Aluminum scaffolding guide
Aluminum scaffolding: styles, parts and planks
The towers, components and plank types we see most on Northern California jobs, explained in plain English so you can order the right setup the first time.
Common styles of aluminum scaffolding
Most jobs are covered by one of these six setups. The right one depends on the height, the ground and how often you need to move it.
Rolling towers
Stackable end frames on locking casters, built up to the platform height you need. Narrow frames fit through gates and side yards; standard-width frames give two people room to work.
Baker-style scaffolds
A compact rolling platform, usually about 6 feet long, with an adjustable deck height. The go-to for interior trades who move along a wall all day.
Stairwell towers
Towers with legs of different lengths, or adjustable legs, so the deck sits level over a staircase. They reach high entry and stairwell ceilings safely.
Folding work platforms
Low platforms that fold flat for transport and set up in seconds. They replace a stepladder when you need both hands and a little room to move.
Aluminum frame scaffolding
Walk-through or ladder frames joined with cross braces and run along a wall in bays. Lighter to handle than steel frames on jobs that move often.
Aluminum system scaffolding
Modular posts, ledgers and braces that lock together at fixed points, so you can build around corners, bump-outs and odd shapes.
Parts of an aluminum tower
Every rental comes complete, but it helps to know what each piece does when you're building or checking a tower.
End frames
The ladder-like side sections that stack to set the height. The rungs double as the climbing ladder on most towers.
Horizontal and diagonal braces
Clip between the frames to square the tower and stop it racking. A tower without every brace in place isn't safe to climb.
Platforms with trapdoors
The working deck. A hatch lets you climb up through the platform rather than over the guardrail.
Guardrails and toe boards
A top rail and mid rail on every open side, plus toe boards to stop tools and materials falling off the deck.
Locking casters
Wheels with brakes that let you roll the tower between work areas. Lock every caster before anyone climbs.
Leveling jacks and base plates
Screw jacks take up slopes and uneven ground; base plates spread the load when the tower stands still.
Outriggers
Angled stabilizers that widen the base. OSHA requires restraint once a tower is taller than four times its narrowest base width.
Pins and clips
Coupling pins and spring clips lock the frames together so sections can't lift apart when the tower is moved.
Planks and plank types
The plank is what you stand on, so it's worth matching it to the job. These are the six types used most often.
All-aluminum planks
Extruded aluminum with a slip-resistant, punched or ribbed surface. Light, weatherproof and the most common choice on aluminum towers and frames.
Aluminum and plywood decks
An aluminum frame with a plywood walking surface, often with a built-in trapdoor. Quieter underfoot and easy to replace the deck when it wears.
LVL planks
Laminated veneer lumber, made from thin wood layers bonded together. More consistent than sawn lumber and widely used on frame scaffolding.
Solid sawn wood planks
Scaffold-grade lumber, typically full-size 2x10. Inexpensive and easy to cut, but heavier and they need regular inspection for splits and rot.
Steel planks
Perforated steel decks that hook over frame rungs. Very durable and drain water well, but heavy to carry up and set.
Fiberglass planks
Non-conductive and corrosion-proof. More specialized and more expensive, so they're used where those properties matter.
Planking basics on the job
- Plank the working level fully, with no more than a 1 inch gap between planks.
- Run each plank at least 6 inches past its support so it can't slip off.
- Match the plank to the load: OSHA's light, medium and heavy duty ratings are 25, 50 and 75 pounds per square foot.
- Don't paint wood planks. A solid finish can hide cracks and rot, so only the edges may be marked.
- Take any bent, split or delaminating plank out of service.
Not sure which setup you need?
Describe the job and the height, and we'll recommend the tower, the planks and the parts.