SMART Compliance

Summary of the Module

The TG20 compliance check modules are designed for use by any competent person with an understanding of TG20:21.

TG20 compliance checks are available for tied independent scaffolding, tied tower scaffolding, internal birdcages and loading bay towers.

In each case, the software produces a compliance report that states the site location, scaffold configuration and dimensions, whether the scaffold is TG20:21 compliant and, where applicable, the compliance criteria that must be observed.

If the scaffold is not compliant, the software suggests options that may achieve compliance and avoid a bespoke design where possible.

Automatic TG20 compliance checks

Independent Scaffolding Compliance Check Module

The Independent scaffolding compliance check module checks tube and fitting independent scaffolding for compliance with TG20:21.

All permitted TG20:21 compliant tied or rakered independent scaffolding can be checked, with the scaffold drawing, dimensions, configuration and TG20 compliance criteria summarised in a report.

Scaffolding Supported:

  • Scaffolding up to 50 m in length and 50 m in height.
  • Scaffolding founded on the ground or on a permanent structure.
  • Lifts arranged in bands of up to 1.5 m, 2.0 m or 3.0 m.
  • Load classes 1 to 4 on a platform up to 5 + 3 boards wide.
  • Brick guards, debris netting and sheeting.
  • Tying to an impermeable solid façade or a façade with significant openings, with the option to specify the tie capacity of the permanent structure where known.
  • TG20 compliant prefabricated structural transom units, including a check to determine whether ledger bracing can be omitted.
  • TG20 compliant Type 4 galvanised steel tubes, cold formed S355 galvanised steel tubes or hot formed S355 galvanised steel tubes.
  • Double standards, including an automatic check to determine whether they are required and, if so, the height to which they must extend.
  • A pavement lift using one of the permitted TG20:21 stabilisation arrangements.
  • A light-duty cantilever fan fitted to a specified lift.
  • A TG20 compliant bridge of two or three bays in length.
  • An inner cantilever platform or a platform supported by inside-board, or hop-up, brackets.
  • Inner edge protection options.

TG20 compliant bridges may be supported by steel ladder beams, steel unit beams or equivalent aluminium lattice beams. A range of manufacturer beams can be checked for compliance, and double supporting standards or stacked beam assemblies may be used where required.

Display Panel Options

The display panel allows you to select the site location and view the scaffold configuration while entering the required information.

Map

The module begins with a map view where you can select the site location. The site location is used to determine the potential wind loading on the scaffold.

The address can be selected using the map search or by moving the site marker. The site address is then populated automatically and can be manually overwritten if required.

3D Model

The 3D model provides a preview of the scaffold and updates dynamically as the scaffold inputs are changed.

You can rotate, zoom and pan the model to inspect the scaffold configuration.

2D View

The 2D view displays the scaffold without perspective and includes front, plan and side views. The drawings update automatically as the scaffold inputs are changed.

Site

The Site options define the scaffold location and the conditions used to calculate the wind exposure.

Site Details

  • Site details: The site address is populated automatically once the site location has been selected on the map. The address may be manually overwritten without changing the position selected on the map.
  • Consider sheltering from nearby buildings: Reduces the wind exposure by considering the sheltering effect of nearby buildings where the relevant wind sectors are within town terrain.
  • Design life: Select whether the scaffold is a temporary structure of up to two years or a long-standing/permanent structure.
  • Standing during: Select the spring and summer option to reduce the wind exposure for temporary scaffolds standing only between April and September. This option is available when the design life is set to two years or less.
Scaffolding

Select the Scaffolding tab to enter the scaffold dimensions and configuration. The display automatically switches to the 3D model, which updates as the inputs are changed.

Loading and Dimensions

  • Load class: Specifies the maximum permitted loading on the scaffold. Changing the load class automatically sets appropriate default values for the maximum bay length and platform width, which can then be modified where permitted.
  • Inside board load class: Specifies the loading applied to the inside boards in accordance with TG20:21.
  • Scaffold length: Specifies the overall scaffold length.
  • Maximum bay length: Specifies the maximum bay length permitted for the scaffold configuration. Load class 1 and 2 scaffolds may use bays up to 2.4 m where the relevant TG20:21 criteria are satisfied.
  • Scaffold base level: Specifies the vertical distance between ground level and the base of the scaffold when the scaffold is supported on a building or other permanent structure.
  • Lift height: Specifies the maximum scaffold lift height.
  • Main boards: Specifies the maximum width of the main scaffold platform in boards.
  • Inside boards: Specifies the maximum number of inside boards.

