A Comprehensive Guide to Standards for Erecting Exterior Wall Scaffolding
Aug 10, 2026| I. Construction Plan
1.Before erecting scaffolding, a construction plan should be determined based on the characteristics of the work and the construction process. The plan should include: foundation treatment, erection requirements, spacing of members, the placement of wall ties, and connection methods, and should include construction details and detail drawings.
2.Calculations must be performed when the scaffold erection height exceeds the standards specified. When the dimensions of a coupler-type steel tube scaffold comply with the table below, design calculations for the corresponding members are not required.However, design calculations based on actual loads-including wall ties and the bearing capacity of the upright foundations-must still be performed, and construction drawings must be prepared.
3.When the erection height is between 25 and 50 m, the overall stability of the scaffold must be structurally reinforced. For example, longitudinal diagonal braces must be installed continuously; additional transverse diagonal braces should be added; the strength of wall ties should be correspondingly increased and their spacing reduced; and in windy regions, for scaffolding erected at heights exceeding 40 m, the uplift force caused by wind vortices must be considered. In addition to installing horizontal wall ties, measures to resist uplift forces caused by wind vortices should also be implemented to ensure the safe use of the scaffolding.
4.When the erected height exceeds 50 m, double upright reinforcement or segmented load transfer may be adopted. This involves using steel wire ropes to suspend and pull the scaffolding from the beam-and-slab structure in segments along the full height of the scaffolding, thereby transferring the local loads of the scaffolding to the building for support; or segmented erection may be adopted, where the loads of each scaffold segment are transferred to cantilever beams or trusses extending from the building, subject to design calculations.
5.Design calculations for the scaffolding must comply with the relevant provisions of scaffolding standards and be approved by the enterprise's technical director.
II. Upright Base
The base of the scaffolding uprights shall comply with the design requirements.
For scaffolding heights of 25m or less, the base may be simply compacted and leveled, then covered with a 125px-thick wooden plank. Planks 2m in length shall be placed perpendicular to the wall; those longer than 3m shall be placed parallel to the wall.
For scaffolding heights between 25 and 50 m, the foundation method shall be designed based on the on-site soil bearing capacity. Alternatively, when backfill soil is compacted in layers to meet the requirements, the foundation may be supported with railroad ties, or a 500px-thick layer of crushed stone may be laid on the foundation, followed by a concrete slab and then No. 12–16 channel steel laid on top.
For scaffolding heights exceeding 50 m, calculations must be performed, and the foundation method must be designed based on ground bearing capacity. Alternatively, a lime-soil foundation may be used at a depth of 1 m below ground level, or a 50 m thick concrete foundation may be poured, with the scaffolding supported by wooden sleepers on top.
The bases for coupler-type steel tube scaffolding come in two types: malleable cast iron and welded bases. During erection, lay the wooden base plates flat, position the bases correctly, and then insert the upright posts into the bases. Do not place the upright posts directly on the wooden boards, as this will alter the load-bearing conditions of the base plates. Placing a wooden pad beneath the base facilitates load transfer. Tests have shown that adding a wooden pad (125px thick, ≥5000px long) under a standard base can increase the bearing capacity of the subsoil by more than five times. When the wooden pad spans more than two bays, it helps mitigate uneven settlement between two vertical poles.
When the uprights are not embedded, install longitudinal and transverse ground-level braces 500px above the ground. The installation method for these ground-level braces is the same as for the main crossbeams; their function is to secure the base of the uprights and restrict their horizontal displacement and settlement.