Scaffolding Guide

Ledger

Ledgers should be joined using sleeve couplers. If the joint is within 300mm of a standard then an internal joint pin (or spigot) may be used. Internal joint pins should be positioned as close as possible to the point where the ledger is fitted to the standard. It is important that all joints are staggered.

The main horizontal tubes are called ledgers which provide lateral support to the structure. Ledgers must be level and fitted inside of standards with right-angle, load bearing couplers. The vertical distance (lift height, ledger to ledger) varies due to the intended use of the scaffold. For a walk-through scaffold a vertical distance of 2 meters should be allowed to clear a headroom of 1.75 meters.

Ledgers are the horizontal tubes which connect with and support the standards. Ledgers also act as supports for transoms and will usually run in the direction of the larger dimension of the scaffold. Depending on the intended use of the scaffold will determine the vertical spaces or distances between the ledgers.

Lift height or ledger spacing is the distance between each ledger. This measurement is taken up the face of the scaffold.

Foot ties, foot lifts or kicker lifts are the ledgers and transforms fixed to the bottom of standards. These should be fitted ideally 150mm off the ground.

Cross braces and ledger braces are vital to the rigidity of the scaffold structure. They are placed diagonally across the ledgers and adjacent to alternate pairs of standards.
The differences are, cross braces are usually fixed directly to the standards, whilst ledger braces are fixed to ledgers.

The main transoms are installed horizontally across the ledgers at right angles adjacent to each pair of standards. In some cases they maybe connected to each pair of standards. The purpose of the main transoms is to hold both rows of standards in position making the scaffold more ridged. They also act as a support for scaffold boards. Main transoms are usually installed in the direction of the smaller dimension of the scaffold.
Intermediate transoms are installed in between the main transoms acting as supports, sometime referred to as 'board bearers'.

Intermediate transoms are used for extra board support when a lift is to be boarded over as a working platform. The intermediate transoms are usually laid across ledgers in the centre of each bay, fixed with putlog couplers. Additional intermediate transoms may be required to support shorter boards.
When the platform is no longer required the intermediate transoms can be removed and used elsewhere on the scaffold.

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