Commercial scaffolding in Broxbourne, East Herts and Enfield

What counts as commercial scaffolding?

It covers any scaffold on a building that is not someone's home. Shop fronts, offices, warehouses, factory units, schools, care homes, pubs, blocks of flats and the common parts of managed property all fall within it. The jobs range from re-cladding a unit's walls to repairing a shop's parapet, maintaining a roof, or putting up access for a refit.

The scaffold is similar to a domestic one in principle, but the setting brings extra questions about who is on site, who is passing by and what the building is used for. A scaffold on a busy trading estate is a very different thing from one on a quiet cul-de-sac.

Who is the client for a scaffolding job?

Usually the building owner, the tenant who is arranging the work, or the main contractor on the project. Say which you are when you enquire. If you are a tenant, check what your lease says about alterations and who must give consent. If you are a managing agent, say which property you manage.

What should a commercial client think about first?

• **Access.** Staff, deliveries, customers and fire exits must still work. A scaffold must not block an escape route or hide a fire door.
• **Pedestrians.** If the scaffold overhangs a public footpath, walkways, fans or covered routes may be needed.
• **Trading.** A shopfront scaffold can hide signs and windows, so ask whether a banner or signage can go on it.
• **Security.** Scaffolds can be climbed. Out-of-hours access may need to be limited.
• **Services.** Overhead cables, vents, air conditioning units and gutters should be pointed out before the design is fixed.

Does a commercial scaffold need a highway licence?

Whenever it stands on a pavement or road. Town-centre shops and offices usually front a public pavement, so a licence from the highway authority is common. In Hoddesdon, Broxbourne, Cheshunt and Waltham Cross that is Broxbourne Borough Council. Elsewhere in Hertfordshire it is Hertfordshire County Council, and in Enfield the London Borough of Enfield, or Transport for London on a red route. The scaffolder normally applies, and conditions can include lighting, protecting pedestrians and keeping a clear width. Allow time for it, because it can take a while to be granted.

Units on private estates and industrial parks are often on private land, but the estate manager may have rules of its own.

Is the design more complicated than for a house?

Often. Taller buildings, long frontages, unusual roofs, loads such as plant or cladding panels, and temporary roofs or loading bays can mean a scaffold that is designed individually rather than built to a standard layout. The scaffolder is responsible for the design, and may need drawings or information about the building from you, such as the construction of the walls and any structural limits.

What duties apply to the client and the contractor?

Under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, commercial clients have duties to make suitable arrangements for managing a project, including health and safety, and the rules depend on how many contractors are involved. For the scaffold itself, the scaffolder has the duty to see that it is safe. The Work at Height Regulations 2005 require inspection before first use, at least every seven days, and after events that could affect stability. Ask to see the inspection record on a long job. If you are unsure of your own duties, HSE's guidance for commercial clients is a good place to start, or take advice.

What about insurance and paperwork?

Many commercial clients and main contractors ask scaffolders for insurance details and risk documents before a job. Ask what the scaffolder can provide, and check what your own insurer expects.

How long might it stay up?

That depends on the work. A short repair may need a scaffold for days, while a refurbishment of a unit can run for months. Agree the expected period with the scaffolder at the start and ask how an extension would be handled, because shops and offices often cannot easily change plans once they are trading.

What affects the cost?

Commercial jobs are priced individually. The size and height of the building, whether a calculated design is needed, and how long the scaffold stays up are the main factors. Pedestrian walkways, fans, loading bays, security measures, out-of-hours working and any highway licence can add to it, so mention them early.

What should I include in my enquiry?

• the postcode and type of building, for example a retail unit, school or office block
• the height and length of the elevations needing cover
• what the scaffold is for, and who is doing the work
• whether it would stand on a pavement, a road, a car park or private land
• any access, fire, security or opening-hours constraints
• your role: owner, tenant, managing agent or contractor