Scaffolding: What do the regulations say?

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Scaffolding allows for temporary work at height. However, using such equipment requires adherence to numerous rules to ensure the health and safety of workers. Tennaxia breaks down the applicable regulations in this article!

What is scaffolding?

Scaffolding is work equipment for performing tasks at height. This equipment typically consists of uprights, platforms, ladders, and guardrails, which form secure elevated workstations (Article 1, Decree of December 21, 2004). Scaffolding is temporary equipment and must be assembled and then dismantled after use.

Scaffolding is collective protective equipment (CPE) and meets the requirement of the Labor Code, which mandates the use of CPE to secure elevated workstations (Article R4323-62 of the Labor Code).

📃 Documentation : 👉 For more details on working at height regulations, feel free to consult our article dedicated to preventing the risk of falls from height.

What are the different types of scaffolding?

There are many types of scaffolding depending on the work to be done, the duration of the project, the load to be supported, the frequency of use, the size, and environmental or material constraints.

🔎 Focus : Using scaffolding that complies with the NF 096 standard - Construction site equipment ensures regulatory compliance.

Fixed Scaffolding

Fixed scaffolding, also known as supported scaffolding, is the most common type. It is divided into two main categories:

• frame scaffolding for facade work;
• modular scaffolding for the industrial sector.

This type of scaffolding is suitable for large, long-term projects. It requires prior assembly and must strictly comply with standards for strength, stability, safety, and materials : NF EN 12810-1, NF EN 12810-2, NF EN 12811-1, NF EN 12811-2, NF EN 12811-3.

📃 Documentation : Feel free to consult recommendation R 408 from the CNAM regarding the assembly, use, and dismantling of facade scaffolding.

Mobile Scaffolding

Mobile scaffolding is generally prefabricated and better suited for short-term projects. It must also comply with standards for strength, stability, safety, and materials : NF EN 1004-1 and NF EN 1004-2 or standard NF P93-520.

📃 Documentation : Feel free to consult Recommendation R 457 for the assembly, disassembly, and use of mobile scaffolding.

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What are the regulatory requirements for using scaffolding?

To ensure worker health and safety, scaffolding must strictly comply with occupational health and safety regulations.

Materials

The materials and components used in the scaffolding must have sufficient strength and durability for the work to be performed (Article R4323-72 of the French Labour Code). They must also be compatible with one another and suitable for the conditions of use for which they were designed and tested.

⚠️ Warning : The permissible load of the scaffolding must be clearly indicated on each of its platforms (Article R4323-76 of the French Labour Code).

Stability

Scaffolding stability must be ensured and all scaffolding components must be installed to prevent their movement relative to the overall structure (Article R4323-73 of the French Labour Code).

For a fixed scaffold, its stability must be able to withstand the loads and forces it is subjected to during work and resist atmospheric conditions, particularly wind.

This stability is achieved by checking the base levels and anchoring it every 4 or 8 meters, depending on the scaffolding size, the work, etc. (Article R4323-74 of the French Labour Code).

⚠️ Warning : If it is impossible to anchor the scaffolding, it must be protected against the risk of slipping and tipping by another means of equivalent effectiveness.

Furthermore, the supporting surface against which the scaffolding is anchored must be strong enough to prevent any subsidence of the support.

In the case of mobile scaffolding, its stability must be ensured so that no unexpected movement or tipping occurs during assembly, disassembly, and use (Article R4323-75 of the French Labour Code).

To ensure this stability, make sure to lock the wheel brakes, deploy the metal outriggers at each corner, and check the levels at the base of the scaffolding.

⚠️ Warning : No worker may remain on mobile scaffolding while it is being moved.

Collective protective equipment

To ensure the protection of workers against falls from heights, scaffolding must be equipped with guardrails, or equivalent protection, on its outer sides (Article R4323-77 of the French Labour Code.).

🔎 Focus : Guardrails must mandatorily (Article R4323-59 of the French Labour Code.) :

●     be securely fixed, rigid, of appropriate strength, and between 1 m and 1.10 m in height ;

●     have a toe board 10 to 15 cm high ;

●     have a handrail ;

●     have an intermediate guardrail at mid-height.

Platforms and access points

The materials, dimensions, layout, and shape of scaffolding platforms must allow workers to move around safely and must support the loads to which they are subjected (Article R4323-78 C.Trav.).

⚠️ Warning : No gap greater than 20 centimeters may exist between the edge of the platforms and the structure, facade, or equipment against which the scaffolding is erected. When it is impossible to avoid such a gap, safety nets, collective protective equipment (CPE), or personal protective equipment (PPE) must be used (Articles R4323-58 to R4323-61 of the French Labor Code.). These provisions also apply when the structure (the facade) or the guardrail does not extend above one of the floors to a height of between 1 m and 1.10 m.

