How to build a scaffold tower
How to build a mobile access tower to reach heights safely for jobs at home or at work.
Table of Contents
If you've hired a scaffold tower for a job and now you've realised you've got no idea how to build it properly or - most importantly- safely, you're not alone. It happens all the time, and no level of experience of building Lego or Meccano puts you in a better position to build an access tower to regulation without proper guidance.
Scaffold towers are a great way to access heights while preventing falls and reducing other risks. They're suitable for all kinds of jobs at height around the home and in a professional capacity, including fit-outs, installation, inspection, repair, decoration, cleaning, and much more.
If you’re using a tower for personal use, you don’t need to be qualified to build or use one. However, you must be confident, physically capable, and able to follow instructions carefully.
On the other hand, if you are erecting a tower for work as an employer, employee, or you’re self-employed, the Working at Height Regulations apply, and you must follow the Health and Safety Guidelines for working with scaffold towers.
In a nutshell, you must ensure that the equipment is suitable for the work and constructed and properly managed and inspected by people trained and competent. In addition, anyone using the tower must be trained and aware of the potential dangers and the precautions required.
How to build a scaffold tower
The below guidance is based on our 3T* aluminium towers
Inspect all the components. If any parts of the tower are worn or damaged, you must replace them and not use them.
Ensure the area is clear and there are no safety hazards where you are erecting the scaffold tower.
Attach the longer horizontal brace to the vertical section of the frame and NOT the shorter horizontal section. This prevents the structure from toppling over during construction.
Check that all casters are locked and that the locking nuts are securely attached to the frames.
Attach the opposite side of the frame to the longer horizontal brace and install the diagonal braces.
Install the plan brace low down on the frames. The closer they are to the casters, the better.
Install more horizontal and diagonal braces to the middle of the frame, as instructed.
Use a spirit level to check that all the braces and frames are installed correctly, and make any adjustments you need. Attach an 'unsafe for use' warning tag to the frame to prevent anyone from climbing on it before you have finished the construction.
Install the first platform to the top rungs and temporarily install the second platform on any lower rungs. Also, install the temporary horizontal brace on the vertical sections of the frame above the top rung.
While still standing on the ground, install an end guard rail to one side of the frame. Place the remaining braces somewhere you can reach them from up on the tower.
Climb onto the temporary platform level and install the second guard rail. Then, install the three remaining horizontal braces and the final diagonal brace. Once you've done that, you can move the temporary horizontal brace to its final mid-rail position.
Climb down from the tower, and remove the temporary platform from its mid-height position, and install it in its final position, next to the first platform.
You can now install the ladder, climb onto the work platform, close the hatch, and install the toe boards around the edge of the platform.
If the ground is uneven or the tower is more than three times the height of its base, you must install the outriggers for stability.
Replace the 'unsafe for use' warning tag with a 'safe for use' tag, and the tower is good to go.
To dismantle the tower safety, deconstruct it in the reverse order of the construction. Remove all components while the guardrail is in place and from the ground.
*3T stands for Through The Trapdoor, which is a system that makes the platform accessible through a hinged opening and a built-in ladder secured within the frame. The design, and therefore, the construction of advanced guard rail (AGR) towers differ. Follow the manufacturer's instructions closely when constructing these products.
Can anyone use a scaffold tower?
Any DIY customers are allowed to hire, erect and use a scaffold tower. Though it is important that you feel confident enough to do so and are physically capable of erecting the tower by following the included instructions.
For DIY, we recommend the MiTower, if the working height you need is 6m or under. MiTowers are slim, compact and designed to be easy to erect. They allow a platform height of up to 4m and offer a safe working height of 6m.
For trade and commercial customers, if you are using any item of work at height equipment in the workplace, including a scaffold tower, either as an employee or self-employed, the Work at Height Regulations apply to you. You must ensure that not only the person building the tower is competent but also those who specify, use and supervise or manage the use of a tower are competent to do so.
Are scaffold towers safe?
Scaffold towers are generally safe to use for working at a height. They provide a solid and stable platform to stand on, along with an all-round guardrail to protect from falls. They allow you to have the complete use of your hands to get on with the job, and they provide a much safer means of access than ladders and step ladders.
The below tips are key for keeping yourself and others safe when using a scaffold tower:
Never work on a platform without guardrails
Never use a tower in strong winds
Never climb up the outside of the tower - use the approved Through The Trapdoor (3T) method of access.
Never stand on an unprotected platform when building or dismantling a tower.
Never over-reach or use other forms of access on top of a tower. If you can't reach, you need a bigger tower.
Always follow the manufacturer’s or supplier’s instruction manual.
Ensure that these manuals are available to the operatives erecting and using the tower, and to the person supervising the work.
Book scaffold tower hire today
Whether you’re a DIYer or tradesperson, if you need to work at a height make sure that you do so on high-quality, well-maintained equipment. When you hire a scaffold tower through National Tool Hire you can be sure that the scaffold tower you receive is of professional quality and perfect for completing any task.
