Scaffolding, Underpinning

and Shoring
Chapter – 12
 Scaffolding
 Scaffolding is a temporary structure to support
the original structure as well as workmen used
it as a platform to carry on the construction
works. Types of scaffolding varies with the type
of construction work. Scaffolding is made up
of timber or steel. It should be stable and
strong to support workmen and other
construction material placed on it.
 Important Terms
 Standard: It is a vertical member supported
on the ground.
 Ledgers: Ledgers are the longitudinal
horizontal members connected with
standards.
 Braces: Braces are the diagonal members
that are connected with standards to stiffen
the structure.
 Put Logs: Put logs are the transverse horizontal members
that are 90 cm in length and are generally spaced 120 cm
apart. They are provided to support the working platform.

 Transoms: When both the ends of put logs are connected

with ledgers, it is called transoms.

 Boarding: Boarding is a horizontal member supported by

put logs. It is used to enable the mason and materials.

 Guard Rail: It is similar to ledgers, used for a better

protection at the working level.

 Toe Board: It is a long horizontal board of wood used at

the different working level.
 Types of Scaffolding
 Brick layer’s Scaffolding or Single
Scaffolding
 Mason’s Scaffolding or Double
Scaffolding
 Steel or Tubular Scaffolding
 Needle Scaffolding or Cantilever
Scaffolding
Brick layer’s Scaffolding or
Single Scaffolding
 Mason’s Scaffolding
 Since it is difficult to leave holes in
the stone masonry to provide a
bearing for the putlogs, in mason’s
scaffolding two frames of standards,
at a distance of 1.5 m from the first
one. Thus the mason’s scaffolding is
entirely independent of the stone wall.
 Close mason’s scaffolding: They
are supposed to carry loads of
heavy blocks of stones and the
stresses produced on account of the
lifting device and hence they are
made stronger by placing the
standards at a fairly close distance
apart.
Mason’s Scaffolding
 Steel or Tubular Scaffolding
 The construction of steel scaffolding is essentially
similar to that of timber scaffolding. In this case, the
wooden members are replaced by 38 mm to 64 mm
diameter steel tubes and instead of rope-lashings,
special types of steel couplets or fittings are used for
connecting different members.

 The steel tubes used for scaffolding for normal

building construction work are heavy class and of
diameter varying from 40 to 60 mm.
 In this type of scaffolding, the vertical tubes called
uprights or standards are spaced 2.5 to 3 m apart.
Each standard is welded to a base plate, square or
circular in plan. The base plate has holes so that it
can be spiked to a timber or concrete base, thus
forming a rigid foundation for the scaffolding. Ledgers
or the longitudinal tubes connecting the standard
and are spaced at 1.8 m vertically apart. Short tubes
or put logs are normally 1.2 m to 1.8 m in length. The
putlogs have special ends to fit into the joints in the
wall and thus no big holes are required to be left on
the wall for their bearing.
 Tubular scaffolding has several advantages over the
timber scaffolding such as rapid erection and
dismantling, greater strength and durability, higher
fire resisting qualities and salvage value. Although it
works out to be costlier initially, but considering its
several advantages and the increased number of
reuses, it proves to be economical in the long run and
hence it is being extensively used these days.
 Tubular scaffolding mounted on wheels can be used
for carrying out the work of painting the walls,
underside roofs etc.
Steel or Tubular Scaffolding
 Needle Scaffolding
 When scaffolding is to provide for a building on
the side of a busy street where the
construction of ordinary scaffolding will
obstruct the traffic on road, needle scaffold is
used. The scaffold is erected from window
corners of string courses by means of
projecting needles. A needle is a timber beam
which cantilevers out through the holes cut in
the wall.
 From inside the needles are supported on sole
pieces and are prevented from lifting up by
vertical struts wedged between the needles
and the headpieces. The projected end of the
needle is supported by an inclined strut which
rests on the window sill. The joint between the
raking or inclined strut and the needle is
clamped by mean of dogs. The arrangement
provides the staging for the erection of
ordinary type of scaffolding.
Needle Scaffolding
Needle Scaffolding
Suspended Scaffolding
Advantages of Steel Scaffolding
 Available in different sizes and designs

 Higher carrying capacity

 Provides a steady platform
 Durability

 Easy to assemble and dismantle

 Environmentally friendly
 Shoring
 Shoring is the process of temporarily
supporting a building, vessel,
structure, or trench with shores (props)
when in danger of collapse or during
repairs or alterations. Shoring comes
from shore a timber or metal prop.
Shoring may be vertical, angled, or
horizontal.
 Types of Shoring

1. Raking shores

2. Flying shores

3. Dead shores
 Raking Shores
 In this method, inclined members known as rakers are
used to give lateral supports to walls. A raking shore
consists of the following components:

 Rakers or inclined member

 Wall plate

 Needles

 Cleats

 Bracing

 Sole plate
 Important Points
 Rakers are to be inclined in the ground at 45˚.
However the angle may be between 45˚ and
75˚.
 For tall buildings, the length of the raker can
be reduced by introducing rider raker.
 Rakers should be properly braced at intervals.
 The size of the rakers is to be decided on the
basis of anticipated thrust from the wall.
 The centre line of a raker and the wall should meet at
floor level.

