Scaffold Board Types – Your Questions Answered

Scaffolding is a key part of many construction projects, from small domestic porch extensions to large commercial developments. Scaffold boards can help deliver safe access for working at height, and have many other uses too.

Scaffold board types are fairly standard in that they are required to deliver safety, stability, and reliability in all sorts of weather. The dimensions, width, length, thickness, and weight do not vary by much, the most popular boards being 13 and 10 feet long (3.9 & 3m).

Selecting the right scaffold board is easy and inexpensive and can save time and money getting a job done safely.

How Wide is a Scaffold Board?

Wade’s scaffold boards come in a standard width of 210mm, which makes it easy to comply with the UK’s Working at Height regulations. Three boards will deliver the minimum width working platform of 600mm.

• As a rule of thumb, most main contractors will specify a requirement for five boards to deliver a minimum width working platform, with three boards for access only.

• If more than one person is required to work on a scaffold, you need to think about whether two people will be able to pass each other, or there is room for tools and materials.

• However, some projects will have space restrictions, requiring careful risk assessment if a project is notifiable.

How Thick is a Scaffold Board?

Scaffold boards have to support the weight of workers and their materials without bending or deforming. The standard thickness supplied by Wade is 35mm. When properly supported by tube and fitting scaffold, or trestles, these boards will not distort under load.

It’s common for adjacent scaffold platforms to overlap rather than have boards butt jointed. While this does make having to cut boards less likely, there will be a small 35mm step between levels, that it is good to be aware of.

How Long is a Scaffold Board?

Unbanded scaffold boards can be supplied in any length from 2 feet, up to thirteen feet long (3.9 metres) in foot-by-foot increments. On a smaller project, where the exact dimensions of a scaffold are clear before the job starts, ordering bespoke cut lengths can be a good way to save time and money.

• However, an advantage of unbanded boards is that you can easily cut them to any bespoke length you require on site.

• While it’s better not to cut banded boards to length, you still can, but it’s a good idea to remove the band and re-attach it to the longer remaining board.

• Thirteen foot and ten foot (just over 3 metres) are the most often used scaffold board length that you will find on building sites.

How Heavy is a Scaffold Board?

A standard 13 foot scaffold board will weigh in at 19 kg, less than a bag of cement, while a 10 foot board comes in at almost 14.5 kg.

If a board has been exposed to a lot of wet weather, it may have absorbed some moisture, which can add to the weight.

When scaffold boards are used for access directly on the ground, exposure to mud and water can also make them harder to handle.

What are Scaffold Boards Made From?

The least expensive, and most used type of scaffold board is made from wood. The most common timber used for scaffold boards is European Whitewood. At Wade, both our banded, and unbanded scaffold boards are responsibly sourced.

Plastic or galvanised steel scaffold boards are available for specialist scaffolding requirements where an access platform may be exposed to particular risks, i.e. chemical exposure, heavy loading, or wide spans.

Why do Some Scaffold Boards Have Metal Bands?

The metal bands on scaffold boards are there to deliver end protection. Board ends can split, or be damaged during handling, or while in position on a busy working platform.

A metal band on a scaffold board will often have information embossed on it telling the user the board's origin, the British Standard to which it conforms, and the weight limit per 1.2 metres that it is designed to carry.

Main contractors may reject unbanded scaffold boards as they will not have either end protection, or compliant information attached.

Who is Responsible for Scaffolding Safety?

Scaffolding should be inspected after installation and before first use to confirm that it is safe to use. You don’t have to be a scaffolder to do so. A competent person who has attended and passed a scaffold inspection course can carry out an inspection.

A scaffold should be inspected every seven days, and following any adverse weather conditions, such as high winds.

Complex, or engineer-designed scaffolds will require specialist, regular weekly inspections by a suitably qualified individual.

What Else Can I Use Scaffold Boards For?

Apart from the obvious, scaffolding platforms, scaffold planks are a popular choice for landscape gardeners. Scaffold planks can be used alongside garden sleepers to create retaining walls, steps, raised beds, benches, or any other carpentry-based garden feature.

• Scaffold planks have also been used as industrial style shelving by interior designers. New boards can be planed, sanded and finished, the bands retained, to deliver that engineered look.

• Use them for workshop shelving due to their thickness, and suitability for supporting heavy items.

• Scaffold planks are great for shelving for heavy items that would damage metal shelves, i.e. engine blocks.

• If you are using scaffold boards for decking, or other garden feature, you can increase their longevity, and weather resistance by treating them with a proprietary preservative.

Scaffold boards supplied by Wade are compliant with British Standard 2482:2009 and ready for use on your scaffolding, or any other job. Call us today to find out how quickly we can get what you need delivered to where you want it.