Changes from TG 20:13

SECTION

19.3

The principal differences between the TG 20:13 and TG 20:21 Operational Guides are summarised by the following table. Note
that minor editorial changes and changes to illustrations that do not have a material impact on the guidance have been omitted
for clarity.

Section Title Changes in TG 20:21

1.4 TG 20 compliance sheets The layout of the TG 20:21 compliance sheet has been significantly revised since TG 20:13.
The compliance sheet now spans two pages, with an illustration of the scaffold and the
principal compliance criteria on the first page and the detailed compliance criteria, similar to
the contents of a TG 20:13 compliance sheet, on the second page.
1.5 Types of TG 20 scaffolding The types of TG 20 compliant scaffolding have been extended to include tube and fitting tied
independent scaffolding with up to three inside boards, external birdcages, mobile towers
and loading bays constructed without beams. TG 20 compliant loading bays with beams
have also been modified, replacing the 5 board wide loading bay from TG 20:13 with two
variants: a 6 + 2 board wide loading bay and a 3 + 4 + 3 board wide loading bay.
2.1 – 2.3 TG 20 compliance sheets These sections have been revised to explain the principal features of a TG 20:21 compliance
sheet. The TG 20:13 Operational Guide contained a significant number of compliance sheets
that have not been reproduced in TG 20:21, other than some representative examples.
2.4 The effect of the site location The illustration of the TG 20 wind factor bands in Great Britain and Ireland has been retained,
but the manual procedure for determining the site wind factor has been omitted from the
Operational Guide. The TG 20:21 wind factor is calculated automatically by the TG 20:21
eGuide, with a manual procedure provided in the TG 20:21 Design Guide.
3.1, 3.2 TG 20 eGuide This section of the guide has been revised to explain the operation of the TG 20:21 eGuide,
which has been updated significantly to display a visualisation of the scaffold. The eGuide
has also been extended to include the TG 20:21 compliant scaffold types and to support
the selection of the number of boarded lifts, in comparison with TG 20:13 that conservatively
assumed a fully-boarded scaffold.
4.1 Tubes The guidance for cold formed high-tensile steel tubes from TG 20:13 Supplement 1 has been
included.
4.2 Boards The guidance for the maintenance of scaffold boards has been revised in line with TG 6:17.
4.3 Couplers Guidance for supplementary and check couplers has been provided from TG 14:20.
Clarification has been added that a wedge coupler may be used as a right-angle coupler.
4.4 Prefabricated beams Additional guidance has been provided to assist with the identification of TG 20 compliant
aluminium lattice beams. Practical guidance has also been included for the use,
transportation and storage of beams.
4.6 Ladders Significant revisions have been made following the introduction of the BS EN 131
Professional ladder class and the withdrawal of BS 1129 and BS 2037.
5.1 Scaffolding foundations The guidance for when sole boards should be used in addition to high-visibility plastic plates
has been clarified.
5.2 Scaffolding foundation loads This section has been simplified to relate the minimum sole board requirements to the
maximum leg load reported by the TG 20 compliance sheet, rather than explicitly providing
tables of leg loads.
6.2 Scaffold usage and load class This section has been updated to permit up to three inside boards.
6.4 Platform widths This section has been updated to permit up to three inside boards.
6.7 Joints in standards and ledgers This guidance has been simplified to recommend sleeve couplers for TG 20 compliant
scaffolding and clarify that joint pins are not recommended. Clarification has been added that
tube-lock connections may alternatively be used.
6.8 Transoms The guidance for board bearing transoms has been extended to permit three inside
boards, with guidance provided for minimising the deflection of the transoms in this case.
The requirement for a minimum 25 mm projection of the transom tube has been removed,
provided that the tube projects past the coupler. The guidance for structural transoms has
been clarified to state that they may be connected to the standards or to the ledgers.
6.12 Ledger bracing Guidance has been provided to ledger brace below the first lift in the direction diagonally
away from the façade, for stability when the scaffold is one lift tall. The ledger bracing may be
in either direction for a tied scaffold.
6.15 Decking Guidance from TG 12 has been added for securing boards with small diameter ropes.
6.18 Inside boards and brackets This section has been amended to permit up to three inside boards and to reference section
6.8 for the guidance for minimising the transom deflection with three inside boards.
6.19 Single-lift cantilevered platforms The guidance for tying the lift supporting the cantilevered platform has been clarified.

