The NASC (National Access and Scaffolding Confederation) has announced the launch of the long awaiting guidance note TG20:08 - A Guide to good Practice for Scaffolding with Tubes and Fittings.

The combination of detailed testing, calculations and advice on best practice will ensure that TG20:08 becomes adopted by the whole of the UK, (including Scotland).

Designed to be an important, practical and user friendly guide for scaffolding contractors and designers, it may also be of use to any construction professional working with scaffolding contractors.

TG20:08 details how tube and fitting scaffolding can be erected to comply with the European standard BS EN 12811-1, which supersedes BS 5973. It is now important that all scaffolding contractors take in and start adopting this document. The original release of TG:20 resulted in some main contractors wanting the document to be implemented immediately, undoubtedly this will happen even though the HSE have agreed not to fully enforce the guidance immediately.

Fundamentally the principles of BS 5973 will remain unchanged and there are few changes for the scaffolder day to day. The main changes are:

The processes of justifying the design will alter rather than the scaffold

Façade/sway bracing is fitted every six bays

There are more tie arrangements and alternatives for greater flexibility

The arrangements for some sheeted scaffolds are more varied than BS 5973