CUPLOK SCAFFOLD

SYSTEM
USER GUIDE

September 2005
CUPLOK SCAFFOLD SYSTEM User Guide

Introduction Specific guidelines in relation to the use of Safety

The Cuplok Scaffold System is a fully galvanised Harnesses in conjunction with the SGB Cuplok
multi purpose steel scaffold for general access and Scaffolding System are available. SGB can supply
supporting vertical loads. you with a suitable harness. Please contact your
local branch.
Cuplok independent tied access scaffolds built up
to 2.5m bays have a loading capability of 3kN Platform Loadings - working lifts
(300kg) per square metre. For other applications, 2m lift access scaffolds: 1.5kN/m2
such as birdcage, mobile towers and staircases the 1.5m bricklayers scaffold
loadings may vary, and advice should be sought for 1 platform: 3.0kN/m2
from your local SGB Branch. or 2 platforms: 1 at 3.0kN/m2,
Cuplok 3000 is covered in a separate Safety 1 at 1.5kN/m2
Guide. Please contact your local branch.
Preparation and Inspection
If you need further information, design advice or
Before commencing the erection of any Cuplok
any other help with this product please contact
Scaffold, great care should be taken to see that the
your local branch on 08705 288388.
ground Is suitable. On soft or made-up ground the
Compliances scaffold should be erected on timber sole plates of
appropriate size. Bricks or blocks should not be
All Access Scaffolds must comply with the general
used.
requirements of the following:
The scaffold should be started on the highest part
Construction (Health, Safety & Welfare)
of the ground this will make levelling easier as
Regulations 1996
the scaffolding progresses horizontally.
Code of Practice BS5973
Always check whether or not an inside board
However, Cuplok, as a proprietary system, is not
platform of one, two or three boards will be
based upon scaffold tube and fittings, and certain
required. If so this will determine the distance of
requirements in BS5973 may not be relevant. In
the scaffold from the building.
these cases, if there is conflict, SGB data should be
Inspect the equipment before use, to ensure that it
used. If you have any queries, please contact your
is not damaged or fails to function properly.
local branch.
Ensure you are using the correct PPE equipment for
Safety the application you are working on.
Safety Harnesses
All scaffold erectors must wear a harness whilst
erecting, dismantling and working on scaffolding
over 4 metres platform height. All methods of
erection/dismantling scaffolding and the use of a
Safety harness should be in conjunction with
SG4:00 Guidance Notes issued by the NASC.

1
Components

Main components
Standards
Cuplok Standards are made from a high grade
steel tube and are identified by a red flash at the
bottom. Top cups have 4 lugs. Earlier stocks were
made from a different grade steel and carry
slightly less load when used in applications such as
falsework to bridges. For these two scaffold types
please refer to the Cuplok Falsework Brochure and
User Guide or the Cuplok User Manual. For all
normal access scaffold either type is suitable. Universal jack

Ledgers/Transoms
Cuplok tubular ledgers are also used for transoms
or guardrails and are fully interchangeable. Head and
Cuplok tubular ledgers are used with standard Base plate
boards. Omega transoms are used with timber or
steel battens. Cuplok 3000 Transoms (see separate
Guide) are able to accept Steel or Alu-Ply Decks.

Intermediate Transoms 2m and 3m

Used to provide intermediate support to scaffold Standards
boards. Also used at board ends. They are fitted
with a wedge operated lock to prevent accidental
sliding in use. 2.5m, 1.8m and 1.3m Ledger

Intermediate Transom
Base Jacks Inside Board
Transom
Cuplok Universal jacks must always be used in
1 Board
conjunction with Head/Baseplates, sitting on
scaffold board or other suitable sole plates as in
normal scaffolding practice. The jack must always
be fitted so that the unthreaded portion is inside
the standard to prevent the minimum overlap in the
tube being reduced.

1.3m Omega Transom

2
Scaffold Boards

All standard scaffold boards are suitable for use

with Cuplok when laid over tubular transoms. They
safely span distances between 1.2m and 1.5m for
most types, but care must be taken to check the
embossed bands at the end to determine the max
permissible span. Intermediate transoms must be
used to limit the span and also to give support to
the ends.

Battens (used with Omega Transoms) Steel Batten

Cuplok Battens, both steel and timber, are suitable
for spans up to 2.5m without intermediate support
for loadings of up to 3kN/m2.

