Costs and time
Erection and dismantling labour time
- where
- erection time (gang-days)
- scaffold face area (m²)
- erection rate per gang (m²/day)
- dismantling time (gang-days)
- dismantling time as a share of erection (%)
- total person-hours
- gang size
- working hours per day
- labour cost (£)
- labour cost per person-hour (£)
Explain this equation
Estimates the gang time and labour cost to put up and take down a scaffold, for pricing.
Erection time is the area divided by what your gang puts up in a day. Dismantling is usually quicker, so it is taken as a percentage of the erection time. Total gang-days times the gang size and the hours per day gives person-hours, and times the hourly cost gives labour cost.
Time equals work divided by rate; cost equals hours times rate.
Sense check: 210 m² at 60 m² a day is 3.5 days to erect and 1.75 to strike; with a gang of three on 8-hour days that is 126 person-hours, £3,150 at £25 an hour.
Watch out: use your own output rates. Access, height, ties into difficult walls and adaptations all slow the job.
Turns your own erection rate into gang-days on site and a labour cost for the quote.
Enter your values to see the result.
Good to know
There is no published standard rate for scaffold erection: it depends on access, height, ties, returns, materials handling and the gang. Use your own records of m² per gang-day; the values shown are examples only. Dismantling is usually quicker than erecting. HSE expects every gang to include a competent scaffolder trained for the type of scaffold (CISRS card grades), with trainees supervised.
Common mistake
Using the same rate for a simple straight run and for a scaffold with returns, bridges, loading bays and sheeting.
Limits
Linear estimate. Does not include travel, loading, handover inspection, alterations or weather. For planning and estimating only. This does not replace TG20:21 compliance (a TG20 compliance sheet or eGuide output) or a scaffold design by a competent person.
Sources
- HSE, Scaffolding: design, TG20 standard configurations, competence (CISRS) and inspection
- CISRS Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme (scaffolder competence grades)
- NASC TG20:21 Good practice guidance for tube and fitting scaffolding (Operational Guide, Design Guide, User Guide and eGuide compliance sheets)
Results are calculations from the published methods and figures shown, and depend on the data you enter. For planning and checking only. Scaffolds must be erected to NASC TG20 or a bespoke design by competent persons, and lifting operations planned under LOLER by a competent person. Never rely on these results instead of a design, a lift plan or manufacturer ratings.