Why choose an aluminium scaffold tower for working at height

In this blog we look at why aluminium scaffold towers are the best option for working at height, from their strength-to-weight ratio to unparalleled safety features.

Benefits over ladders

Scaffold towers whether they are, mobile with castor wheels or static with baseplates, have a foldable or non-foldable base, narrow or wide, and made from aluminium or steel, provide a stable work platform from a freestanding structure. Regardless of type, they all have a large standing platform to work from with guardrails fitted above every platform level to protect you from falling off the platform if you slip, trip or stumble whilst working, making them less tiring and inherently safer than working from a ladder.

Scaffold towers go higher than a standard ladder also, with most extension ladders having a maximum extended length of under 10m, and towers, by UK regulations, have a maximum working/reach height of 10.2m outdoors and 14.2m indoors. A typical extension ladder with a maximum extended height of near 10m has a (muscle wrenchingly!) weight of 30-40kg which, given the length also, makes them unwieldy for even the strongest person. In comparison, the heaviest component on our industrial towers is a manageable 18kg, and that’s even if you were considering the longest length in our industrial tower range as there is a shorter length, and towers, available.

All scaffold towers over a certain height, as they are freestanding structures, are supplied with outriggers/stabilisers to further enlarge the footprint of the tower and maintain stability. Most towers have the option of height adjustment to finely level the tower on uneven ground also which, for the most part, ladders do not. Both of these mean that a tower can be set up almost anywhere without the need for a solid structure to lean up against which avoids damage to, and, potentially setting a ladder up against, an unsafe structure.

Towers have a maximum safe working load of 275kg per platform level and 950kg per tower (less the tower self-weight), which is considerably more than the maximum working load of 150kg for ladders.

As towers are constructed from multiple components to form one complete structure, you have the versatility to construct multiple different tower heights from a single unit so it can be used for multiple jobs, for example indoors, and/or where there are height restrictions. Similar to an extension ladder but not limited to the closed length of the ladder. Makes storage and transportation easier also, a key factor for most access equipment purchases.

And don’t just take our word for it, some genuine reviews from a handful of our customers as below:

“Assembly is a breeze with this product—no tools required! Made from lightweight yet strong aluminium, it’s much safer than working from a ladder.”

“Great bit of kit. Made me feel a lot comfier than up the ladder”

“I am absolutely delighted with this scaffold tower. So much safer than a ladder. It is lightweight enough to move around effortlessly, folds away to take up less space when not in use, and feels strong and stable for those ‘out-of-reach’ jobs.”

“Easy to put together with clear instructions. I’m not that great on ladders so this scaffold really helped when using power tool to prepare the wall for painting.”

“I am not the most confident with ladders and heights but this equipment is far superior to a ladder and gives greater accessibility. Easily stored and compact.”

“Extraordinarily light for something that appears so big and feels very stable – far better than being up a ladder.”

Efficiency

Aluminium scaffold towers have many advantages over other types of access equipment that makes them much more efficient to work with. Their relatively high strength-to-weight ratio makes them the preferred choice for use on construction sites and residential properties alike. They are lightweight and modular so can easily be assembled by one person, two people recommended for taller height towers, as opposed to a whole team or contractors for other types of scaffolding.

Their features, such as quick locking braces, interlocking frames etc. means that components go together, safely, in seconds not hours! And, to boot, almost anyone can assemble them with the appropriate training. Their modular construction using lightweight components makes them very quick to assemble, part dismantle for use in other areas/for other jobs which saves getting another piece of access equipment out, and, at the end of the day, easily dismantled and loaded onto a vehicle or stored. Aluminium scaffold towers can even be left outside, assembled, for days, if required, as the frames and braces and all made from aluminium which does not rust, and the platforms are made from marine grade plywood, so, barring extreme adverse weather conditions and site safety permitting, if a job does run over it will be ready to go first thing the following day. They are also manoeuvrable, thanks to the wheels, so can quickly be relocated to another area to start work on another task, all of which saves time, money and increases productivity.

Flexibility

The modular nature of aluminium scaffold towers makes them extremely flexible; you can construct multiple tower heights from a single unit so there is no need to store, transport or purchase multiple pieces of access equipment. The platform can be placed on any of the lower ladder rungs on the frames also for comfortable working/easy access over a variety of heights. The components are interchangeable within the same product range also, so, possibly with the purchase of some additional components, you can combine two towers to make one larger tower or even split a larger tower into two for use on different sites. And, if you have quite a large selection of components, only send to site the components that are actually needed thus saving space on the vehicle.

Safety features

Mobile scaffold towers have a raft of safety features including, but not limited to, non-slip ladder rungs, same as a ladder, for safer climbing and unlike ladders, large non-slip platforms for comfortable working with guardrails fitted above every platform level for user safety, as well as positively locking braces.

There are rigorous safety requirements for mobile scaffold towers, EN 1004-1:2020 Standard, which covers the materials, dimensions, design loads, safety and performance requirements, with testing, inspections and certification by independent approval bodies such and BSI and TUV, so you know that they are up to the task!

All of our mobile access towers comply with the 3T (Through The Trapdoor) method of assembly, which ensures that collective fall prevention measures are in place before the user stands on the platform, which is why they are the preferred choice for employers and end user safety. Manufacturers are required to provide step-by-step assembly instructions, and we do for all of our towers, whether it be for the certified Trade and Industrial Towers, the instructions for these have to be certified to their own standard also, or our Domestic Towers, which are easy to follow and include all of the relevant health and safety information.

To top it off, there are training courses available for all types of scaffold towers e.g. Towers for Users, Towers for Managers, across the UK for anyone who wishes to attend/is required to by health and safety, whereas there is no specific training available for galvanised steel scaffolding, short of being employed by a scaffolding firm, or ladders.

Cost saving

Whilst aluminium scaffold towers are inherently more expensive than steel alternatives, as aluminium is a rarer resource, the fact that they will not rust means they will last for decades whereas steel will eventually rust. They also hold their value better due to the higher initial cost so if you did decide to sell it on you will get more return from your investment. After all, who wants to buy a rusty, potentially unsafe, steel tower!

And, with the time efficiency savings on site with quicker assembly, easier movement and less likelihood of workers having time off from injuries sustained by heavy lifting, combined with little to no maintenance required and multiple uses from one tower, you’ll save the extra initial investment cost in no time! Also, individual components can be easily replaced so you do not have to purchase a completely new piece of access equipment every time it gets accidentally damaged which, with the best will in the world, it probably will!

So, unless you are planning to scrap the tower soon after purchasing it (in which case aluminium is worth more than steel anyway!), an aluminium tower is a more cost effective option.

Sustainability

Nearly 75% of all aluminium ever produced is still in use today. Steel, on the other hand, can only be recycled a limited number of times before it begins to degrade. Additionally, the production of aluminium requires less energy and emits fewer greenhouse gases than the production of steel. So, aluminium scaffold towers are more eco-friendly as they are made from sustainable materials and better for the environment as they require less energy/fewer emissions to produce.

This coupled with their durability, longevity and flexibility makes them the preferred choice for environmentally conscious individuals and businesses alike.