We will be closing our office for Christmas and New Year and will reopen on 5th of January 2009. If you have any queries during this period, you can complete a ring back request form on the CONTACT US tab and we will respond upon our return....Read Full Story
We will be closing our office for Christmas and New Year and will reopen on 5th of January 2009. If you have any queries during this period, you can complete a ring back request form on the CONTACT US tab and we will respond upon our return.
We would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a safe New Year.
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The NASC (National Access and Scaffolding Confederation) have recently written to all members informing them of the new changes to the criteria that are to be met by all new applicants to the NASC...Read Full Story
The NASC (National Access and Scaffolding Confederation) have recently written to all members informing them of the new changes to the criteria that are to be met by all new applicants to the NASC. A summary of the main changes are:
c) Insurance - Revised minimum levels of insurance (£5 million PL and £10 million EL)
e) Training - At least 50% of the scaffolding workforce should hold a Scaffolder card or an Advanced Scaffolder Card (CISRS)
These new changes are being issued with all new application forms and are effective immediately. Existing NASC members are expected to takes steps to comply with the new criteria immediately, with compliance no later than September 2009.
We have provided a copy of the new membership criteria to download here: NASC Membership Criteria.
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Our Scaffolding Design Appreciation course is now CITB grant supported. This means that you will know be able to claim grant for 'Short Duration Off-The-Job Training' from the CITB...Read Full Story
Our Scaffolding Design Appreciation course is now CITB grant supported. This means that you will know be able to claim grant for 'Short Duration Off-The-Job Training' from the CITB in the same way that you would for say a Part 1 or Scaffolding Inspection Course. As a company you must be registered with the CITB.
The grant available falls under the B201 code which provides £35 per person, per day. Therefore, you can can claim back a total of £70 per person. If you have previously attended the course you can still claim, details can be found on the CITB website, click here
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The Grade 1 Listed High Level Bridge repair and refurbishment project has recently come to and end and the official re-opening of the bridge takes place this evening...Read Full Story
The Grade 1 Listed High Level Bridge repair and refurbishment project has recently come to and end and the official re-opening of the bridge takes place this evening. The bridge owner, Network Rail employed May Gurney Rail as their main contractor on the £42 million project along with engineer Mott MacDonald. Alwyn Richards Ltd have been involved with the design of the temporary works systems on the bridge since the main refurbishment works started. We completed around 24 scaffolding designs schemes for May Gurney Rail up until Spring 2006 each of which were very complex in their own right. Pyeroy then took over design responsibilities and provided a design and build scaffolding service. Alwyn Richards Ltd became design and checking consultant for temporary works from then on until completion.
Alwyn Richards Ltd have been invited as guests of May Gurney Rail to the official re-opening of the bridge this evening. We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate May Gurney, Mott MacDonald and Network Rail for completing such a complex and challenging project with what has been described as "An extremely cost effective solution involving a very high profile structure" by the Historic Bridges Awards judging panel. We would also like to thank them for involving us from the start of what has been a very interesting project for us and also for their continued working relationship.
A photograph of the finished Grade 1 High Level Bridge, courtesy of May Gurney, can be seen by CLICKING HERE
The High Level Bridge is also featured in our portfolio section which can be seen by CLICKING HERE
Other external links:
May Gurney News: "Grade 1 listed project nears completion"
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The first in a series of training courses titled "Scaffolding Design Appreciation Part 1" took part at our head office in Barnsley on the 12th and 13th of May...Read Full Story
The first in a series of training courses titled "Scaffolding Design Appreciation Part 1" took part at our head office in Barnsley on the 12th and 13th of May. The course was fully booked a few months in advance with our regular clients eager to expand their knowledge base in this field. We had delegates from a range of backgrounds from scaffolding contractors to structural engineers all of whom agreed the course had been well worth their time and effort!
The course itself was a great experience for our entire design team, all of whom played their part in writing, preparing and delivering the course over the two day period. We were particularly pleased with the feedback we received from our course delegates which can be seen in the training section of our website, or by CLICKING HERE.
Our next course is on the 16th and 17th of June followed by the 14th and 15th of July. The June course is now fully booked however the July course still has some places available. Please check our training page for availability. We are planning to continue our series of courses throughout the year and more dates will be available soon.
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We are continually being asked which scaffolds require a design and which scaffolds don't. Therefore, we have decided to provide the document provided by the HSE with this subject in mind..Read Full Story
We are continually being asked which scaffolds require a design and which scaffolds don't. Therefore, we have decided to provide the document provided by the HSE with this subject in mind.
