm (2)
8
Section modulus or elastic modulus S is functions of geometry only8 and relates stress and
internal moment during elastic or recoverable bending.

M I
S  (3)
 max y max

0.81 10 3 10 3 Nmm d

where S  -2
 101,250 mm 3 and y max 
8 Nmm 2

Figure 3. Cross-section of a timber plank, where y is the distance from the neutral plane, and
y is maximum at the surface.

4 Putlog or bearer means that part of the scaffold upon which the platform rests (reg.2).
5 Refer Table A.5, BS EN 12811-2:2004.
6 Table 2 of BS 5975:2008+A1:2011 specifies 7.20 Nmm -2 for D30 and 10.0 Nmm -2 for D40

hardwoods. Table 5 of the same standards classify keruing, karri. opepe, merbau, teak, jarrah and
iroko and typical tropical hardwoods.
7 This is a load per unit width of the plank.
8 Benham, Crawford & Armstrong, Mechanics of Engineering Materials, 2 nd edition, 1996. pp. 137.

2
Given for rectangular cross-section, moment of inertia I

bd 3
I (4)
12
Substituting eqn. (4) into eqn. (3), and solving for d gives

6S
d (5)
b

6  101,250 mm 3
d  18.37 mm (6)
1,800 mm

USE 450 mm x 20 mm PLANK

Note: Width of the plank can be varied, but thickness must not be less than 20 mm. For
example, if 450 mm x 20 mm is not commercially available, can use 300 mm x 25 mm (12’’ x
1’’) plank, but would require 6 planks.

1.2. Plank deflection

Assume, for wood9, Young’s Modulus E  10 GPa  10,000 Nmm  10  10 kNm
-2 6 -2

Now, consider plank is 300 mm x 25 mm, and applying eqn. (4) gives

1,800 mm  25 mm 
3
I  2.344  10 6 mm 4  2.344  10 6 m 4 (7)
12

Figure 4. Deflection under cases (a) and (b).

9Table 2 of BS 5975:2008+A1:2011 specifies modulus of elasticity of hardwoods ranges from 7.6

Nmm-2 to 12 Nmm-2.

3
Under case Figure 4(a), deflection is given by

wL4
  0.009150 (8)
EI
Under case Figure 4(b), deflection is given by

wL4
  0.005416 (9)
EI
Assume only one span is loaded with imposed load, but nominal load over both spans.
Applying eqns. (8) and (9) gives,

 dead  0.009150
0.5 kNm -2

 1.8 m  1.2 m 
4
 7.285  10 4 m  0.7285 mm (10)
6
10  10 kNm  2.344  10 m
6 -2 4

 live  0.005416
2.0 kNm -2

 1.8 m  1.2 m 
4
 1.73  10 3 m  1.7278 mm (11)
6
10  10 kNm  2.344  10 m
6 -2 4

 total   dead   live  0.7285  1.7278  2.46 mm

The maximum deflection for platform units shall not exceed 1/100 of the span length when
suppporting the intended loads10.
i.e.

1
 total  L (12)
100
Substituting L = 1,200 mm into eqn. 12, gives

1
 total  1,200 mm or  total  12 mm (13)
100
 total  2.46 mm  12 mm
USE 300 mm x 25 mm PLANK
Please note that for every bay, imposed load is only allowed on one span! Re-calculation is
needed if imposed load is expected to be subjected on both spans.

1.3. Plank shear

Cross-sectional area of decking A = 1,800 mm x 25 mm = 45 x 103 mm2.

10In BS EN 12811-1:2003, the elastic deflection of platform unit shall not be exceeding 1/100 of its
span. In Scaffold Safety Handbook, Saudi Aramco, 2001, pp. 29, and OSHA US pp. 3, the limit is
1/60 of the span length.

