Joints are required in standards of scaffolds where the length of a single tube needs to be extended where a single tube’s length is not long enough to form the required lift heights.
Joints in standards within TG20 compliant scaffolds should be made using sleeve or tube lock connections. Expanding joint pins are not recommended for use in TG20 compliant scaffolding and should not be used in a position where tension could occur unless spliced with a short length of scaffold tube fixed either side with swivel couplers (A scaffold designer may be consulted for advice).
Joints in standards should be staggered so adjacent standards are not joined within the same lift level. This is often achieved by using an alternating pattern when setting out standards to avoid joints in standards occurring in the same lift level adjacent to each other. Any pair of inner or outer standards should also be staggered so not to fall in the same lift level.
If it is not possible to stagger joints in the standards and all four standards which make up a bay have joints which all fall in the same lift then at least one of the joints must be spliced with a short length of tube fixed either side of the joint using swivel couplers.
Where scaffolding is erected which may project above the height of a building joints should be avoided in the projecting scaffold to avoid it “lifting off” (uplift). In such cases and in where any free-standing scaffolds are erected then the standards should be fixed together to avoid this from occurring. (E.g., splicing). This may typically occur to birdcages, towers and may be required as part of a design for example a temporary roof structure.
