CONSTRUCTION OF AN INDEPENDENT SCAFFOLD FOR A STOREY BUILDING

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1          BACKGROUND OF STUDY

A scaffold is a temporary frame structures that aids building works or workers to carry out construction work at a height that their hands may not reach when standing on the ground. It may also be defined as a temporary frame structure from which persons can gain access to place of work in order to carry out building operations (Chudley & Greeno, 1999). Scaffolds consist mainly of working platforms, ladder, guard rails and standards. A scaffold can be made up of tabular steel, tabular aluminum or wood. Scaffold provides support to the workers and permanent structures during its erection and until it become self supporting (Osman et al, 1998; Elkink, 2005).

There are basically two forms of scaffolding, namely putlog (dependent) and independent scaffolds.

Putlog scaffold consist of single row of standards or uprights set away from the wall at a distances which will accommodate the required width of the working platform.  The standards are joined together with the ledgers and are tied to the building with putlogs.

Independent scaffolds have two rows of standards which are tied by cross member called transoms.  The scaffold does not rely upon the building for support.  In this work, the independent scaffold will not be fabricated for a three (3) storey.  Tabular steel members will be used for the fabrication.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Working at a height above 1.5 meters is a major problem in the construction industry.  The quest to solve this problem has led to the need for a solution to the problem is the use of scaffold. Also, the construction and understanding of the working principles of a scaffold is an important aspect of Civil Engineering practice.  It is therefore important that scaffold be fabricated and use to teach the students on the construction techniques, Working principles and parts (components) of a scaffold and at the same scan use to provide training/entrepreneurial development studies for those carrying out vocational study in scaffold.

1.3 AIMS/OBJECTIVES OF STUDY

The main purpose of this fabrication is to construct a tabular steel independent scaffold for a three (3) storey building.  The specific objectives include:

1. Provision of scaffold for teaching in Civil, Mechanical, Electrical/Electronic Engineering Departments and other Entrepreneurship Development services.
2. Provide scaffold that can generate revenue for the institution.
3. Provide the required equipment as prescribed by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) for accreditation of Engineering programmers at both ND and HND levels.

1.4 SCOPE OF STUDY

The scope of study will include:

1. Selecting and purchasing of scaffold accessories and metal parts.
2. Construction of the independent scaffold.

iii.            Installation/Erection of the scaffold.

1. Drawing of the scaffold.

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The significance of the study are:

1. Provision of necessary skill and knowledge of scaffold fabrication.
2. Provision of practical tools/Equipment for scaffolding training and NBTE accreditation in the department.