Category Archive: Scaffold Plank

Why Aluminum Scaffold Planks Are An Ideal Choice For Scaffolding System?

The use of scaffolding started over 17,000 years ago. In antiquity, the scaffolding was made of wood and secured with rope knots. Today, the scaffolding is made from low-alloy aluminum and steel. This is to enhance flexibility that reduces resistance to stress.

Boards in the scaffold system provide a working surface for scaffold users. Wood has been a popular building material for its strength and requires frequent maintenance. This makes wooden planks less desirable. The best alternative to this is the use of steel and aluminum scaffold planks.

What are scaffolding planks?

Scaffold planks are temporary structures used to provide support and a stable work platform for scaffold users. Today, aluminum has been the material of choice for most construction projects as it comes with additional advantages over traditional wood and other alternatives. Aluminum scaffold planks are light in weight and enhance the stability of the scaffold. 

Let’s check out the features of wood and aluminum scaffold planks.

Benefits of Aluminum Scaffold Planks over Wood Scaffold Planks

     1. Enhanced stability

This is an important criterion when selecting scaffolding planks. Due to the structural build-up of aluminum planks, they offer greater stability than wood planks. Regardless of the height and weight being placed on aluminum planks, they offer greater dependability. These planks are set up with strengthened joints, allowing the entire scaffold structure to bear more weight than what is usually required. 

Wooden planks, on the other hand, are fibrous and may easily cave in. This decreases the load-bearing capacity of the plank and compromises the aspects of work on-site. 

     2. Light in weight

Aluminum is lighter in weight than wooden boards. Being light in weight, one can easily assemble, disassemble, and carry the boards from one site to another. This also makes transportation and storage easy. Aluminum planks provide easy set-up as compared to heavy wooden boards, which require a lot of manpower. 

In cases where scaffold users need to dismantle the platform every now and then to complete minor scaffold chores, aluminum planks are best suited. 

     3. Low maintenance

Compared to other scaffolding plank alternatives, aluminum frames are usually maintenance-free. While steel requires regular repainting to keep it from rusting and eroding, wood tends to deform and deteriorate with time. Aluminum does not contain steel or iron, which prevents the boards from turning corrosive. 

Aluminum planks do not disfigure or oxidize with time, which is the usual case with wood and steel scaffolding planks for sale. 

     4. Cost-effective

The boards need different components for fixtures. Steel and wooden boards require more components to maintain stability. This will increase the cost of building scaffolds. The best alternative is aluminum scaffolding planks, which are durable and require fewer accessories for set up.  

     5. Enhanced durability

Wooden boards, when exposed to climatic conditions, undergo decay and, in extreme cases, may cause premature decay. This will make the boards unstable and susceptible to rupture. This is not the case with aluminum boards. They are anti-rust, and invulnerable to wrapping and cracking. This makes aluminum planks safer and an ideal choice for structural integrity.

Final Words

Aluminum scaffolding planks are stable, secure, light in weight, durable, cost-effective, and low-maintenance scaffolding solutions. They are the safest means of support for the scaffold users, as well as having a long life that saves additional costs.

AAIT is a leading scaffold product distributor in the USA. The in-house aluminum planks for sale are versatile and require minimal additional scaffold material for support. It enhances the stability of the entire structure. The aluminum planks give the best return on investment and are an ideal choice for any construction work.

Why Quality Scaffolding Planks Matter?

Scaffolding is a temporary structure used at every construction site to support a work crew and provide access to construction projects. Workers tend to climb the scaffold in order to access higher heights and accomplish tasks. They stand on a platform that supports their weight and the weight of their tools. 

The scaffolding accessories used for this support are the planks. These planks are temporary platforms installed at work sites, and they are mounted on supports. They should be made from quality materials, as they serve as workstations on which workers rely. The aluminum scaffolding planks should be made of high-quality materials to ensure the complete safety and load-bearing capacity of the scaffold.

In this article, we shall assess the importance of quality scaffolding boards. 

What are scaffolding planks and why are they important?

Planks are most commonly used to create a sturdy platform for working at high heights, such as building and inspection sites. They are used as platforms and are available in single- and double-sided varieties. There are retractable models with adjustable board lengths as well as fixed-length models with fixed lengths. The type that is most suited to the construction site can be chosen. 

The most prevalent materials are aluminum and steel, and non-skid surface treatments are often used. Connecting single pipes and struts using clamps and joint brackets is important to fix scaffolding boards. When choosing and erecting scaffolding planks, users should consider the total length and breadth of the plank, as well as whether its  maximum working weight will be sufficient.

A scaffold plank should-

1. Be even and uniform in thickness
2. Be fixed precisely and secured properly
3. Have no cracks
4. Be slip-resistant
5. Be fixed in a position with no gaps in between the planks
6. Not be exceeded with load limits

Why is the quality of scaffolding planks important?

Scaffolds are meant to hold huge loads. Hence, it is important that they must be robust, dependable, and secure. 

        1. Scaffolding planks provide support

Planks provide support and a secure foothold for employees. Thus, to ensure safety, the material used should be thick enough and adequately strong to support the entire weight of employees and tools carried. The uneven surfaces should be removed. In the event of any gaps, those should be filled with infill planks to ensure further stability and safety.

        2. Precisely adjoint planks

All the planks are to be leveled. An inclined platform is unlikely, especially when the supporting frame is cleverly elevated. A leveling check is recommended in case of any setup error. This check can be done in two stages-

           a. Inspection of the tower for orientation

           b. Inspection of each plank for quality and fixtures

         3. Platform spacing

Planks are placed on top of the panels. The planks are slip-resistant. This makes them safe enough to access people and tools. Care should be taken while fitting planks; i.e., there should be no gaps in between the two planks. 

OSHA quality standards for scaffolding planks

OSHA regulations specify and address information for scaffolding accessories. Below are the specifications for scaffolding planks for sale.

        1. Scaffold planks must be lumber grading

Scaffold-grade lumber is designed to resist stresses that standard construction-grade wood cannot (which is only two-thirds the capacity of scaffold-grade). Using construction-grade timber on a scaffold platform is not only against OSHA rules but is also a risky practice that might lead to a fatal occurrence.

       2. Wood condition

Cracks, splits, and notches will appear as the wood matures and reacts to use. These will vary in severity according to the weights carried by a plank, the weather it has been exposed to, how long it has been in use, and so on.

       3. Scaffolding planks should not be painted

Aluminum Scaffold planks with accumulated layers of paint, plaster, etc. are not authorized to stay in service since their condition cannot be determined. Under these coverings, dangerous splits may be masked.

Final Word

Scaffolding planks, being the support for employees, should be properly maintained and detected. This will provide a fruitful environment for them to access greater heights. 

AAIT Scaffold provides best-in-class aluminum scaffold planks, wooden planks, and steel scaffold planks for sale. We ensure that all the guidelines are followed during the manufacturing process to provide safe access to heights.