Overuse of Scaffold systems

[Kiri Robbie]

Scaffold systems are re-used again and again, is there any way to tag or limit number of cycles of re-use or to check badly bent tubes are not used?

[Justin Smith]

There is no ability in the Australian scaffold industry at this stage to monitor scaffold reuse. The equipment is reused constantly and is discontinued when it can no longer be serviced. Fatigue is not an issue. But the scaffold becomes bent over time and joints are essentially smashed out of shape due to the hammering they take when being done-up and released. 

Badly bent equipment, especially if in direct compression, must be replaced or reinforced if seen during a site inspection. For engineering I would recommend L/300 out of straight (the allowance for tube in AS3610). Obviously the capacity of the tube must be down graded as steel designed to AS4100 is L/1000.