Plank and Platform

MISSION

The Scaffold & Access Industry Association (SAIA) Platform Council ‘s primary mission is to promote, represent and enhance the platform section of our industry for the benefit of its members, the public and the industry with a special interest on safety.

GOALS

1. Review and update all Scaffold Plank Purchasing Guidelines.

Solid Sawn Wood Planks
Engineered Wood Scaffold Plank
Metal/Composite Planks & Decks
Inner Access Decks (Hatch Decks)

2. Approve an industry accepted DI65 SYP Span Chart to be submitted to OSHA as a replacement for the incorrect span chart currently published.

3. Work with ANSI A10.8 committee to strengthen plank portion of this document.

4. Create SAIA Position Statement on “Cutting Back Wood Scaffold Planks.”

5. Course on Scaffold Plank Identification/Inspection.

6. Adopt and amend (if needed) pertinent SSFI Plank & Platform Documents.

Guide to Planks & Platforms
Properly Securing Scaffold Planks & Decking
Planks & Platforms: A Comparison of Advantages & Disadvantages
Code of Safe Practices for Frame Scaffolds… (plank section)
SSFI P500 – Standards for Testing and Rating Manufactured Metal Scaffold Planks & Decks

7. PIB Technical Report on Design Values.

OBJECTIVES

To promote compliant manufacturing, new technologies, educated purchasing and safe use of scaffold planks and platforms through informational deliverables, media and public speakers.
To develop codes of safe practice, scaffold plank guidelines and programs designed to enhance safety within our industry.
Provide a forum for SAIA members to bring forth new products ideas, industry concerns and questions.

WHAT IS A PLANK AND PLATFORM?

ANSI A10.8 describes plank as follows:

Plank: A wood board or fabricated component that serves as a platform unit.

Plank (metal): A metal platform unit sized to support one or more workers or uniformly distributed loads. Metal planks would be of similar dimensions as wood planks.

Plank (wood, laminated): A platform unit of glue-laminated wood whose method of manufacture and assigned design values contemplate flat use in a scaffolding application.The two types of laminated wood used in scaffold applications are Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) and Laminated Edge Glued Lumber (LEG).

Planks (wood, sawn): A board of sawn lumber whose grading rules and assigned design values contemplate flat use in a scaffolding application.The planks shall be sized to support one or more workers and materials.