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 CHAPTER 19 | Appendix

Section Title Changes in TG 20:21

6.20 Internal edge protection The definition of the maximum service gap dimension has been clarified to note that it is
measured from the inner face of the standards where an inner platform is not present.
6.23 Rakers An alternative layout of rakers has been provided that does not require ground anchors. The
external raker configuration has been modified to no longer require plan or façade bracing. SECTION

A new requirement has been specified that structural transoms should be connected to each 19.3
pair of standards if an untied single-lift scaffold is not supported by rakers.
7.2 TG 20 tie compliance This section has been revised to reference the contents of the TG 20:21 compliance sheets.
7.5 TG 20 tie patterns The guidance for laying out ties is unchanged, but has been rephrased now that a TG 20 tie
pattern is shown on the illustration on the first page of a TG 20:21 compliance sheet.
7.6 Rules for spacing ties This guidance is unchanged, but has been rephrased to state that it is used where the
idealised tie pattern from a compliance sheet cannot be followed due to site conditions.
7.7 Tying returns The qualifying criteria for adjacent returns have been revised to clarify that the adjacent
elevation must be tied.
7.8 Tie assemblies Guidance has been provided for the use of ‘K-bracing’ where a tie tube is more than 300 mm
from a standard.
7.9 Tying principles Table 7.1 (guidance for additional sway resistance) has been updated for three inside boards.
7.11 Girder couplers An illustration has been provided of a typical tie assembly to steelwork with girder couplers.
8.3 Staircase towers The guidance for the use of compliance sheets with proprietary staircase towers has been
clarified with additional details of the information required from the manufacturer or supplier.
The guidance for erecting tube and fitting stairs without a design has been clarified.
8.4 Ladder-access towers The maximum recommended vertical distance between landings has been reduced from
9.0 m to 6.0 m in line with SG 25:20. The edge protection guidance has been updated to
state that additional guard rails may be provided to maintain a maximum 470 mm vertical gap
if deemed necessary.
8.5 Other methods of ladder access Guard rails have been shown around the external ladder in figure 8.12.
8.6 Landing platforms The maximum recommended vertical distance between landings has been reduced to 6.0 m
for internal ladders and 4.7 m (two lifts) in line with SG 25:20.
8.7 Use of ladders The safety guidance has been updated in line with SG 25:20.
9.2 Beam specification Examples of typical TG 20 compliant aluminium beams have been added.
9.3 Fixing the beams A clarification has been added that beams should not be connected at the ‘horn ends’. It has
also been clarified that the bearer transoms act as lacing tubes and supplementary couplers.
9.4 Lacing and bracing the beams It is now recommended that section bracing is always provided, including the case where
steel ladder beams are used.
9.5 Repeating the beam system Table 9.2 (the number of beam systems required) has been updated for three inside boards.
10 Protection of the public The cover image has been updated to show a single guard rail to prevent the risk of tripping
over the traffic barrier. All illustrations have been updated to show representative safety
coverings over the couplers, whereas TG 20:13 provided a note to this effect.
10.2 Pavement lifts A note has been provided that suitable breaks in the handrail and baulk may be required
to provide an access or escape route. The requirement for the client to provide lighting has
been qualified to be where deemed necessary in line with SG 34:17.
10.3 Stabilising a pavement lift Figures 10.6 – 10.8 have been corrected to remove the ties from the rightmost standards.
11.1 Gin wheels The guidance for the safe use, inspection and handover of gin wheels has been revised in
accordance with SG 9:21. The examples of maximum loads that can be lifted have been NATIONAL ACCESS AND SCAFFOLDING CONFEDERATION
increased while remaining within the 50 kg limit.
11.2 Other lifting methods The maximum permitted weight for a hand line has been increased from 20 kg to 28 kg, in
line with SG 9:21, to permit a 21’ tube to be lifted.
11.3 Rubbish chutes A maximum vertical height of 10 m is recommended in accordance with TG 3:19.
12 Loading bays This chapter has been rewritten to provide guidance for TG 20:21 compliant loading bays,
which may be 6 + 2 or 3 + 4 + 3 boards wide, constructed with or without beams.
13 Birdcages Guidance has been provided for external birdcages, in addition to the internal birdcage
definition from TG 20:13. TG 20:21 compliant birdcages may be fully boarded at multiple lifts
if required. The maximum height-to-base ratio for free-standing internal birdcages has been
conservatively reduced from 4 : 1 to 3 : 1.
15.2 Free-standing or mobile towers Guidance has been provided for TG 20:21 compliant mobile towers.
15.3 Lift shaft towers The guidance has been updated to permit a second lift to be very lightly loaded.
17.2 The client brief Additional criteria for consideration in the client brief have been included from TG 21:20.
17.4, 17.5 Risk assessments. Method These sections have been updated in line with SG 7:19.
statements
17.6 Training This section has been updated to reference CPD (Continuing Professional Development) and
the CISRS card checker.
18.2 Handover certificates The sample handover certificate has been updated to match SG 35:21.

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