The Nature, Purpose, and Typical Uses of Cantilever Scaffolding

A cantilever is a rigid structural element supported by another structure only at one end and often with no visible means of support across the remainder of its length. The diving board is a classic example. In other cases, like wall brackets and cantilever scaffolding, the supporting elements may extend for a significant portion or even the entire length of the projecting component.

This specialised form of scaffolding is supported by a series of cantilever beams anchored to a building under construction or renovation. While traditional scaffolding depends on the ground or an alternative stable surface for support, cantilevered platforms project outwards from a building, providing workers access to sites that are impossible to reach with standard scaffolding.

Examples of Cantilever Scaffolding in Action

The uses for this type of scaffolding are somewhat limited compared to the more conventional products. Nevertheless, it can be invaluable in construction scenarios such as the following:

  • Working Around Obstacles: Sometimes, access to a construction site may be obstructed by a road, a footpath, or some other structure that prevents a builder from using a ground-based scaffold tower. Using a cantilevered scaffolding platform enables construction workers to bypass such obstacles and perform their tasks safely.
  • Working on High-Rise Buildings and Facades: While these can often be reached with traditional scaffolding, it is a costly, time-consuming, and labour-intensive option. By contrast, a cantilever platform can be set up from within a building, enabling safe access to external elements like facades.
  • Bridge and Viaduct Construction and Maintenance: When building or repairing these structures, ground support is, at best, complicated and expensive, but when they extend over water, a cantilevered work platform is invariably the only practical solution.
  • Shipbuilding and Repairs: Scaffolding is also used in shipyards. Conventional scaffold towers are impractical when work must be carried out on a ship’s hull while it is afloat. Cantilevered or suspended platforms are the only viable options.

Advantages of Cantilever Scaffolding

Cantilevered platforms offer the following key benefits:

  • Minimal Space Requirement: Its independent support frees up space below for other activities in densely packed urban situations.
  • Cost-Effective: As it requires fewer components, it’s cheaper and quicker to erect and cuts labour costs.
  • Flexible: Kwikstage scaffolding features cantilever brackets that can be adjusted to fit the unique contours of a structure.
  • Safety: Cantilvering provides exception stability in situations where alternative options can’t.

Cantilever Scaffolding in Gauteng

Disc-O-Scaff is a leading Johannesburg-based supplier of high-quality modular scaffolding systems with many years of experience. We invite you to contact us for more details about our Kwikstage and Selflock products, which are manufactured exclusively from SABS-approved materials.