Top Five: TG27 Cladding of Scaffolding
As part of our regular look at NASC Guidance, NASC’s Health and Safety Manager Steve Kearney, looks at the top five messages to be taken from TG27 about the cladding of scaffolding.
1. Correct selection and installation of cladding is critical for safety
Different cladding materials – debris netting, reinforced plastic sheeting, and shrink‑wrap - have distinct properties, fixing methods, and load bearing implications. Choosing the right type of cladding and installing it correctly is essential to maintain encaspsulation and scaffold integrity as well as compliance with safety requirements.
2. Fixing frequency must be as TG20/TG30 or Design
Wind significantly increases the loads imposed on cladded scaffolds. Types and the frequency of fixings, scaffold tie loads, and scaffold configuration must be matched to suit applicable wind factors (low to extreme). Incorrect spacing or insufficient types of fixings can lead to failures of the cladding and overloading of the scaffolding.
3. Flame‑retardant sheeting is required in many situations
Where flame-retardant sheeting is specified by the client or required by risk assessment, only sheeting which has been certified to TS or LPS standards should be used.
4. Flame‑retardant sheeting will require flame retardant ink
Where sheeting is printed with images, logos or text, the flame retardancy of the material could be affected. It is therefore important to verify that the TS or LPS certificate refers to both plain and printed material.
5. Shrink‑wrap requires enhanced design and safe installation
Shrink‑wrap sheeting creates a non‑permeable, drum‑tight and water tight barrier around a scaffold. However, if it is not fixed to the scaffold at frequent and regular intervals it can impose high localised loads on the scaffold structure, for which it is not designed. It should therefore be attached with fixings as specified within TG27 or a bespoke design.
For more detailed information, refer to TG27: 25 Cladding of Scaffolding
