SMART Estimator

Safety Decking

  1. Safety Decking Overview

    Safety Decking (also known as Crash Deck) is a temporary working platform system used for internal fall prevention and safe access for scaffolders working at height during the early stages of construction. SMART Estimator supports the integration of Macdeck, G-Deck and TRAD Deck (Releasing in a few weeks).

  2. Creating a Safety Decking

    To begin creating a safety decking, you must first switch to a Safety Decking Scaffold System. Once selected, follow these steps:

    • Navigate to Model IT and select the Tools View.
    • Click on the Change Scaffolding System dropdown button.
    • Choose your preferred decking system from the list: MacDeck, G-Deck or TRAD Deck.

    Once the appropriate scaffolding system is selected, you can now create your safety decking:

    • In Model IT, switch to the Scaffolds View.
    • Select either the Rectangular Birdcage or the Irregular Birdcage, depending on your project requirements.
    • If you have chosen the Rectangular Birdcage then the Birdcage will appear on your screen automatically.
    • If you have chosen the Irregular Birdcage– It’ll take you to the Draw Plan mode. You must first draw out the birdcage dimensions on the plan and then exit out of Draw Plan by clicking its corresponding button.

  3. Adjusting the Safety Decking

    Safety Decking can be adjusted like a birdcage scaffold. The key dimensions you can modify include Height, Elevation Gap, and Length/Width. Below is a breakdown of how to make these adjustments.

    Height / Lift Height:

    To adjust the decking height:

    • Hover your mouse over the Landing of the Safety Decking (Regular or Irregular Birdcage).
    • Click and drag the platform up or down to set the desired height.
    • Alternatively, in the Toolbox Dialog when you hover on the Landing, manually enter the required height, and press Enter to confirm.

    Elevation Gap:

    To modify the elevation gap:

    • On the Rectangular or Irregular Birdcage, hover your mouse over the Scaffold Beam.
    • In the Toolbox Dialog, cycle through the options till you reach ‘Elevation Gap’, if you’re using an Irregular Birdcage, then you do not need to cycle through.
    • Type in the new Elevation Gap value and then press Enter.

    Length and Width:

    To adjust the length or width:

    • On the Rectangular Birdcage, hover your mouse over the Scaffold Beam.
    • In the Toolbox Dialog, cycle through the available dimensions: Height, Length, or Width and input the desired values to update each measurement.

  4. Modifying the Safety Decking

    This section covers the available add-ons and tools for customizing your Safety Decking setup. These include Cantilever Lap Panels, Infill Bays, and Change Bay Axis—each designed to enhance flexibility and adaptability within your scaffold models.

    Cantilever Lap Panels

    To apply Cantilever Lap Panels:

    • Navigate to Model IT and switch to the Add-Ons View.
    • Click on the Cantilever Lap Panel Tool.
    • With the tool active, click on an Outer Bay of the Safety Decking to apply the cantilever extension.

    Infill Bay

    To insert an Infill Bay:

    • Go to Model IT and select the Add-Ons View.
    • Click on the Infill Bay Tool.
    • Click directly on the Safety Deck Scaffold where the infill bay is required. The tool will add the bay in the selected position.

    Change Bay Axis

    The Change Bay Axis tool allows you to align a bay parallel to the selected elevation:

    • Navigate to Model IT and open the Tools View.
    • Click on the Change Bay Axis Tool.
    • Next, Select one of the Elevations (On the ground, unless you modified it’s height). Your safety deck’s bay axis will now align parallel to the selected elevation.

  5. Setting-Out View

    Much like System Scaffolding for a Birdcage, you’re able to utilise the Setting-Out view to adjust the bay length and bay width of the safety decking. Simply go to the Tools view and click on the Display Setting-Out View.

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