Construction Safety Division 2017

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 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.

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1.1. Plank thickness

The putlogs4 are the secondary beams for the platform.
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

0.81 103 103 Nmm d

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

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.

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

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, Youngs Modulus E 10 GPa 10,000 Nmm-2 10 10 6 kNm-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

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

Nmm-2 to 12 Nmm-2.

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

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)
10 10 kNm-2 2.344 10 6 m 4
6

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.

10 In BS EN 12811-1:2003, the elastic deflection of platform unit shall not be exceed 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.

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

V 0.6250wL (14)

Substituting w 2.5 kNm 1.8 m 4.5 kNm

-2 -1 11
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

11 See footnote 6.

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2. Putlogs
Each putlog supports the reactions from the platforms 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.

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 151,875 mm 3 (20)
8 Nmm-2
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

12 Load intensity is equals to total load per unit span of putlog. See footnote 6.
13 Refer BS EN 12811-1:2003 clause 4.2.1.2.

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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.

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 -2
4,909.1 mm 3 (26)
247.5 Nmm
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

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

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

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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 48.34 40.2 4 138,956.1 mm 4 0.139 10 6 m 4 (28)
64
Section modulus S, based on geometry of tube,

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

16 Refer http://www.bsl-europe.nl/en/3-1.html (date accessed: 5 February 2017).

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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, = 7,850 kgm-3

5 3 103 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 3 103 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.

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 4
3.6 103 kNm-2 3.6 Nmm-2 (38)
2 2 5.63 10 m 2

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

18 See footnote 6.

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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.

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 -2
6,545.5 mm 3 (40)
247.5 Nmm

19
max
Taken as .
2
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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
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, = 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)
27 210 109 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.

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

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

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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

1.35 103 N
2
2.4 Nmm-2 which is significantly lower than the allowable shear stress22,
563.01 mm
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.
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 33.8 mm 2 (48)
159.75 Nmm-2
4
With I 138,956.1 mm 4 0.139 10 6 m 4 and A 563.01 mm 5.63 10
2
m2
Radius of gyration, r is given by

I
r (49)
A

22
max
Taken as .
2
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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

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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 = 207 mm2 x 83 Nmm-2 = 17.2 kN
THEREFORE, THE ACTUAL CAPACITY OF THE TUBE = 17.2 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.

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Table 7. Maximum permissible stress24.

Figure 7. Summary of design.

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

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