Scaffolding Towers Review: The Folding Trade Tower

In many industrial, trade and DIY applications, scaffolding towers are preferred to ladders. These structures provide safe platforms when workers must work at height for extended periods. To ensure safety, scaffold towers must be properly assembled and inspected. For a scaffold tower to be truly safe, the capacity, bracing, pinning and components always must be in good order. One type of tower that's especially popular is the folding trade tower, because it's easy to erect, as well as being quite versatile. Here's some information about this scaffold tower, along with some tips for working safely.

Scaffolding Towers: About the Folding Trade Tower

Safety is the paramount concern when working on scaffolding towers. They should receive regular maintenance and safety inspections, and should always be used in strict accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and recommendations. Scaffold towers should not be used outdoors in bad weather. If the tower is damaged in any way, it should be taken out of service until repaired. The folding trade tower is made from strong steel tubing, and each platform will support a maximum working load of 275kg. Remember, that the maximum load includes the weight of the platform, the worker (s), as well as any tools or materials being used. The base of this tower can be used entirely on its own, or increased with up to 3 additional sections that allow for 7 extra platform heights.

Scaffolding Towers: Key Features of the Folding Trade Tower

A good rule to follow when assessing the capacity of scaffold towers is that a tower must be able to support its own weight, along with at least 4 times its maximum load specification. The folding trade tower is fully compliant with the important BS1139 (Part 3) 1994 and HD1004 standards. This means that it has passed a set of rigorous tests and is deemed safe. The folding trade tower is quick and easy to erect, which allows workers to concentrate on the job, not on the tower. Disassembled, it forms a compact package that fits easily into an estate car or small van. The tower's components feature quick release clips on all bracing, and color coding, so it's very easy to erect correctly.

Scaffolding Towers: More Features of the Folding Trade Tower

The basic components of the tower are a base unit, a hatch deck, horizontal braces, a 4-piece toe board set, and 4 standard locking castors. Guard rails and additional bracing are available as add-on options. When assembling the tower, never compromise its structural integrity by using makeshift components or components from different manufacturers. Scaffold towers like the folding trade tower have many advantages, but the main one is that it's an independent structure that can be moved and repositioned as the work requires. Unlike conventional scaffolding that must be disassembled, moved, and then reassembled, a scaffold tower needs simply to be pushed to a new location.

Scaffolding towers are a safer, more versatile alternative for many types of trade, industrial and DIY applications.