You can download the HSE Scaffolding information sheet - Designed Scaffolds HERE
In a nutshell, any scaffold that is listed in the 'Special Scaffolds' section of TG20 or BS 5973 will require a design. Also, standard scaffolds that deviate from the parameters outlined in TG20 and BS 5973 will require an element of design to cover the deviation.
If you need any further help or advice just give us a call and we will be happy to help.
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BS 5975 Code of Practice for Falsework: The code is currently in the approval stage, approval circulation has been started. The expected completion date for this code is now 23rd June 2008...Read Full Story
BS 5975 Code of Practice for Falsework: The code is currently in the approval stage, approval circulation has been started. The expected completion date for this code is now 23rd June 2008. This code of practice will be up to date with all new European codes and will apply to all forms of temporary works, including scaffolding. The draft copy of this code that was released by BSI for public comment in July 2007 can be downloaded by clicking HERE.
National Annex to BS EN 1991-1-4 Wind Action: The code is currently in the approval stage, formal approval has been started. The expected completion date for this code is now 9th July 2008. Remember, this code will supersede BS 6399-2 and which will be withdrawn from public use in March 2010.
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The re-written version of TG20:05 was completed in December 2007 by the consulting engineers working for the NASC. However, the members of the NASC decided that a series of testing should be carried out in order to verify the recommendations given in the new re-written code....Read Full Story
As you may be aware, the BSI was due to launch the UK National Annex to BS EN 1991-1-4:Eurocode 1 - Actions on Structures; General actions; Wind actions in February 2008 - this date has been on their website for sometime now.
I have been informed that the release of this document has now been moved back. To quote my BSI source; "It will be sometime in May or June".
The new Eurocode can not be used in the UK without the National Annex. The UK is due to replace BS 6399-2 with BSEN 1991-1-4 in March 2010.
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Recently we have been seen more and more of our clients come to us asking about the need to have no gaps in scaffolding working platforms!....Read Full Story
Recently we have been seen more and more of our clients come to us asking about the need to have no gaps in scaffolding working platforms! The simple answer is that if you are designing/erecting scaffolding in accordance with TG20 and the Work at Height Regulations then you are "required to have measures in place to ensure that no person could be injured by any material or object falling through such gaps in the working platform."
Therefore if you are building a scaffold with any number of inside boards you must fill the gap between the main platform and the inside board(s) along the line of the inside standards. "How do you do that?" I hear you ask...? Call us and we will explain our simple and extremely cost effective method of solving this problem - you won't need any fancy gimmick's, plastic gap fillers or ply overlay!
Incidentally, 6mm thick ply covering this gap will not be sufficient nor will it be accepted by Network Rail on their sites. On a recent site we had the very unlikely occurrence of a scaffold tube falling onto a working platform 'end on' from the 2.0m lift above, striking the lower platform right on the gap between the inside board and main platform - the ply did not stop the tube, it passed straight through! Needless to say, our solution to this problem does not involve ply!
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The re-written version of TG20:05 was completed in December 2007 by the consulting engineers working for the NASC. However, the members of the NASC decided that a series of testing should be carried out in order to verify the recommendations given in the new re-written code....Read Full Story
The re-written version of TG20:05 was completed in December 2007 by the consulting engineers working for the NASC. However, the members of the NASC decided that a series of testing should be carried out in order to verify the recommendations given in the new re-written code. The NASC therefore employed the BRI to carry out necessary testing and are still waiting for their results to be delivered. Obviously the re-written code can not be printed until these results are known. Hopefully the findings of the BRI will endorse the recommendations made in the re-written code and TG20:08 can be published, although, if there are changes to be made based on the testing results then this will mean further iterations and a longer wait.
Obviously it is better to get it right than push for TG20:08 to be published immediately.... considering there's already been one go at it!
We have been able to find out a little regarding the new structure of TG20:08. It will be approximately 250 pages - nearly double that of the original TG20:05 and will be split into two volumes. The first volume will be very similar to the old BS 5973 and deal with fully braced structures (no ledger brace removal!) and have tables to give maximum heights for unsheeted, sheeted and debris netted scaffolds. The second volume will be more like TG20:05 and deal with requirements for ledger bracing removal and/or if you are starting a scaffold design from scratch. Scaffolds built to both volumes will comply with BSEN 12811-1.
Based on this it would appear that the first volume will include all scaffolds that can be built without a design, the second for scaffolds that will require a design. As we all know the list of scaffolds that now require a design is quite long, hopefully the new TG20:08 will bring some clarity and common sense to the whole situation.
Incidentally, did you know that all hoist towers, ladder towers and stair towers require a design?
