Why Aluminium Scaffolding Is a Popular Choice for Scaffold Users
The use of scaffolding equipment is quite prevalent in the industrial sector. Like other aerial work platforms, scaffolds provide a safe and efficient means for people to work at heights. What's more, they're available as mobile structures that can be easily moved around the job site. This allows the flexibility to use the equipment on multiple jobs within the same site without having to assemble and dismantle it after each job.
That said, not all scaffolds are created equal. Scaffolds come in many shapes and forms to meet the varying needs of users.
Aluminium is one of the two main scaffolding material options used in the industrial world today: the other option is steel. Aluminium's popularity has increased in recent years as more and more scaffold users begin to see the benefits it can bring to their projects.
If you need to use scaffolding equipment for your project, here's why you should go with aluminium.
Aluminium scaffolding is lightweight
One of the biggest advantages of aluminium over steel is its relatively lightweight design. Aluminium can equal the strength of steel without weighing as much weight. This makes it easier to transport, assemble, dismantle and manoeuvre around the job site. This can result in significant savings on time, labour and money.
Aluminium scaffolding resists corrosion damage
While steel's greatest advantage is its high strength, its high susceptibility to rust and corrosion remains its biggest drawback. As a result of this, structural steel fabricators are forced to invest in advanced coating technologies to protect their products from corrosion damage.
Unlike steel, aluminium does not contain iron. This eliminates the risk of rusting, which is a form of corrosion that specifically affects metal alloys that contain iron. Plus, aluminium forms an oxide layer on its surface when it comes in contact with the atmosphere. This surface coating helps prevent further oxidation of the underlying metal, which eventually causes corrosion damage.
Aluminium scaffolding is durable and requires less care
Due to its corrosion resistance, aluminium requires less upkeep than steel. It can also outlast steel when used in humid areas and other corrosive environments. These qualities help keep the life-cycle costs of aluminium scaffolding as low as possible.
Although steel remains the best choice of material for scaffolding applications that require high strength, aluminium has a decent reliability-strength ratio compared to other non-steel metals. As a result, it works well for light- to moderate-strength jobs. Contact a scaffolding supplier near you to learn more about your scaffolding options.
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