 Shoring may be spaced at 3 to 4.5m spacing to cover

longer length of the bar.

 The sole plate should be properly embedded into the

ground on an inclination and should be of proper
section and size.

 Wedges should not be used on sole plates since they

are likely to give way under vibrations that are likely
to occur.
 Flying Shores
 Flying shores is a system of providing
temporary supports to the party walls of the
two buildings where the intermediate
building is to be pulled down and rebuilt.
All types of arrangements of supporting the
unsafe structure in which the shores do not
reach the ground come under this category.
Double Flying Shore
 The flying shore consists of wall plates,
needles, cleats, horizontal struts (commonly
known as horizontal shores) and inclined
struts arranged in different forms which
varies with the situation. In this system
also the wall plates are placed against the
wall and secured to it.
 A horizontal strut is placed between the
wall plates and is supported by a system of
needle and cleats. The inclined struts are
supported by the needle at their top and by
straining pieces at their feet. The straining
piece is also known as straining sill and is
spiked to the horizontal shore. The width of
straining piece is the same as that of the
strut.
 When the distance between the
walls (to be strutted apart) is
considerable, a horizontal shore can
not be safe and a trussed framework
of members is necessary to perform
the function of flying shore.
 Dead Shore
 Dead shore is the system of shoring which is used to
render vertical support to walls and roofs, floors, etc
when the lower part of a wall has been removed for
the purpose of providing an opening in the wall or to
rebuild a defective load bearing wall in a structure.

 The dead shore consists of an arrangement of beams

and posts which are required to support the weight of
the structure above and transfer same to the ground
on firm foundation below.
 When opening in the wall are to be made, holes are
cut in the wall at such a height as to allow sufficient
space for insertion of the beam or girder that will be
provided permanently to carry the weight of the
structure above.

 Distance at which the holes are cut depends upon the

type of masonry and it varies from 1.2m to 1.8m
centre. Beams called needles are placed in the holes
and are supported by vertical props called dead
shores at their ends on either side of the wall. The
needles may be of timber or steel and are of sufficient
section to carry the load above.
 The dead shores stand away from wall on either side so as
to allow for working space when the needle and the props
are in position. The props are tightened up by folding
wedges provided at their bases while the junction between
the prop and the needle is secured with the help of dogs.
 Before the dismantling work is started, all the doors,
windows or other openings are well strutted. In order to
relieve the wall of load of floors and roof above, they are
independently supported. Vibrations and shocks are bound
to occur when wall cutting is done as such a measure of
safety raking shores are sometimes erected before
commencement of wall cutting operation.
 Underpinning
 This is the method of supporting
structures while providing new
foundations or carrying out repairs
and alterations without affecting the
stability of the existing structures.
It is usually done in one of the following situations:
 The building is showing signs of sinking into the
ground or cracking, indicating that the foundation
system is not able to bear the weight of the building
 The building is either being enlarged or converted for
use in a new type of activity, resulting in heavier
loading than it was designed for.
 A large new building with deep foundations or
basements is being constructed close to an existing
building, causing problems for the existing building.
 Pit Method
 A temporary foundation system is first constructed
around the existing one.
 Then a pit is dug around and below the existing
foundations, thereby relieving them of load-carrying
duties.
 Then, a new foundation is built below the existing one
by filling the pit with concrete.
 Once the concrete has set, the temporary foundations
are dismantled, allowing the load to settle onto the
improved foundation system.
Existing Foundation and Building
Step 2: Dig a Pit
 Needle Beam Method
1. First construct two micropiles at a specified distance
from the building. This is done with a micropiling
rig.
2. Then cut a hole just large enough to take the needle
beam.
3. Construct the RCC needle beam over the piles and
inside the foundation wall.
4. Once the beam has set, fill in the earth over the
beam. The new foundation system can now take
additional load.
 Micropiling Method
 Construct micropile just below existing foundation at an
angle, as shown in the sketch.

 Excavate earth till the top of the micropile.

 Then manually remove all earth between the pile and the
existing foundation, creating a cone shaped void that rests
on the micropile.

 Fill in this void with concrete. Once it sets, the existing

foundation can transfer forces to the micropile, thereby
dramatically increasing its capacity.

 Repeat this at regular intervals.