Most scaffolding companies now manufacture top quality scaffolding towers for both corporate and DIY use, and statistics show that the domestic market is certainly on the upturn. The fact that many of them can be assembled quickly, make them an instant hit among homeowners.  They are extremely safe at heights as they are built very sturdy, and most people will have the capability to assemble and use them without problems.  Actually assembling the kit can be done quickly because all the scaffolding tower producing companies provide you with easy-to-follow simple instructions.

A scaffolding tower can be much better than a ladder in many situations because you don’t have to prop the former against a wall or hard surface, they are free standing. As ladders are generally not freestanding, they can only be used when leant against a solid, stable structure.  You can reach greater heights safely with a scaffolding tower and work in comfort and safety for longer periods when compared to a ladder.

Recognising the need for a Scaffolding Tower

When working on uneven ground, a scaffolding tower will usually beat the humble ladder every time. A ladder hasn’t any adjustable legs, but a scaffolding tower has. If you are standing on uneven or sloping ground, you can adjust the legs of the scaffolding in such a way that it will be level and stable even when the ground itself has a little bit of a slope. In some cases, you can adjust for up to 18 inches on each leg of the tower in order to achieve a perfectly level working platform. You can climb the tower, stack your tools on top of it and work for a longer period of time without feeling in the least bit unsteady. As you have a large working area with the tower you also won’t have to climb up and down constantly to move it along and therefore you are not wasting energy unnecessarily. To ensure that you are safe when you are using a scaffolding tower, you can rely on the strong double guard rails and kick boards that scaffolding towers are supplied with. These prevent you falling or kicking tools or materials from the working platform down onto workers below. Scaffold towers above a certain height are also supplied with outriggers or stabilisers which clamp to each corner of the tower, increasing the base footprint of the tower and thus offering greater stability.

Domestic purposes

Nowadays scaffolding towers are not just meant for industrial purposes; they can be a useful accessory for homeowners too, with many using the tower in places where they had previously used a ladder, enabling you to work safely with two hands free without the need to hold on to anything as you need to do when up a ladder. Some people are even using the humble scaffold tower in place of a ladder when it comes to painting their homes!  This will help them to get to areas safely where ladders could be dangerous.

You might argue that setting up a scaffolding tower can be quite cumbersome when compared to handling an ordinary ladder. But think of this – you don’t have to shuffle up and down the ladder a hundred times to complete a single task. Companies have made this easy for you by offering easy-to-assemble scaffolding tower kits. Some, such as the Ugo Razor Deck are even self-erecting!

Choosing a scaffolding tower

You are presented with a range of choices when you are in the market for scaffolding towers with aluminium and fibreglass generally being the most popular options. The advantages of using aluminium scaffold tower are many and varied.  Have a look at some of them:

Safety is of course, the primary concern.

Aluminium scaffold towers can be safer than other varieties because they are considerably lighter. Depending on the size of your tower, a single person can handle a fully assembled tower with ease but will undoubtedly require assistance when erecting it. The guardrails on the aluminium tower ensure that you don’t fall off when you are working near the edge of the platform.

Durability factor is extremely high

High tensile aluminium is always durable; you buy a tower made of aluminium and it is an investment for life. Lightweight and strong, aluminium scaffold towers do not corrode easily, especially if you maintain it properly. However, you have to remember to clean the tower after each use so it will be free of dirt and grime.

An energy saver

If you are lucky enough to have high ceilings in your house or flat, then getting an aluminium tower could solve the problem of exerting yourself too much when you have DIY jobs around the house. Suppose you need to paint your room, then buying an aluminium tower would help you finish the task quicker than a ladder.  You even have lots of space at the top of the tower to store your paint can and brushes. It will save you the trouble of getting down the ladder, moving it and then climbing again when you reach a fresh spot to paint. Most towers come with lockable castor wheels, so once you assign it to a place, you can climb atop it without any apprehensions; it won’t roll off on its own. Scaffolding towers for homes are generally smaller and more manoeuvrable than their industrial counterparts.

Aluminium scaffolding towers are time savers too

You can buy an aluminium tower and then assemble it quite easily. You don’t need to possess any kind of technical skill as all towers are supplied with comprehensive assembly instructions. If you follow the instructions, you can’t go wrong (or again get one that is self-erecting!)

Understanding the standards

When you purchase a scaffolding tower for home use, you generally buy a smaller one. They are engineered to be extremely reliable and hence, provide easy access to even the topmost part of the buildings. The UK standard for a portable scaffolding tower is BSEN1004 or HD1004. Platform levels within the tower are accessed through trapdoors within the deck units and all climbing up or down is done via internal ladders or frames with cross rungs set at 250mm or less, scaffolding must always be climbed internally; never climb up the outside of a tower as you will tend to pull the tower over. If you want a tower scaffold for outside use, then make sure it has adjustable legs so you can set it properly on uneven ground. The height adjustment levels will naturally depend on the brand, but generally, you get approx 12 inch height adjustment allowing fine level adjustment where needed.

Regulations in workplace safety have prompted companies to go for scaffolding towers that are certified and hence, reliable. Scaffolding towers are also much better than a ladder for the simple reason that more than one person can use it, meaning that work will be done quicker (although check weight limits for safety) . The British standard for industrial scaffold towers in the UK is BSEN1004;  this is for the portable kind. They are generally available in two widths single platform width (700mm) or double platform width (1450mm)If you buy a scaffolding tower with a width of 700mm, you can easily manoeuvre it in tight spaces, whereas double width towers offer greater stability and a far larger working area.

Work at Height Regulations Act mandates that employees onsite should be given sufficient training before they handle scaffolding towers. There are safety courses available all around the country to help you with your training needs and anyone using a scaffold tower in a commercial environment (at work) must be trained in its safe erection and use. The job of assembling must be under the technical expertise of a competent person and workers that use the tower scaffolds must be given proper training and taught the potential dangers that misusing the equipment may result in.

When the towers are bought from a reliable company, you can expect the equipment to last longer and serve better. Of course, proper care and maintenance will help a long way. Though towers can be used outdoors, you will still need to protect them when you are not using them. Even if towers are made with top quality materials, carelessness and lack of maintenance could take years off of the working life of a scaffolding tower.

Buying your scaffolding tower from a reputable company backed by a professional aftercare team can make all the difference. And a last word of advice, never erect the tower beyond its recommended height, always follow the safety instructions supplied with the tower, never use damaged components and no matter what, you should never place ladders, steps or  other height increasing accessories on the platform to try and increase the height of the tower.

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and you will complete your task safely and comfortably.