4
Given for case Figure 4(a), maximum shear force V

V  0.6250 wL (14)

Substituting w  2.5 kNm -2  1.8 m  4.5 kNm -111 and L = 1.2 m into eqn. (14) gives

V  0.6250  4.5 kNm -1  1.2 m  3.375 kN (15)

For rectangular cross-section, maximum shear stress  max occurs at the neutral axis and is
given by

VQ
 max  (16)
Ib
By substituting Q  Ay , it can be shown that

3 V
 max   (17)
2 A
Maximum shear stress

3 3.375 kN
 max   3
 112.5 kNm -2  0.1125 Nmm -2 (18)
2 45 10 m 2

Therefore, the maximum shear stress is much lower than the allowable shear stress, i.e. 4
Nmm-2.
OK TO USE 300 mm x 25 mm PLANK

2. Putlogs
Each putlog supports the reactions from the platform’s plank.
The worst reaction occurs in the middle putlog, receiving loads from both of its sides.
The middle putlog carries the load from 1.2 m width of platform.
Load intensity12 = 1.2 m x 2.5 kNm-2 = 3.0 kNm-1 of putlog span
Span of putlog = spacing of primary beams (ledgers) = 1.8 m

Figure 5. Putlog rests on two ledgers.

11 See footnote 6.
12 Load intensity is equals to total load per unit span of putlog. See footnote 6.

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2.1. Putlog size
Applying eqn. (1) gives,

3 kNm -1  1.8 m 
2
M max   1.215 kNm  1,215,000 Nmm (19)
8
Applying eqn. (3), section modulus, S

1,215,000 Nmm
S -2
 151,875 mm 3 (20)
8 Nmm
Assume b = 100 mm, and applying eqn. (5) gives,

6  151,875 mm 3
d  95.46 mm (21)
100 mm

USE 100 mm x 100 mm (4’’ x 4’’) TIMBER PUTLOG

Alternatively, can try use the steel tube as ledger with the following properties13

Table 2. Option 1.

Nominal diameter = 48.3 mm Nominal wall thickness = 3.2 mm

Nominal yield strength  y = 235 Nmm-2 Allowable bending stress  max = 211.5 Nmm-2

Minimum required S, based on applied loads and strength of tube,

1,215,000 Nmm
SL  -2
 5,744.68 mm 3 (22)
211.5 Nmm
Second moments of area I of hollow tube is given by


I
64

 D4  d 4  (23)

Applying eqn. (23), with D = 48.3 mm and d = 41.9 mm, gives


I
64
 
 48.34  41.9 4  115,856.5 mm 4 (24)

Section modulus S, based on geometry of tube,

I 115,856 .5 mm 4
SG    4,797 .4 mm 3
y max 48.3 mm (25)
2
SG is less than SL, means have to use tube of higher strength and/or thicker tube.

13 Refer BS EN 12811-1:2003 clause 4.2.1.2.

6
Try use tube with higher yield strength  y  275 Nmm .
-2

Table 3. Option 2.

Nominal diameter = 48.3 mm Nominal wall thickness = 3.2 mm

Nominal yield strength  y = 27514 Nmm-2 Allowable bending stress  max = 247.5 Nmm-2

1,215,000 Nmm
SL   4,909.1 mm 3 (26)
247.5 Nmm -2
SG (= 4,797.4 mm3) is slightly higher than SL, can use tube with this properties, but with little
safety factor.

Then, try use tube with higher yield strength  y  355 Nmm .
-2

Table 4. Option 3.

Nominal diameter = 48.3 mm Nominal wall thickness = 3.2 mm

Nominal yield strength  y = 35515 Nmm-2 Allowable bending stress  max = 319.5 Nmm-2

1,215,000 Nmm
SL  -2
 3,802.8 mm 3 (27)
319.5 Nmm
SG (= 4,797.4 mm3) is significantly higher than SL, can use tube with this properties, and with
bigger safety factor.

And, try use thicker tube t  4.05 mm,  y  275 Nmm .

-2

Table 5. Option 4.

Nominal diameter = 48.3 mm Nominal wall thickness = 4.0516 mm

Nominal yield strength  y = 275 Nmm-2 Allowable bending stress  max = 247.5 Nmm-2

Second moments of area of hollow tube is given by eqn. (23), with D = 48.3 mm and d =
41.9 mm, gives

I
64
 
 48.34  40.2 4  138,956.1 mm 4  0.139 10 6 m 4 (28)

Section modulus S, based on geometry of tube,

14 Refer Table A.1 of BS EN 12811-2:2004 (E).

15 Refer Table A.1 of BS EN 12811-2:2004 (E).
16 Refer http://www.bsl-europe.nl/en/3-1.html (date accessed: 5 February 2017).