Toe boards
Can be provided by scaffold boards, timber or
steel battens using the appropriate clips from the
Cuplok range.

Guardrails
The standard heights for guard rails (approx 0.5m
Timber Batten
and 1.0m) are predetermined by the Cuplok
System. Brick guard panels may be used with
Cuplok, however, double guard rails and toe
boards must always be provided.

Spigot Pins
Only required where resistance to uplift is required
Toe Board Clip
and would be required when scaffold projects Toe Board Clip
Steel Batten
Timber Batten
above last tie, or when using hop-up brackets, or
with crane handled assemblies.
Foot ties
Spigot pins should be used to lock the standards
against uplift at all joints down to the last tied lift Foot ties (i.e. a level of ledgers and transoms in the
below the hop-ups. On a scaffold where the bottom cup) should be fitted to all scaffolds with
brackets will be moved, spigot pins should be used hop-up brackets.
throughout at time of erection to minimise risk of It is generally advisable to install foot ties whenever
omission during modifying of platform levels. practicable.

3
Inside Boards and Hop-up Brackets
Cuplok can incorporate 1, 2 or 3 inside boards.
Due to the wide variation of applications involving
the construction of corners, reference should be
made to the Cuplok Users Manual for specific
guidance.
Hop Up Bracket
Hop-up Brackets
2 and 3 Board
The maximum permitted loading on hop-up
brackets is as follows:
1 board: 3kN/m2
2 board: 1.5 kN/m2
3 board: 0.75kN/m2
Diagonal Bracing

Face Bracing Swivel Face Brace

One bay of bracing to the full height is required

every 8 bays (20m).
On short runs up to 4 bays (10m), one braced
bay should be provided.
Over 10m at least two bays of bracing are
required.
As only one blade can be located at each node ledger bracing must be used at each lift down to
point, parallel bracing is used. Braces must go the next tie.
from platform level to platform level. Note that the
Corners and Returns
bottom brace is always fitted in a 1.0 or 1.5m lift
Rigid corners are formed in Cuplok by using a
and should be of the appropriate size.
1.3m square corner bay. When this is not possible
Ledger Bracing and Plan Bracing
the scaffold can be erected using the 'flypast'
The Cuplok node connection is extremely rigid and method. For scaffolds with scaffold boards, check
ledger bracing is not normally required. On very the Cuplok return devices (or tube and fittings) are
high scaffolds it may be specified to increase the used to connect the two runs at each level. For
load capacity but all such work should be referred scaffolds fitted with battens an Omega Return
to an SGB design office via your local branch. Transom is used. In both cases attention must be
Plan bracing is also uncommon and should be the given to providing proper toe boards and this may
subject of consideration by the design office. See involve cutting boards to suit the various
also notes under 'Typical Tie Patterns'. dimensions of the corners. Further information is
When the hop-up level occurs between tied levels, contained in the Cuplok Users Manual.

4
Assembly

Using Standard Scaffold Boards 3 With one person still holding the first pair of
1 Layout out the ledger and transoms for the first standards, the second person inserts a jack into
bay in their approximate positions. Then insert the third standard and connects it to the first
an adjustable base jack into each of the first pair with a ledger. The upper cup can then be
pair of standards. dropped temporarily into the locking position.
The structure is now self supporting and the
fourth standard can now be connected by a
further ledger and transom and the bay
levelled. Once the base lift has been completely
levelled, your spirit level will no longer be
required.

2 Connect the standards with a transom in the

lowest cup joint by inserting the blades into the
cups. Level the transom. Always start the
scaffold with a three metre standard on the
outside and a two metre standard on the inside,
so joints are staggered.

Using the Omega Batten System

The same erection procedure is adopted for the
Omega Batten System as for the Scaffold Board
System, except that the Omega top hat type
transom Is used in place of the tubular transom.
No intermediate board supports will be required.
4 The first bay of Cuplok is completed by locating
the upper ledgers and transoms. It is now a
simple matter to extend the scaffold structure by
connecting ledgers, transoms and standards to
the existing bay. The top fixing cups can now
be secured with a hammer. The scaffold should

5
 now be secured by the ties/anchors or boards. The scaffold boards and toeboards can
equivalent methods at the earliest opportunity now be positioned. Two standard ledgers can
(see the SGB Ties and Anchor Usres Guide). be located 0.5 and 1.0 metres above the
working platform to form the double guardrails.

