Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 12, March 26, 2025
(a) Scope of this Subpart. The provisions of
this Subpart pertaining to all scaffolds used in construction and demolition
operations shall not be construed or applied in contravention of the special
provisions pertaining to specific types of scaffolds hereinafter set
forth.
(b) Scaffold footing or
anchorage. The footing or anchorage for every scaffold erected on or supported
by the ground, grade or equivalent surface shall be sound, rigid, capable of
supporting the maximum load intended to be imposed thereon without settling or
deformation and shall be secure against movement in any direction. Unstable
supports, such as barrels, boxes, loose brick or loose stone, shall not be
used.
(c) Scaffold structure.
(1) Except where otherwise specifically
provided in this Subpart, all scaffolding shall be so constructed as to bear
four times the maximum weight required to be dependent therefrom or placed
thereon when in use. (See Labor Law, §240, subdivision 3.) Such maximum
weight shall be construed to mean the sum of both dead and live loads.
Exception:Paragraph (1) above does not apply to scaffold
suspension ropes. (See section
23-5.19 of this Subpart.)
(2) Every scaffold shall be
provided with adequate horizontal and diagonal bracing to prevent any lateral
movement.
(d) Scaffold
loading.
(1) Light duty scaffolds shall not
be loaded with live loads in excess of 25 pounds per square foot.
(2) Medium duty scaffolds shall not be loaded
with live loads in excess of 50 pounds per square foot.
(3) Heavy duty scaffolds shall not be loaded
with live loads in excess of 75 pounds per square foot.
(4) No scaffold shall be loaded in excess of
the maximum load for which it is intended.
(e) Scaffold planking.
(1) Except on needle beam and pole scaffolds,
scaffold planks shall extend not less than six inches beyond any support nor
more than 18 inches beyond any end support. Such six inch minimum requirement
shall not apply when such planks are securely fastened in place. Scaffold
planks shall be laid tight and inclined planking shall be securely fastened in
place.
(2) The maximum permissible
live load for two-inch full size planking shall be as follows:
(i) Heavy duty scaffolds--75 pounds per
square foot for spans up to and including six feet.
(ii) Medium duty scaffolds--50 pounds per
square foot for spans over six feet and up to and including eight
feet.
(iii) Light duty
scaffolds--25 pounds per square foot for spans over eight feet and up to and
including 10 feet.
(3)
The maximum permissible live load for two-inch nominal thickness planking shall
be as follows:
(i) Light duty scaffolds--25
pounds per square foot for spans over six feet and up to and including eight
feet.
(ii) Medium duty
scaffolds--50 pounds per square foot for spans up to and including six
feet.
(iii) Heavy duty
scaffolds--two-inch nominal thickness planking shall not be used for heavy duty
scaffolds.
(4) The
maximum permissible live load for one and one-quarter inch full size planking
shall be 50 pounds per square foot for spans up to and including four
feet.
(5) The minimum width of
every planked scaffold platform shall be 18 inches except for the following:
(i) Bench type scaffolds where the working
platforms are not more than 24 inches above the floor or other supporting
surface shall be not less than nine inches in width.
(ii) Trestle and extension trestle ladder
scaffold platforms shall have widths equal to the distances between the side
rails of the ladders, but in no case shall such platforms be less than 12
inches in width.
(f) Scaffold maintenance and repair. Every
scaffold shall be maintained in good repair and every defect, unsafe condition
or noncompliance with this Part (rule) shall be immediately corrected before
further use of such scaffold.
(g)
Scaffold lumber. All lumber used in the construction of scaffolds and scaffold
platforms shall be stress-grade, having a minimum unit stress "f" of 1500 psi.
The use of scaffold lumber shall be in conformance with the grade
classification, i.e. lumber graded for use as posts or columns shall not be
used where beams or joists are required. All lumber subjected to stress shall
be sound, straight grained, free from shakes, large, loose or dead knots or
checks or from any other defects which may impair its strength or
durability.
(h) Scaffold erection
and removal. Every scaffold shall be erected and removed under the supervision
of a designated person.
(i)
Overhead protection. Overhead protection when required for any scaffold shall
consist of planking not less than two inches thick full size, exterior grade
plywood not less than three-quarters inch thick or material of equivalent
strength. Such planks used for overhead protection shall be laid tight, shall
extend the full length and width of the working platform. Such overhead
protection shall be located not more than 10 feet above the surface of the
working platform. Such overhead protection shall not be used to support any
person, material, tools or equipment.
(j) Safety railings.
(1) The open sides of all scaffold platforms,
except those platforms listed in the exception below, shall be provided with
safety railings constructed and installed in compliance with this Part (rule).
Exceptions:Any scaffold platform with an elevation of not
more than seven feet; the platforms of needle beam scaffolds; floats and rivet
heater platforms in use by structural ironworkers; ladder jack scaffold
platforms; and trestle and extension trestle ladder scaffold platforms.
(2) All scaffolds under which any
person is likely to work or pass shall be provided with a wire mesh screen of
not less than No. 18 U.S. gage steel with openings that will reject a one- inch
diameter ball. Such wire mesh screen shall be installed between the toeboard
and the top guard rail on both ends and on the outboard side of the scaffold
platform.
(3) Any end or side of
any scaffold platform that is located within six feet horizontally of an
unenclosed side of a material hoist tower, construction elevator or similar
moving equipment shall be effectively screened to a height of at least six feet
above the scaffold platform. Such screen shall be constructed of wire mesh of
not less than No. 18 U.S. gage steel with openings that will reject a one-inch
diameter ball.
(k)
Splices. Horizontal load-bearing members of any scaffold shall not be spliced
between points of support.
