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Occupational Safety & Health Administration |
Standard Interpretations
05/18/2006 - Whether plywood may be used as scaffold decking material over wood scaffold planks; 29 CFR 1926.450 and 1926.451. |
Standard Interpretations - Table of Contents |
Standard Number: | 1926.450; 1926.450(b); 1926.451(a); 1926.451(a)(1); 1926.451(a)(6); 1926.451(b)(1)(i); 1926.451(f)(1); 1926.451(f)(16) |
May 18, 2006 Mr. Carroll Buchanan ESI Group, Inc. 102 North 20th Street Tampa, FL 33605 Re: Whether plywood may be used as scaffold decking material over wood scaffold planks; 29 CFR 1926.450 and 1926.451 Dear Mr. Buchanan: This is in response to your fax submitted October 21, 2005, to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Your question relates to the use of plywood as platform decking over wood scaffold planks. We apologize for the delay in responding. We have paraphrased your question as follows: Question (1): Does the OSHA scaffold standard for construction (Part 1926 Subpart L) allow for the use of 5/8'' four-ply exterior grade plywood to be used as decking over wood support planks on a combination of tube and coupler, frame, and systems type scaffold? Answer: It is permissible, under certain conditions, to use plywood as platform decking material. OSHA's construction industry standards addressing scaffolds are in 29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart L. Title 29 CFR 1926.450(b) provides: (b) Definitions.Title 29 CFR 1926.451(a) provides: (a) Capacity. (1) . . . [E]ach scaffold and scaffold component shall be capable of supporting without failure, its own weight and at least 4 times the maximum intended load applied or transmitted to it. [Emphasis added.]Title 29 CFR 1926.451(b)(1)(i) provides: (b) Scaffold platform construction. (1) Each platform on all working levels of scaffolds shall be fully planked or decked between the uprights and the guardrail supports as follows:Title 29 CFR 1926.451(f)(1) and (f)(16) provide: (f) Use. (1) Scaffolds and scaffold components shall not be loaded in excess of their maximum intended loads or rated capacities, whichever is less.Employers must ensure that scaffolds are designed, erected, and maintained in accordance with the applicable provisions of Subpart L of Part 1926. The requirements for scaffold platforms are written to allow flexibility of design by a qualified person, so long as they meet all the applicable criteria. Subpart L does not mandate a particular material to be used for a scaffold deck. If the use of plywood over wood planks results in a scaffold (and each scaffold component) designed by a qualified person that meets the capacity requirements with a deflection of no more than 1/60 of the span when loaded, it would meet the performance requirements of Subpart L.1 Question (2): Is it permissible under Subpart L to use the "APA Engineered Wood Association Load Span Tables for APA Structural-Use Panels" as a basis for scaffold design? Answer: As discussed in our answer to Question (1) above, Subpart L specifies a result that the scaffold design must attain and that the design be done by a qualified person. The method for developing the design is not specified by the standard. As a practical matter, to achieve the results specified by the standard, the qualified person has to use data that is reliable in developing his or her design. Our understanding is that the Tables you refer to are used in the industry as a standard engineering reference tool. Consequently, we are unaware of any reason why a qualified person would be unable to rely on that data as a starting point in designing a scaffold platform. If you need additional information, please contact us by fax at: U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA, Directorate of Construction, Office of Construction Standards and Guidance, fax # 202-693-1689. You can also contact us by mail at the above office, Room N3468, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210, although there will be a delay in our receiving correspondence by mail. Sincerely, Russell B. Swanson, Director Directorate of Construction 1 We addressed a similar question on our June 21, 2004, letter to Mr. Randy Wheeler. This letter can be viewed on OSHA's website at: www.osha.gov. [ back to text ] |
Standard Interpretations - Table of Contents |
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