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The British Standards Institute is due to launch the UK National Annex to BSEN 1991-1-4: Eurocode 1. Actions on structures; General actions; Wind actions on 28th February 2008...Read Full Story
The British Standards Institute is due to launch the UK National Annex to BSEN 1991-1-4: Eurocode 1. Actions on structures; General actions; Wind actions on 28th February 2008. After long delays from the original proposed release date in 2006 the new code is to become the standard for which all wind loading will be calculated in the UK. BS 6399-2 which for some people is a relatively new code, (certainly considering how long CP3 was used for) can still be used once the National Annex is released but we are due replace BS 6399-2 completely by March 2010! This means BS 6399-2 will be withdrawn by the BSI and wind loading should be calculated to the new code.
However, considering previous periods of co-existence, such as when BS 6399-2 superseded CP3 and the fact that this National Annex for BSEN 1991 has been delayed for so long, I would think that an extension to this date is likely; we'll just have to wait and see!
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We are pleased to announce that we have joined the worldwide trend for online discussion and started our our interactive blog dedicated to Scaffolding Design...Read Full Story
We are pleased to announce that we have joined the worldwide trend for online discussion and started our our interactive blog dedicated to Scaffolding Design. We aim to update the blog regularly with any snippets of information we come across that we think would be useful to anyone working in the scaffolding or construction industry. This will cover a wide range of subjects including design methods, components and materials, health and safety and new codes of practice.
We are also looking for people within the scaffolding and construction industry to comment and/or contribute so that we can share experiences and points of view: you may have a photo of a job you've erected or seen, come across a new product that you've not seen before or have another interesting story you'd like to share - all are welcome!
Please bookmark our new blog page or subscribe to the RSS live feed (the link is at the bottom of the page). This will create a link in your bookmarks with a drop-down list to the latest blog entries that you can easily refresh with a right-click.
Link to New Blog: http://scaffoldingdesign.blogspot.com
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We are closing the office on Friday 21st December at lunchtime and will be re-opening in the New Year on Thursday 3rd January...Read Full Story
We are closing the office on Friday 21st December at lunchtime and will be re-opening in the New Year on Thursday 3rd January. If you have any urgent matters please contact us before we close for Christmas so that we can help you as soon as possible.
We would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and very happy and prosperous 2008!
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The BSI has now amended the expected arrival date of the UK National Annex to BS EN 1991-1-1:2005 from November 2007 to December 2007...Read Full Story
The BSI has now amended the expected arrival date of the UK National Annex to BS EN 1991-1-1:2005 from November 2007 to December 2007 - not a huge delay although not a huge surprise either. Remember this Eurocode for wind loading will supersede BS 6399-2 in March 2010.
Peter Pallett has announced on his website (quoted previously) that the NASC guidance code TG20:07 has been delayed with a possible release date of February 2008 - making it TG20:08. This is the update to TG20:05 which is currently in use within the scaffolding industry, but has many short comings that are to be addressed in the new issue.
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Today Alwyn is heading off to Barcelona to attend (surprisingly for the first time) the NASC annual general meeting. The AGM is to held on Friday 23rd November at the Hotel Rey Juan Carlos I and is followed by the NASC annual dinner-dance...Read Full Story
Today Alwyn is heading off to Barcelona to attend (surprisingly for the first time) the NASC annual general meeting. The AGM is to held on Friday 23rd November at the Hotel Rey Juan Carlos I and is followed by the NASC annual dinner-dance. Alwyn Richards Ltd joined the NASC 2006 as an information member after being recommended by a regional chairman.
Alwyn said shortly before leaving "its going to be nice to see a lot of old friends, some of whom I've not seen for donkey's years!" Alwyn assures us that the trip is "entirely for business and that it is essential to the long term success of the company" - I wonder why we are all not going?
Alwyn will be out of the office from Wednesday 21st November until Monday 26th November. HAVE A GREAT TIME!
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November 2007 saw the introduction of a new style and format of our design calculations which now also include design risk assessments in line with new CDM regulations...Read Full Story
November 2007 saw the introduction of a new style and format of our design calculations which now also include design risk assessments in line with new CDM regulations.
The new calculations have adopted the new company logo and fonts to bring them up to date with the rest of our correspondence. We have also taken the opportunity to rearrange the order of the calculations to make them easier to follow and more user-friendly. They now include a Design Risk Assessment as standard along with all the usual information from the previous version and relative calculations for the scaffold concerned.
All the client feedback we have received so far has been positive however we would also like to hear any feedback from any of our clients - contact details can be found on the contact us page.
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We have been pleased to find that our new office facilities at the BBIC - Cudworth, Barnsley have met with the approval of clients who have visited us recently...Read Full Story
We have been pleased to find that our new office facilities at the BBIC - Cudworth, Barnsley have met with the approval of clients who have visited us recently. We now have a new design room with custom workstations for each member of the design team along with new business office and private meeting room. This now allows us to start our training programme in the New Year for scaffolding design related courses.