Furthermore, access between the various levels of the scaffolding must be safe and sufficient in number (Article R4323-79 of the French Labor Code.). These are generally fixed ladders equipped with a hatch.

How should scaffolding be assembled, modified, and dismantled?

Scaffolding installation requires multiple workers and poses risks to them.

Therefore, to prevent the risk of falls from heights, strict rules apply to any scaffolding assembly, dismantling, or modification operation.

First, scaffolding installation must be supervised by a competent person, and the personnel assigned to this task must have received specific training for these operations (Article R4323-69 of the French Labor Code.). Workers must, at a minimum, have been trained on:

• understanding the scaffolding assembly, dismantling, or modification plan ;
• safety rules to be followed during these operations;
• measures to prevent the risk of falls of persons or objects;
• safety measures and evacuation in the event of adverse weather conditions;
• conditions regarding permissible structural loads ;
• other risks that these operations may entail.

This training must be renewed as often as necessary to account for changes in scaffolding (Article R. 4323-3 C.Trav.).

📃 Documentation : the R 408 recommendation defines in detail the competency framework for the assembly, use, and operation of facade scaffolding.

Secondly, the person in charge, as well as the scaffolding assembly team, must have the manufacturer's manual with its instructions or the assembly and dismantling plan at their disposal. The scaffolding must be installed in accordance with the calculation note provided in the instructions (Article R4323-70 of the French Labour Code).

Ideally, the assembly team consists of two erectors and two handlers. The base levels must be checked and adjusted, and the gap (distance between the scaffolding and the structure or facade) must be 20 cm or less.

If the planned scaffolding installation does not comply with the instructions in the user manual, a scaffolding assembly, use, and dismantling plan must be drawn up by a competent person.

Similarly, when the calculation notes in the manual are unavailable or cannot be applied due to the planned configuration for the scaffolding installation, a resistance and stability calculation must be performed by a competent person.

ℹ Note : The manual, or failing that, the assembly and dismantling plan, as well as the calculation notes, must be kept on-site.

Thirdly, workers on the scaffolding assembly team must be equipped with appropriate fall protection during all assembly, dismantling, or modification operations (Article R4323-71 of the French Labour Code).

To meet this protection requirement, workers involved in scaffolding assembly, dismantling, and modification operations must be equipped with:

• a harness ;
• lanyards connected to the scaffolding by two attachment points;
• gloves;
• safety shoes ;
• a chin-strap helmet ;
• protective eyewear if needed.

Furthermore, access to areas of the scaffolding under installation must be strictly restricted to authorized workers. These areas must be equipped with devices preventing unauthorized persons from entering them (Article R4323-80 C.Trav.).

ℹ Please note : Workers exposed to the risk of falling from a height during scaffolding assembly and disassembly operations receive enhanced medical monitoring of their health (Article R4624-23 of the Labor Code). This medical follow-up specifically includes medical examinations every four years and intermediate check-ups every two years.

What are the different inspections required for scaffolding?

The use, as well as the assembly, disassembly, and modification of scaffolding, are subject to periodic inspections.

ℹ Please note : the labor inspectorate may request an approved body to carry out a scaffold inspection (Article 7, Decree of December 21, 2004).

To this end, the employer must provide workers with documents related to the use of the scaffolding (manual, plan, calculation notes, etc.), as well as information on the work to be performed (operations, tasks, loads to be supported) and environmental conditions (ground, anchorage, structure, facade, etc.) (Article 2, Decree of December 21, 2004).

Therefore, scaffold inspections must be carried out:

• daily to verify the state of preservation, signs of wear, and preventive measures (equipment, deformation, anchorage, fastening, etc.) (Article 5, Order of 21 December 2004) ;
• before commissioning or recommissioning (suitability assessment for the work and conformity assessment of assembly and installation) (Article 4, Order of 21 December 2004) ;
• quarterly to check the condition (Article 6, Order of 21 December 2004).

🔎 Focus : you will find the detailed list of inspection operations in Article 3, Order of 21 December 2004.

Key takeaway:

❖  Scaffolding consists of temporary equipment for work at height;

❖  The stability, materials, equipment used, platforms, and access methods of scaffolding must comply with regulatory standards;

❖  The erection, dismantling, and modification of scaffolding must be carried out by trained, competent, and properly equipped workers;

❖ Scaffolding is subject to periodic inspections.‍