Tube and coupler scaffolds - Evaluation of typeconfigurations

Tube and coupler scaffolds are frequently used as facade scaffolds. The design and stability of the scaffold is of great importance for the safety of the workers using the scaffold. According to Swedish regulation, facade scaffolds made of prefabricated elements have to be subjected to type examination. This requirement does not include tube and coupler scaffolds. Instead, these are to be designed in accordance with type-configurations given in the Swedish code or by using the same principles as in these configurations. However, these type-configurations are old-fashioned and do not fulfil modern requirements regarding design and safety of work. The aim of this project was to prepare new type-configurations for tube and coupler scaffolds using European standards for design of facade scaffolds. Finite element analyses have been used to evaluate the load carrying capacity of different scaffold configurations. The result of this project may be used as a basis for revision of the type-configurations for tube and coupler scaffolds in the Swedish code.