Scaffolds
Erecting or dismantling scaffolding
Great care must be taken when erecting or dismantling scaffolding on or near the public highway. The scaffolding contractor and the main contractor share responsibility for ensuring that work is carried out safely. All too often accidents involving members of the public and their property are caused by bad working practices.
Effect on street furniture
Scaffolding may also affect street cleaning or furniture. Permission is also required if you have to re-site or remove street furniture such as lamp columns. Apply to the City Council's Transportation Department on 020 7641 6275. If a lamp column cannot be repositioned, you may have to provide alternative lighting fixed to the structure, lit and maintained to the satisfaction of the City Council.
Conditions
Scaffolding must comply with the following conditions:
After the scaffolding has been erected, any diagonal cross-bracing used at ground level must be removed at once to allow unobstructed pedestrian access. A width of at least 1.5 metres and a headroom clearance of at least 2.44 metres are required for pedestrians to pass, unless other arrangements are agreed by the City Council.
- While a scaffold is being erected, signs should be prominently displayed saying 'Scaffold is incomplete'.
- Vertical scaffold poles erected on the pavement must not be closer than 0.45 metres to the kerb edge, unless other arrangements have been agreed with City Council.
- Scaffolding that projects beyond the kerb edge must have at least 4.88 metres clearance above the surface of the carriageway.
- Where agreement has been obtained to erect the scaffold nearer than 0.45 metres to the kerb edge, baulk timbers 300mm x 300mm must be placed on the carriageway for the full length of the scaffolding. These timbers must be painted red and white and fitted with red bulkhead lights at 3 metre intervals.
- Continuous timber or sole plates may not be placed on the highway.
- Scaffolding must be lit from half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise.
- On the inside of the structure, white bulkhead lights must be set at each end of the structure 2.44 metres high and at 3 metre intervals. Similarly, on the outside of the structure, red bulkhead lights must be set at each end of the structure 2.44 metres high and at 3 metre intervals.
- Where a scaffold is longer than 3 metres, the City Council will insist that you provide 'escape routes' for pedestrians at 3 metre intervals. The Crime Prevention Officer at the local Metropolitan Police Station may request more onerous requirements. You must obtain approval in principle for any such structure before a licence is issued.
- Standards must be either painted white or fitted with red and white plastic sleeving up to a height of at least 2.44 metres.
- Any couplings below 2.44 metres must be fixed so that any projection, or threaded or clamp fixing, is on the opposite side to pedestrians.
- Horizontal scaffold poles, such as handrails, must be fitted with plastic end caps or otherwise made safe, as directed by the City Council.
- Scaffolding, scaffold boards, temporary roofs and sheeted scaffolds must be properly secured to resist high winds. Sheeted scaffolds are particularly vulnerable to wind damage from the 'sail effect'.
- Scaffolding must not obstruct access by emergency services vehicles.
If there is any risk of falling material injuring passing pedestrians or hitting vehicles, you must erect a protective scaffold fan. For instance, a scaffold fan is needed when operating cradles or carrying out masonry work.
- Fans or screens must be wide enough to provide complete protection to the public, and to prevent material of any kind from falling onto the public highway.
- Fans that project to within 0.45 metres of the kerb edge must have at least 2.44 metres clearance above the surface of the public highway. Fans projecting beyond this line must have at least 4.88 metres clearance above the surface of the carriageway.
Scaffolds - Westminster City Council's general requirements
Preventing crime
The City of Westminster, in partnership with the Westminster Crime and Disorder Reduction Team, are working together to prevent and reduce crime in areas where scaffolding is erected, or in premises nearby. When applying for a temporary structure licence for scaffolding, it is worth passing this information on to your local police division for their information.
Further information on Crime Prevention.
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