Standards Development

Scope

Part 1 Management procedures for the control of temporary works

This part of the British Standard gives recommendations and guidance on the procedural controls to be applied to all aspects of temporary works in the construction industry.

It gives recommendations in relation to training and education and for procedures to ensure that temporary works are conceived, designed, specified, constructed, used and dismantled all in a safe and controlled manner suitable for all construction projects. These procedures include clauses relating to all roles involved in temporary works: clients, permanent works designers, temporary works designers, contractors (including construction management organizations), suppliers and manufacturers.

Construction sites and methods adopted for controlling the temporary works vary. This British Standard recognizes that the extent of control measures required are greater on the larger or more complex projects, as can be encountered on major infrastructure projects, power stations, airports etc. Generally procedures are to be in accordance with this standard but additional client specific procedures might be required on major infrastructure projects.

Part 2 Code of practice for the design of falsework

This part of the British Standard includes guidance on design, specification, construction, use and dismantling of falsework. It gives guidance on permissible stress and limit state design of all falsework. The guidance also applies to the design of class A falsework defined in BS EN 12812, the design of which is specifically excluded from BS EN 12812.

It covers the design of temporary works and in particular the design of falsework and relevant formwork. In addition it covers: materials including material factors; loads and load factors; design of falsework, including both proprietary equipment and traditional scaffolding solutions; wind loading (reference to temporary and permanent stability) and reference to other British Standards for the design of structural steelwork, reinforced concrete and excavation support. Although originally it was written for permissible stress design, the design concepts and the service loads stated are applicable to limit state design which is now included. The loads, including wind loads, are the unfactored service loads and conform to both BS EN 1991-1-4 and BS EN 12812.

The structural design element in this British Standard is additional information necessary for the structural design of falsework. It can be used in conjunction with existing structural standards.

Purpose

When the revision of BS 5975:2008+A1 2011 sections 1 and 2, (published in May 2019 as BS 5975:2019) was first proposed, it was envisaged that this would be a protracted process and attempting to revise section 3 at the same time would cause unacceptable delays to the programme of work. For this reason it was proposed that section 3 would be revised after the publication of the document incorporating the revised sections 1 and 2.

It is now proposed to revise section 3 and take this opportunity to split BS 5975 into two parts, as follows:

Part 1 - incorporating the revised sections 1 and 2 on procedures, which will require minor editorial revisions to make it a stand-alone document. In particular the definitions, abbreviations and symbol need careful splitting between the two parts. A future revision of Part 1 would need to check that the references to design are in agreement with a revised Part 2. Technical changes to sections 1 and 2 are not in the scope of this revision.

Part 2 - which will be the full revision of section 3, which currently covers the design of falsework. (Note: Section 3 is required as BS EN 12812 does not provide guidance for the design of class A falsework nor detailed guidance on design considerations such as wind loading or analysis of structures.)

Part 2 will remain a code of practice on how to design falsework and give up-to-date guidance to users on design of falsework. It is proposed that Part 2 is divided into at least five sections:

• 2:1 General;

• 2:2 To cover loads (actions);

• 2:3 Analysis of falsework structures;

• 2:4 Limit state design with load factors; and

• 2:5 Permissible stress design of falsework.

(Note 2:4 is required not only for design of class A falsework, but to explain how EN 12812 can be safely applied in the UK.)

The temporary works industry remains heavily reliant on operatives and technicians understanding safe load concepts in their work, i.e. using permissible stress design. Hence 2:5 is considered to be an important subject for this business case. In 2013, a quasi-permissible stress design concept was adopted for design of UK scaffolds based on limit state design. The 2:5 could expand the existing section 3 permissible design section into a similar quasi-permissible stress design to suit.

Many of the existing references in the standard are to withdrawn standards and this must be addressed along with the option to prepare designs in accordance with a limit state approach.

It will be considered whether additional guidance to BS EN 12812 should be included in the new Part 2. The incorporation of relevant guidance currently contained in PAS 8812 will also be considered.