Technical

Prefabricated Beams Guidance Now Available

The long-awaited TG23:22 Prefabricated Beams has been published. This newly produced guidance note contains essential information regarding the selection, handling and installation requirements of available types of aluminium and steel prefabricated beams. Typical uses of beams include: • Bridging over openings within the scaffold structure. • Temporary buildings and temporary roofs. • Support for cantilevered sections of scaffolding.

Unfortunately, it is not feasible to include up to date detailed load capacities for all the different types of beams available within this document but it recommends that to ensure that beams are not overloaded, the latest technical information should always be obtained from the beam manufacturer. The document provides guidance on different types of beams available, handling, transportation and storage, joint details, connections of standards and puncheons and correct lacing and bracing requirements to achieve maximum safe working capacities.

Flame Retardant Treatments for Scaffold Boards

TG10:21

Flame Retardant Treatments for Timber Scaffold Boards and Battens

1. INTRODUCTION

Flame retardant timber decking has long been a fundamental requirement when working in various sectors of the industry, such as oil and gas, petrochemical, timber frame construction etc. However, in the light of the Grenfell disaster, there has been a large increase in the number of contracts where the use of flame-retardant timber boards and battens has been specified.

Several flame-retardant treatments for timber are available, which all add to the basic unit cost. It is therefore essential that Contractor members understand these treatments and their associated limitations and make the correct choice.

TG10:21 Flame Retardant Treatments for Timber Scaffold Boards and Battens has therefore been produced to provide guidance on available treatments and includes the recommended specification for timber decking units used in most scaffolding applications.

The document also gives guidance on the identification, care and storage of flameretardant boards and battens.

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sectors of the industry. Examples include, oil and gas, petrochemical, timber frame construction and the London Underground etc. However, in the light of the recent Grenfell disaster, there has been a large increase in the The HSE document ‘HSG 168 Fire Safety on Construction Sites’ gives much guidance regarding risks and provision of escape routes and stairways. property or members of the public on the site in question, or nearby premises. Where an appreciable risk exits, essential that the scaffold contractor understands these treatments and their associated limitations and makes applied using a high pressure impregnation system are suitable for long term applications. Impregnated predetermined vacuum/pressure cycle to force the chemicals into the structure of the wood. retardants into three types depending on whether they are to be used in dry interiors (Type DI), in areas prone to humidity or condensation (Type HR – Humidity Resistant) and where leach resistance is an essential long term requirement (Type LR – Leach Resistant). Whilst Type LR treatments have distinct advantages over other loss of bending strength of the treated timber. They may also be considered as ‘non-hazardous’ minimising removal costs at end of life.

SPECIFICATION

476:Pt

BS EN 13501-1:2018 – Euro class B

− s1 smoke rating and − d0

May 2021