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 I 138,956.1 mm 4
SG    5,753.88 mm 3
y max 48.3 mm (29)
2
Section modulus S, based on applied loads

1,215,000 Nmm
SL  -2
 4,909.1 mm 3 (30)
247.5 Nmm
SG is higher than SL, can use tube with this properties, but with higher safety factor.

THEREFORE, EITHER USE TUBES PROPERTIES AS IN OPTION 3 OR OPTION 4.

Note that, the allowable bending stress is assumed as 0.9 x  y .

Also note that, it is preferable to use tube as putlog (diameter 48.3 mm), to a bigger timber
section (100 mm x 100 mm).

2.2. Putlog deflection

Choose Option 4, and for loading conditions as shown in Figure 5, the deflection is given by

5wL4
 (31)
384 EI
For steel, assume17 modulus of elasticity, E = 210,000 MPa = 210,000 Nmm-2, shear
modulus, G = 81,000 MPa = 81,000 Nmm-2 and density, ρ = 7,850 kgm-3

5  3  10 3 Nm -1  1.8 m 
4
  0.03642 m  36.42 mm (32)
384  81,000  10 6 Nm -2  0.139  10 -6 m 4
Substituting L = 1,800 mm into eqn. 12, gives

1
  1,800 mm or   18 mm (33)
100
Since   36.42 mm  18 mm , therefore try double up the tube for putlog, so that

5  3  10 3 Nm -1  1.8 m 
4
  0.01821 m  18.21 mm

384  81,000  10 6 Nm -2  2 0.139  10 -6 m 4  (34)

Now, the   18.21 mm  18 mm , therefore OK.

Note:
1. Putlog is made up of two steel tubes, coupled together (side by side).
2. This is a case whereby deflection governs the design.

17 Refer Table 1, BS EN 12811-2:2004.

8
2.3. Putlog shear
Maximum shear force for loading condition in Figure 5 is given by

V  0.5wL (35)

Substituting w  3.0 kNm -1 18 and L = 1.8 m into eqn. (35) gives

V  0.5  3.0 kNm -1 1.8 m  2.7 kN (36)

For hollow tube cross-section, area A is given by


A
4
 
 48.32  40.2 2  563.01 mm 2  5.63 10 4 m 2 (37)

Applying eqn. (17) gives the maximum shear stress

3 2.7 kN
 max    3.6 10 3 kNm -2  3.6 Nmm -2 (38)
2 2  5.63 10 4 m 2
Therefore, the maximum shear stress is much lower than the allowable shear stress19, i.e.
123.75 Nmm-2.

OK TO USE DOUBLE STEEL TUBE (YIELD STRENGTH 275 Nmm-2) DIAMETER 48.3
mm, THICKNESS 4.05 mm AS PUTLOGS

3. Primary Beams (Ledgers)

Ledgers are subjected to concentrated loads from putlogs above them, and supported by the
vertical standards (poles).
Span for ledgers = spacing of standards = 2.4 m
The three putlogs exert concentrated loads on each ledger, and two of these putlogs are
coupled directly to the standards.
Total load on the middle putlog = Distributed load (2.5 kNm-2) over platform area (0.6 m x 1.8
m) on both sides = 5.4 kN
This load is transferred onto two ledger, and therefore one ledger takes 2.7 kN.
The two side putlogs exert point loads of half of this value, as shown in Figure 6.

18 See footnote 6.
19
 max
Taken as .
2

9
Figure 6. Ledger.

3.1. Ledger size

Maximum moment

F .a.b 2.7 kN  1.2 m  1.2 m

M   1.62 kNm (39)
L 2.4 m
Using allowable bending strength  max as 247.5 Nmm-2, the required section modulus S
based on applied loads

1.62  10 6 Nmm
SL   6,545.5 mm 3 (40)
247.5 Nmm -2
From eqn. (29), the S G  5,753.88 mm 3 , therefore need to use bigger diameter and thicker
tube as ledger, or use metal with higher strength.
Try use steel as shown in Table 6.

Table 6. Ledger.

