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How to Erect a Mobile Scaffold Tower?

This is our guide to safely erecting an aluminium scaffold tower.

Please note that this is an example guide for a 1450-span tower with an even height; however, always use the instruction manual that comes with your tower when installing.

Before starting assembly, make sure you have selected the correct mobile scaffold tower for the required platform height and working area. Our range of aluminium access towers includes mobile scaffolds with various platform lengths and working heights for construction, maintenance and DIY projects.

Inspection, care and maintenance

Handle tower components carefully to avoid damaging the equipment. Secure components firmly and support them correctly during transport to prevent damage. Long-term storage towers need to be protected from the weather. Before use, inspect all components for damage or defects. The tower should be deemed unfit if any components are damaged, defective or incorrect. Periodically lubricate castors and adjustable legs to ensure they run freely.

When erecting a scaffold tower, refer to the user manual and have a suitable risk assessment and method statement that adhere to Work at Height Regulations 2005 regulation 6(1).

Wind speed safety rules

Always check the wind conditions before erecting the tower against the table below. Be aware of hazards from wind conditions and the funnelling effect of open-ended, uncladded buildings and building corners while installing, dismantling, and moving the tower. Tie towers left unattended to a structure, especially when using them externally. As described below, the maximum wind conditions for moving a tower are the Beaufort scale of 0-4.

Scaffold tower wind speeds

Stabilisers

Set each stabiliser at approximately 45 degrees for access towers. Create the largest possible footprint and ensure the stabilisers are in firm contact with the ground. If the tower must be erected against a solid structure and you can’t set the stabilisers at 45 degrees, use the alternatives pictured below.

Scaffold tower ground stabilisers
Scaffold tower stabilisers

Assembly procedure for a double-width 1450mm tower

Assemble narrow-width towers using the same steps explained for span towers below, except that all platforms are trapdoor platforms.

The base

  1. Fit 4 legs to 4 castors and turn the height adjustment collar on each leg until it is around 100mm from the lower end.
  2. Turn each castor brake on by moving the brake lever fully down.
  3. Fit the leg assemblies to 2 of the 8-rung span frames, and insert each leg until the collar contacts the frame tubing.
Scaffold tower castors
Scaffold tower base leg

The base sections – even height towers

  1. Install a 1m frame to a 2m frame and ensure the frames are securely connected.
  2. Lift the combined frames from the ground, ensuring the castors are on, and attach the guard frame to the 2nd and 8th rungs of the lower frame of the tower.
  3. Attach the guard frame to the opposing tower frame and square the two frames to each other; then, using a spirit level, you should make any adjustments to level the tower by turning the adjustment collars.
  4. Add another guard frame to the centre of the tower at the 6th rung of the lower tower frame and the top rung of the upper tower frame at a suitable distance to allow for placing the trapdoor platform.
  5. Attach the guard frame to the outside edge at the same level as the previous guard frame.

Note: Add a trapdoor platform at a 2m level – 8 rungs from the ground.

Scaffold tower base sections
Scaffold tower intermediate sections

Stabilisers

Attach the stabilisers by fitting the upper screw clamp to the frame’s upright tubes, approximately 50mm above the 7th rung from the ground. Fit the lower screw clamp to the frame upright as low as possible. Always ensure the stabilisers make firm contact with the ground.

The base is now created for a tower with an even height.

scaffold tower completed base

Assembling the upper frames – intermediate sections

  1. Add 2x 8-rung frames on top of the base frame.
  2. Add a guard frame to the centre of the tower at the 2nd and 8th levels
  3. Add another guard frame to the outside edge at the 2nd and 8th
  4. Put the trapdoor platform at the appropriate height in between the guard frames.

Repeat these steps until you reach the required tower height.

Assembling upper frames – Top working platform sections.

  1. Attach 2x 8 rung frames on top of the frames.
  2. Add a guard frame on the outside edge between the tower frames at the 2nd and 8th rungs.
  3. Add another guard frame at the opposite outside edge between the tower frames at the 2nd and 8th rungs.

Place the fixed platform at platform level and slide it across to the opposite side of the tower. Then, install the trapdoor platform, making sure the trap is on the same side as the trap on the platform below. Check that the trapdoor hinge is on the outside edge.

Add all toeboards to all working platforms; they are designed to overhang the platform, and the end boards are retained by raised studs on the platform hooks.

The tower is now fully assembled.

Scaffold tower upper frames
Completed scaffold tower

Using the tower safely after assembly

Once the scaffold tower is fully assembled, check that it is level, stable, and fitted with the required guardrails, platforms, toeboards, and stabilisers before anyone starts work. Safe assembly is only the first step; anyone working from the tower should also understand how to use a scaffold tower safely, including precautions for accessing the working platform, using equipment at height, and moving the tower.

Dismantling

To dismantle the tower, reverse the steps you took to erect it.

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