What are the disadvantages of steel scaffolding?

[Sumit Civil]

What are the disadvantages of steel scaffolding?

 

[Dnyan Deshmukh]

Steel scaffolding is better in comparison with conventional scaffolding material which is bamboo because you know the actual load carrying capacity of each section and there is uniformity in properties.

Only draw back i see is we do not know about the life of steel part by seeing from outside of it.
If the steel scaffold parts got rusted and sections are got reduce from inside of it and contractor bring such material by painting from top.

If not inspected well at the time of receiving, may lead to failures in scaffold.

Steel Scaffolding is heavy due to steel density, so will require more efforts in erection.

Other disadvantage is, you can not install it where there is space constraint as the scaffold requires minimum width space for erection.

 

[amd007]

1. It's very costly as compared to other cheaper options like bamboo, at current market rates cost of steel scaffolding is 5 times that of bamboo scaffolding.
2. It's very heavy as compared to bamboo and hence erection takes double the time required for bamboo and hence the labor cost also increases.
3. The strength of steel scaffold is more than bamboo, however, failure can be seen in bamboo and hidden in case of steel scaffolding as rusting of steel continues reducing the thickness and in turn the strength, however, this is visible in case of bamboo and we can address it before any accident occurs.
4. Steel scaffolding consumes a lot of space for storage when not in use as compared to bamboo.
5. Once deformation occurs in the section of couplers or cup locks etc then replacement leads to cost as compared to bamboo it's costly.
6. Transportation cost increases as less amount of scaffolding is delivered per truckload as against bamboo scaffolding.
7. Carbon footprint is more in steel scaffolding as compared to bamboo, hence not environment-friendly at the manufacturing stage.A lot of energy consumed at the manufacturing stage.
8. The maintenance cost is very high as compared to bamboo. Steel structures are susceptible to corrosion when exposed to air & water and humidity. They must be painted periodically
9. The base ( foundation step )preparation cost for steel scaffold is higher as compared to the bamboo scaffold.