Nominal diameter = 48.3 mm Nominal wall thickness = 4.05 mm

Nominal yield strength  y = 35520 Nmm-2 Allowable bending stress  max = 319.5 Nmm-2

The section modulus S based on applied loads

1.62  10 6 Nmm
SL  -2
 4,563.4 mm 3 (41)
355 Nmm
SG is higher than SL, can use tube with properties as shown in Table 6.

3.2. Ledger deflection

Deflection due to concentrated load,

F .a.b.a  2b  3a.a  2b 
 (42)
27. E.I.L

20 Refer Table A.1 of BS EN 12811-2:2004 (E).

10
For steel, assume21 modulus of elasticity, E = 210,000 MPa = 210,000 Nmm-2, shear
modulus, G = 81,000 MPa = 81,000 Nmm-2 and density, ρ = 7,850 kgm-3, and
I  138,956.1 mm 4  0.139  10 6 m 4
Substituting into eqn. (41) gives,

2.7 kN 1.2 m 1.2 m.1.2 m  2 1.2 m  3 1.2 m.1.2 m  2 1.2 m 

 (43)
27  210 10 9 Nm -2  0.139 10 6  2.4 m

  2.66 10 -3 m  2.66 mm (44)

Substituting L = 2,400 mm into eqn. (12), gives

1
  2,400 mm or   24 mm (45)
100
The   2.66 mm  24 mm , therefore OK.

3.3. Ledger shear

Maximum shear force for loading conditions in Table 6 is given by,

F a
V (46)
L
2.7 kN  1.2 m
V  1.35 kN (47)
2.4 m
4
From eqn. (37), A  563.01 mm  5.63  10
2
m2
Average shear stress

1.35  10 3 N
  2.4 Nmm -2 which is significantly lower than the allowable shear stress22,
563.01 mm 2
i.e. 159.75 Nmm-2.

USE STEEL TUBE (YIELD STRENGTH 355 Nmm-2) DIAMETER 48.3 mm, THICKNESS
4.05 mm AS LEDGERS

4. Standards
The standards is designed to take the compression due to the loads exerted by ledgers.
The worst loaded is the middle standard, with 1.35 kN of force is applied from each of the
two mid-span putlogs on either side, in addition to the 1.35 kN force applied by the two
putlogs it supports directly.

21 Refer Table 1, BS EN 12811-2:2004.

22
 max
Taken as .
2

11
Total axial load, P = 2 x 1.35 kN + 2 x 1.35 kN = 5.4 kN
Unbraced length is assumed as, H = 1.5 m (in both transverse (vertical) and longitudinal
(vertical) planes)

4.1. Standard size

Assume the allowable stress 159.75 Nmm-2.
Required area, A

5.4 kN
A -2
 33.8 mm 2 (48)
159.75 Nmm
4
With I  138,956.1 mm  0.139  10 m and A  563.01 mm  5.63  10
6 2
4 4
m2
Radius of gyration, r is given by

I
r (49)
A

138,956 .1 mm 4
r  15.71 mm (50)
563 .01 mm 2
Slenderness ratio is given by

L 1,500 mm
   95.48 (51)
r 15.71 mm

Based on Table 7, for slenderness ratio of 95.48, and nominal yield strength  y = 355 Nmm-
2
, the permissible stress 83 MPa = 83 Nmm-2 (the lowest estimate)
Actual capacity of the tube = 563.01 mm2 x 83 Nmm-2 = 46.73 kN
THEREFORE, THE ACTUAL CAPACITY OF THE TUBE = 46.73 kN > TOTAL AXIAL
LOAD = 5.4 KN

4.2. Braces
Assume lateral load23 is 3% of the vertical load, i.e. Fb = 5.4 kN x 0.03 = 162 N
Assume the allowable stress 159.75 Nmm-2, the area required for steel brace is 1 mm2.
Very small.

THUS, PROVIDE 25 MM OUTSIDE DIAMETER, 3.2 MM THICKNESS STEEL TUBE AS

BRACES, BOTH DIAGONALS.
REFER Figure 7 FOR SUMMARY OF DESIGN.

23 BS5975 recommends lateral force to be not less than 2.5% of the vertical force.

12
Table 7. Maximum permissible stress24.

Figure 7. Summary of design.

24 Refer As 3990-1993, Reconfirmed 2016. Mechanical equipment – Steelwork.

13