Abbes Berrais

This study consisted in the replication of BS EN 74-1:2005 Laboratory requirements and test procedures of Right Angle couplers currently available within the UK for use in falsework and scaffolds. In the UK all scaffolding couplers are tested to comply with the standards set out in BS EN 74-1:2005. All couplers tested in this research have been certified compliant to BS EN 74. These replicated laboratory tests investigated a perceived industry problem that whilst the tested specimen achieves the appropriate standard the subsequent manufacturing batches that are produced and sold with certificates of compliance do not in fact reach the required standard they are advertised as attaining. This research highlights a very concerning problem of consistency within scaffold coupler performance. Illuminating discrepancies between the performance of class B couplers available in the United Kingdom for use in falsework and scaffolds. Through laboratory testing, the assumption of a minimum capacity of an EN 74 class B coupler has been shown to be inaccurate. Possible reasons for these inconsistencies are discussed with recommendations for further investigation.