Lift Boarding

  • Alternate lifts boarded: Specifies whether the scaffold is boarded at alternate lifts from the top lift downward.
  • Number of lifts: Specifies the total number of scaffold lifts.
  • Number of boarded lifts: Specifies the maximum number of boarded lifts when alternate lift boarding is not selected.
  • Number of unboarded lifts: Specifies the maximum number of lifts that are not boarded.
  • Ladder landings: Specifies whether ladder landing platforms will be provided at unboarded lifts.

Cladding and Edge Protection

  • Cladding: Select unclad scaffolding, unclad scaffolding with plastic or wire brick guards, high-permeability debris netting, or sheeting/low-permeability debris netting.
  • Inner guard rails: Specifies whether internal edge protection is provided at boarded and unboarded lifts.
  • Top lift guard rails: Specifies the edge protection provided at the top lift.
  • Inner toe boards: Specifies whether inner toe boards are provided at boarded lifts.

Tube Material and Bracing

  • Tube material: Select Type 4 galvanised steel tubes to BS EN 39, cold formed galvanised steel tubes to BS EN 10219-1 grade S355, or hot formed galvanised steel tubes to BS EN 10210-1 grade S355.
  • Use structural transom units: Specifies whether TG20 compliant prefabricated structural transoms will be used at every node point.
  • Provide ledger bracing: Specifies whether ledger bracing will be provided at alternate standard pairs. Where structural transom units are used with un-sheeted scaffolding, the compliance check determines whether ledger bracing may be omitted.

Double Standards and Foot Lift

  • Double standards: Specifies whether the scaffold standards are doubled to increase their load capacity. If Automatic is selected, the software determines whether double standards are required during the TG20 compliance check.
  • Foot lift: Specifies whether a foot lift is provided. A foot lift may be required to stabilise double standards in moderate or high wind conditions. If Automatic is selected, this is determined by the compliance check.
  • Double standards height: Specifies the height of the secondary standards. When automatic double standards are selected, the required height is calculated automatically.

Ties and Façade

  • Tie pattern: Select from the TG20:21 tie patterns. Patterns A to C provide ties at alternate lifts and patterns D to F provide ties at every lift.
  • Top lift tied: Specifies whether additional ties are provided at the top lift at alternate standards. This can increase the maximum permitted height for some scaffold configurations.
  • Façade permeability: Specifies whether the façade is impermeable, with no significant openings, or permeable, with significant openings.
  • Tie capacity is known: Specifies whether the capacity of the building fabric, anchor and tie assembly is known.
  • Tie capacity: Specifies the maximum permitted tie duty for the building fabric, anchor and tie assembly where this has been determined.
Add-ons

Additional scaffold features can be included from the Add-ons options.

Pavement Lift

  • Pavement lift: Specifies whether the scaffold includes a TG20:21 compliant pavement lift to provide a pedestrian thoroughfare.
  • Stabilisation: Select the method used to stabilise the pavement lift. It may be tied at alternate ledger-braced standards, plan braced with ties at a lift no more than 2.0 m above, or followed by a reduced-height second lift positioned no more than 4.0 m from the ground and tied at alternate standards.

Cantilever Fan

  • Cantilever fan: Specifies whether a TG20:21 compliant light-duty cantilever protection fan is included.
  • Cantilever fan lift: Specifies the lift at which the fan is located.

Bridge

  • Bridge: Specifies whether the scaffold includes an opening supported by a bridge beam assembly.
  • Bridged lift: Specifies the lift at which the bridge beam assembly is located.
  • Start position: Specifies the position of the left standard supporting the bridge.
  • Bridge span: Specifies the centre-to-centre spacing of the standards supporting the bridge.
  • Double standards: Specifies whether the standards supporting the bridge are doubled to the top beam chord. The software can determine this automatically where required.
  • Beam: Select the bridge beam from the available manufacturer options.
  • Number of stacked beams: Allows up to three bridge beams to be stacked where a single beam is insufficient. If Automatic is selected, the number of beams required is determined by the TG20 compliance check.

Inner Platforms

  • Inside-board brackets: Specifies whether the inner platform is supported using inside-board, or hop-up, brackets. One platform may be offset vertically from the lift by up to 0.5 m in a step-up or step-down position.
  • Cantilever platform: Specifies whether a single-lift inner cantilever platform of up to five boards wide is provided.
Options Following a Compliance Check

If the scaffold fails the TG20 compliance check and SMART Compliance identifies changes that could allow it to pass, an Options tab is displayed.

The available suggestions depend on the scaffold configuration and the reason for the failed check.

Suggested Changes May Include:

  • Reduce the bay length.
  • Tie the scaffold at every lift.
  • Tie the top lift at alternate standards.
  • Double the standards to a specified height.
  • Provide a foot lift.
  • Provide ledger bracing where required for scaffolding fitted with TG20 compliant prefabricated structural transom units.

The suggested changes are also explained in more detail in the TG20:21 check section of the compliance report.

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