We now have our computer network running throughout the premises so that information and documents can be viewed in any location including via the projector in our meeting room. When you visit feel free to bring along your laptop and use our WLAN to check your email or download your design drawings direct from our network.
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In the summer of 2007 the combined scaffold design experienced of the team at Alwyn Richards Ltd will exceed 60 years! We are unaware of any design house in this industry with a greater time line of experience...Read Full Story
IIn the summer of 2007 the combined scaffold design experienced of the team at Alwyn Richards Ltd will exceed 60 years! We are unaware of any design house in this industry with a greater time line of experience!
Alwyn commenting said: "well the real milestone was 50 years, now 60 years; that's just making me sound old!" He also was quick to squash rumours of a CUPLOK Zimmer-frame being specially designed for him next year: "CUPLOK Zimmer-fame? Oh no, I'm not sure yet, it could be HAKI if I get an invite to their golf tournament this year!"
Alwyn Richards Ltd has been growing steadily over the last few decades and believe this is due to the continuing quality of service we provide to all our clients.
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Alwyn Richards Ltd is pleased to announce that they are moving to a new office on their existing site very shortly. The new office will be double the size of our existing office and allow us to provide better facilities for project meetings and conferences along with providing a new spacious environment for our design team and office staff...Read Full Story
Alwyn Richards Ltd is pleased to announce that they are moving to a new office on their existing site very shortly. The new office will be double the size of our existing office and allow us to provide better facilities for project meetings and conferences along with providing a new spacious environment for our design team and office staff. The move will be made in conjunction with a systematic upgrade of our computer and network systems so that we can continue to offer a quality service for our clients.
You are always welcome to call in and see us to discuss an up coming project, any aspects of an existing project or just for a chat about the latest goings on in the industry. There is also wild speculation that we may be getting a new fresh coffee machine... we are waiting with baited breath!
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The new revised Code of Practice will be applicable to all forms of temporary works including scaffolding. The Code was released by BSI on Tuesday 24th July for public comment whom specifically state that comments from all sections of the industry are welcome. This new Code will supersede the old version of BS 5975: 1996...Read Full Story
The new revised Code of Practice will be applicable to all forms of temporary works including scaffolding. The Code was released by BSI on Tuesday 24th July for public comment whom specifically state that comments from all sections of the industry are welcome. This new Code will supersede the old version of BS 5975: 1996.
We are currently in the process of reviewing this Code of Practice and determining the effects it will have on the design of scaffolds in the UK. In a brief summary of his initial thoughts Alwyn said: "There is a great deal of information regarding the implementation of CDM regulations and the roles of T.W.C.'s and T.W.S.'s. The effects of BS 6399-2, BS EN 12811 & 12812 have also been included as you would expect and it looks as though the methods used in TG20:07 for wind load calculation have been adopted as well. Large chunks of the old Code are still recognisable alongside additions for the use of proprietary alloy propping systems. It'll need a reight coat'a lookin at!"
We found this draft release first reported by Peter Pallet on his website www.temporaryworks.info and a copy of the draft Code can be downloaded from there. This website is a great tool for keeping up to date with information relating to British and European Standards concerning scaffolding and temporary works.
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After a mixed response from the industry to the release of TG20:05 the NASC entrusted Slender Structures Limited to rewrite their original guidance notes to incorporate the comments made by the members of the NASC and other people within the construction industry...Read Full Story
After a mixed response from the industry to the release of TG20:05 the NASC entrusted Slender Structures Limited to rewrite their original guidance notes to incorporate the comments made by the members of the NASC and other people within the construction industry.
One of the main changes is that the NASC & Slender Structures Ltd realised that the "removal of ledger bracing is contrary to established good UK practice" (TG20:07). TG20:07 now considers fully ledger braced scaffolds the norm within the industry and the guide concentrates on providing guidance on this basis. To bring it in line with BS EN 12811 which requires clear unimpeded working platforms, systems of safe removal have been addressed in section 8 of TG20:07.
Another contentious issue was the addition of face bracing to the inside row of standards in any independent scaffold where tie intervals are greater than one lift, or 2000mm. Effective lengths of standards are determined using the distance between two points of lateral restraint; a tie. Therefore, if ties are not every lift then effective lengths of standards are increased to this vertical interval. The addition of face bracing on the inside row of standards was deemed to provide adequate lateral support parallel to the facade (the other plane being restrained by ledger bracing) and thus the effective lengths could be taken as distance between node points.
More information on the new release of TG20:08(?) will appear in this news section when it becomes available. In the meantime, if you are unsure of which standard you should be using or want general advice on this matter please give us a call.
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