INTRODUCTION

Scaffold sheeting provides an improved working environment and significant environmental and safety benefits.

This technical briefing is designed to increase the awareness of the relevant standards and guidelines applicable to scaffold sheeting. Many construction sites continue to use non-compliant materials that increase risk and compromise safety.

Powerclad® Scaffold Sheeting is produced by Industrial Textiles & Plastics (ITP), which has more than 30 years’ experience in developing and manufacturing specialist protective materials for the construction industry, with particular expertise in fire retardant technology.

APPLICATION

Scaffold sheeting provides a temporary containment and weather protection enclosure system. Its usage minimises weather-induced delays to a project, enhances site safety by preventing debris and small objects from falling, and reduces the risk of people falling from scaffold platforms.

Scaffold sheeting improves the working area by reducing wind-chill factor, aiding heat retention and containing dust and pollutants. Environmental impact is thus minimised. Acoustic sheeting reduces noise pollution, while insulated sheeting provides superior temperature control.

Containment nets and sheets on construction works. Specification for performance and test methods

This is the principal British standard for scaffold sheeting. “BS 7955” must be printed on the sheeting’s packaging to confirm compliancy. Note: some products are offered as “compliant to BS 8410”; this is misleading as BS 8410 refers to a method of installation rather than a measure of performance

BRE Global/Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB)

works with industry and government to set the standards needed to ensure that fire and security products perform effectively.

LPCB offers third party approval confirming that products and services have met and will continue to meet these standards. Loss Prevention Standards (LPS) and details of LPCB approved products and services are listed online at RedBookLive.com.

Warrington Certification

provides internationally recognised certification in support of fire safety and security. Certifire for manufacturers and suppliers is a scheme that assures performance, quality reliability and traceability of fire protection products and systems. The Certifire brand is recognised by many regulatory authorities worldwide as an international mark of fire safety. Certifire approved products are listed online at WarringtonCertification.com.
Note: Materials that have third party approval must display the appropriate logo (LPCB or Certifire), certificate number and compliance to BS7955 printed on the sheeting at regular intervals. If this does not appear on the sheeting, it does not have accredited third party approval, regardless of what is claimed by the manufacturer.

The Joint Code of Practice, 9th edition, published October 2015 by the Construction Confederation and The Fire Protection Association, with the support of The Association of British Insurers, The Chief Fire Officers Association and the London Fire Brigade.

The scope of this Code applies to project with an original contract value of
£2.5million or above, and applies equally to smaller value contracts where these are part of a large project. A large project is one with a value of £20million and above. There may be exceptional circumstances, such as in the case of high fire risk sites, where these thresholds are reduced. In cases where the construction contract or the insurance contract does not require this Code to apply, this Code shall serve as ‘best practice’’. All parties must always check with their insurance providers on each project.

BEST PRACTICE

• Sheeting and debris netting should be installed strictly to the manufacturer’s installation instructions.
• For safety considerations, sheeting and netting should never be installed during windy conditions and whenever elastic fastening ties are used, appropriate eye protection should be worn when installing ties.
• It should be noted that where scaffold sheeting is installed on the inside of scaffolds, it is unable to detach whenever suction forces are experienced. This may put excessive forces on the scaffold structure leading to its collapse.
• In windy conditions, an inadequate number of fastening ties will inevitably result in the sheeting detaching prematurely and too many ties may put excessive forces on the scaffold structure leading to its collapse.
• In high winds, the sheeting should be regarded as sacrificial in order to maintain the integrity of the scaffold structure.
  Sheeting and netting should be inspected at regular intervals (or immediately after windy conditions) to ensure that it is securely tied. Any broken ties or torn sheeting should be replaced as further damage and tearing will inevitably result if it is allowed to flap unnecessarily.