Encapsulation Sheeting - Monarflex or Shrink Wrap?

DATE: 29 September 2025

When comparing two temporary weather protection products such as traditional scaffold sheeting and scaffold shrink wrap the first thing to consider is that everyone has different needs.

In some cases Monarflex is better and in some cases shrink wrap is better, it depends on what you are trying to achieve with your encapsulation sheeting.

Scaffold Sheeting – An Introduction

A quick search of the internet reveals many manufacturers and distributors of

traditional encapsulation products. These products generally consist of 2 x layers of Low Density Polythene sheet with a reinforcing ‘scrim’ sandwiched in the middle with reinforcing strips and pre-punched eyelets through which a tie is attached that secures the sheeting to the scaffolding.

Shrink wrapping is a more specialised trade. To apply this type of product, the shrink wrap is attached to the scaffolding by wrapping around a tube and heat welding back on to itself.

The entire sheet is then heat shrunk ‘drum tight’ using a shrink wrapping gun.

Lets compare a traditional scaffold sheeting such as Monarflex Super T FireSmart with a shrink wrap product such as Rhino Verisafe® 300.

We have chosen Monarflex because they are probably the best recognised brand and their name is often used to refer to any type of scaffold sheeting by any company.

Monarflex produce a range of scaffold sheeting products, but for this comparison we have chosen the highest performing product – Monarflex Super T Plus FireSmart Scaffold Sheet.

According to the Monarflex website (www.monarflex.co.uk) Super T Plus is “The UK’s market leading high performance flame retardant scaffold sheeting, with exceptional strength and wind resistance…”

Ease of Fitting – Monarflex ‘v’ Shrink Wrap

Monarflex scaffold sheeting is an easy product to fit. Rolls of Monarflex are typically supplied as a 2 metre wide x 45 metre long roll which for a ‘mid range’ grade such as Monarflex Stripe weights around 21Kg (equivalent to 232 grams / square metre).

All scaffolders know how to install it and no specialist knowledge or extra equipment is involved.

The sheeting is applied horizontally (although Monarflex say it can also be installed vertically) around the scaffolding on a lift by lift basis.

Where Monarflex is required to create weather protection for a construction project then the Monarflex website recommends overlapping the lower sheet internally so that rain runs down the outside of the sheeting and if for containment, Monarflex recommend overlapping the lower sheet internally to give the best chance of containing debris from demolition etc.

The Monarflex sheeting is attached to the scaffolding using ties, commonly referred to as ‘bungees’. The positioning of the ties is actually set out by the British standard code of practice which states that a minimum of one tie should be used per metre, in each direction.

Monarflex recommend the Flexi Tie

Shrink wrap scaffold sheeting (such as Rhino Verisafe® 300) requires some training and practice in advice.

Rolls of shrink wrap sheeting are typically supplied in a 7 metre wide format on a roll length of 15 metres. At 300 microns, the roll weight is around 32 Kg (equivalent to 304 grams / square metre).

Unless wind speeds are high, it should be possible to fit Monarflex in most weather conditions.

Shrink wrap sheeting does require reasonable weather conditions to get the most out of the product.

Where sheets of shrink wrap are to be joined and sealed, the join cannot be made if the sheeting is wet. Furthermore, it can be difficult to heat shrink the scaffold shrink wrap ‘drum tight’ when conditions are breezy.

Resistance to High Winds – Shrink Wrap or Conventional Cladding?

The resistance of scaffold sheeting to wind can be a contentious and complex issue.

However, in the environments where we at Rhino most typically work – power stations, airports, bridges, alongside railways and roads – the detachment of sheeting is not a desirable characteristic and scaffolds are designed to withstand wind loads.

Many scaffolders tell us that Monarflex is ‘designed’ to detach from the scaffolding at certain wind speeds.

It seems that there is a certain amount of confusion.

What do Monarflex say?

If a scaffold is to be sheeted, the scaffolding has to be designed to withstand the wind loading it may be exposed to

According to the Monarflex website, the highest performing scaffold sheeting product is their Super T Plus range.

Monarflex recommend that Super T scaffold sheeting is applied using an ‘Anchor & Strap’ (link to: http://www.monarflex.co.uk/products/fixing-accessories/anchor-strap.aspx) fixings. The Anchor & Strap system is a EPDM rubber strap with a patented fixing that is designed to lock two sheets of scaffold sheeting tightly together preventing rain from getting in between the sheets or dust escaping through gaps in the sheeting.

According to the Monarflex website, when the Super T Plus scaffold sheeting fixed with ‘Anchor & Strap’ was tested in a wind tunnel it was able to resistant Hurricane Force winds up to 77 mph (123 kph) before the eyelets and / or fixings gave way.

So what about shrink wrap?

Scaffold shrink wrap manufacturers have traditionally been quite vague about the wind resistance of their scaffold encapsulation products.

Part of the problem is that whilst traditional scaffold sheeting products are installed in a very consistent way, (lift by lift around the scaffolding), shrink wrap can be installed in a variety of configurations which makes a consistent test difficult.

However, shrink wrap sheeting has been tested in some of the harshest projects worldwide. To find out more why traditional sheeting may flap and detach, click here.

Advantages of Traditional Scaffold Sheeting

Very easy to fit, no specialist knowledge or equipment involved.
Lightweight rolls
Can easily be printed / branded
Economical (although there seems to be a reluctance among suppliers to put their pricing information up front.)

Advantages of Rhino 300 micron Shrink Wrap Encapsulation Sheeting

Very versatile – can be used to cover the roof and or sides on ‘awkwardly shaped’ scaffolds.
Containment – Where a scaffolding must be fully encapsulated to provide the containment of dust and other environmental contaminants shrink wrap can be an ideal choice.

In summary, both Monarflex and Rhino Shrink Wrap offer great solutions, depending on what is required for them.

Clearly, for many jobs, Monarflex Scaffband and Stripe product ranges are a sensible choice. However, according to the Monarflex website these products are recommended for ‘normal weather conditions’ in ‘low rise’ urban areas and are suitable for short term projects (up to 6 months duration) that will not be exposed to a high wind risk.

No matter what type of scaffold sheeting is used, the scaffolding structure must be designed and build to all the standards and codes of practice applicable to that country.

Summary

In summary, both Monarflex and Rhino Shrink Wrap offer great solutions, depending on what is required for them.

Clearly, for many jobs, Monarflex Scaffband and Stripe product ranges are a sensible choice. However, for projects which may be exposed to a high wind risk or which require sheeting for longer periods of time (greater than six months) then it is worth considering the benefits that shrink wrap brings.