Which Scaffold Cover Is Right For My Project?

There are a huge range of scaffold coverings on the market.

Although at Rhino Shrink Wrap we specialise in the supply of shrink wrap sheeting (and installation services) we don’t think that shrink wrap is necessarily the right choice for every company and every application. So, what things should you be considering when selecting a scaffold covering?

What Do I want The Scaffold Cover to do?

Which scaffold cover is right for you depends very much on what you want to achieve.

Are you looking for sheeting to create temporary weather protection around a construction site or is the sheeting for the containment of dust or other hazardous materials.

Sometimes the scaffold covering is simply to screen the construction works from the public and in this circumstance, the appearance of the sheeting may be critical.

The most basic level of protection used on scaffoldings is debris netting.

If you are looking simply to protect personnel below the scaffolding against falling debris, then netting can be purchased for as little as 20 pence per square metre.

At the other end of the scale, a system such as ‘Layher Protect’ is a solid aluminium cladding system that effectively creates a solid barrier around a construction site.

How Long Will The Sheeting Be Required?

A small domestic scaffolding, may only be required for a week or two before it is dismantled.

If it is preferred to keep the site dry or keep dust within the scaffolding then standard scaffold sheeting is probably going to be the most sensible option.

This cladding can be installed quickly, without any specialised training, and it may even be possible to re-use the sheeting on another job.

Shrink wrap sheeting is better suited to longer term industrial projects

Shrink wrap sheeting is better suited to longer term industrial projects where the extra costs of labour to install the shrink wrap sheeting will be repaid in fewer return visits to repair weather damage and better containment of potentially hazardous dust and debris.

Where Is The Scaffolding Located?

Is the scaffolding situated in an exposed location where high winds are likely or it situated in a very public location where detached sheeting could be a hazard, then traditional sheeting products may not be the best choice.

Of course you should always ensure that the scaffolding structure is designed to handle the wind loadings.

Alkthough shrink wrap sheeting is designed to handle high wind loadings, on very exposed locations we advise reducing the typical 6m drop to a 4m drop or even in extreme circumstances a 2m drop.

What Is The Scaffolding Structure Like?

If you are not able to make the scaffolding structure flush, then it may be easier to use a conventional scaffold sheeting such as Monarflex.

As traditional sheeting is installed on a lift by lift basis and overlapped on the sheet below, any protruding poles will pass through the sheeting at this gap.

Because shrink wrap sheeting is generally supplied as a 7m wide roll, and covers up to 3 lifts per drop, protruding tubes can create a big problem.

Do You Want to Sub Contract the Installation of the Scaffold Sheeting or Do It Yourself?

Conventional scaffold sheeting is well known to most scaffolders and so an easy choice when it comes to covering a scaffold for temporary weather protection or containment.

If you want to benefit from the extra performance of shrink wrap sheeting then you will need to employ a specialist sub contractor or get your own in house team trained in the application process.

What Is Your Budget?

Shrink wrap costs around £1.50 per square metre for materials only or from around £6 per square metre fully installed.

If you would like to find out more about the cost of scaffold wrap and how it compares to the cost of conventional scaffold covers such as ‘Monarflex’ get in contact with us.

Is The Appearance Of The Scaffold Sheeting Important?

The issue with conventional scaffold covers is because they are attached with bungees to the scaffold tubes, over time these bungees are stretched by wind loading on the sheet and tend to quickly lose their elasticity. This allows the scaffold sheet to become loose and this can look unsightly.

Shrink wrap sheeting does not utilise bungees and is heat shrunk ‘drum tight’ which looks smart and professional.

Of course, the ultimate solution is to install a rigid cladding around the scaffolding such as Layher Protect System (link) or the new dBarrier system from sweden which Rhino Shrink Wrap have recently started working with in the UK.

No matter what sheeting you use, you need to ensure that the scaffold is designed to withstand the extra wind loads that will be imposed on it.

In addition, whether it be Monarflex or Rhino Shrink Wrap, use the best quality scaffold sheeting available and install according to the manufacturers recommendations.

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If you have any questions or require any assistance give our team a call at Rhino Shrink Wrap on +44 (0)1477 53222 or email info@rhinoshrinkwrap.com. We look forward to hearing from you.