7 Additional lifts can now be constructed simply

5 The working platform can now be constructed.
by adding further standards on to the spigots of
To ensure safe erection, alteration and the lower lift, and connecting them with ledgers
dismantling of the scaffolding it is important that and transoms, following the steps in paragraph
the procedures outlined in the Guidance Note 5. When swivel face braces are used, these are
SG4:00* is followed. In summary, a minimum located at the cup joints and should span from
of three boards should be placed from below lift level to lift level (see face bracing).
for erectors and single guard rails should be
installed as work progresses along each lift
(double guard rails and toe boards will be
required to complete). Scaffolders should safely
clip on to ledgers or guard rails at 4 metres
height or above. Full body harnesses should be
worn and lanyards attached (see SGB User
Guide The Use of Safety Harness with SGB
Cuplok Scaffold System)
*This Guidance Note is published by
the NASC and is available from them
or from SGB Branches.
6 Intermediate transoms are secured at strategic
points (1.2m and 1.5m support frequency)
across the ledgers to support 38mm scaffold

6
Maximum heights and tying-in patterns plan and/or ledger bracing can be omitted. For
1.5m lift heights no additional bracing is required.

Working lift 1 1 1 2 1 2 Typical tie patterns

A. 2m lifts 8m tie pattern
Lifts boarded 1 2 7 2
Horizontal spacing every standard
2m lift Foot tied 15 15 15 10 4
Vertical spacing maximum 8m
6m tie Not foot
MAXIMUM NUMBER OF LIFTS ALLOWED

15 13 10 5
pattern tied

2m lift Foot tied 14 11 8

8m tie Not foot

10 7 4
pattern tied 8.0m

1.5m lift Foot tied 20 20 20 20 20 20

4.5m tie Not foot 4.5m

20 20 20 20 20 18
pattern tied

1.5m lift Foot tied 20 20 20 19 16 13 If ties cannot be positioned in the correct place
or have to be moved, then bracing has to be
6m tie Not foot
20 20 20 14 11 8 used between adjacent ties. If this is done using
pattern tied
plan bracing, the maximum horizontal distance
between ties is 7.5m. If done using Ledger
Notes: Bracing the maximum vertical distance between
Other combinations and greater heights are ties is 12.0m.
possible. Consult your local branch.
Not to be used for scaffolds with hop-up brackets.
B. 2m lifts 6m tie pattern
Not to be used for sheeted scaffolds.
Horizontal spacing every standard
Foot ties mean that a full level of ledgers and
Vertical spacing maximum 6m
transoms is fitted at the lowest cup level.

Bracing and Tying-in Rules

6.0m
The following rules for bracing apply:
Foot ties: for 2m lift height plan bracing is
required at a frequency of one bay in eight. Plan 6.0m
bracing must only be used in the face-braced
bays. 4.5m
No foot ties: for 2m lift heights plan bracing is
required as well as ledger bracing on all standards in See notes for Tie pattern A but Horizontal is
the first lift. However, for platform heights up to 10m, 7.5m and Vertical is 10m

7
C. 1.5m lifts 4.5m tie pattern Further information

Horizontal spacing every standard There is a variety of literature available for the

Vertical spacing maximum 4.5m Cuplok Products range. All are available from your
local branch.
Cuplok and Cuplok 3000 Scaffold Systems
Brochure
4.5m
Formwork Products and Services Manual

1.5m Cuplok 3000 Scaffold System User Guide

4.5m
1.0m
Cuplok Falsework User Guide (Formwork only)
Tie and Anchors User Guide
See notes for Tie pattern A but Horizontal is
7.5m and Vertical is 9m Cuplok Users Manual

D. 1.5m lifts 6m tie pattern

Horizontal spacing every standard
Vertical spacing maximum 6m

6.0m

1.5m 6.0m
1.0m

See notes for Tie pattern A but Horizontal is

7.5m and Vertical is 9m

Levels above last tie

2m lift scaffolds can have only one working lift
above the last tie and this lift must have ledger
bracing. On 1.5m lift scaffolds, one working lift up
to 2 lifts above the last level is permitted but both
lifts must be ledger braced.

8
Product Range

SGB issues the following User Guides for its product ranges.
Please contact your local branch on 08705 288 388 if you would like to receive any.
Alternatively, you can download them from our website, www.sgb.co.uk

BOSS GRP Towers

BOSS Roommate
BOSS Stairway Towers
CUPLOK Scaffold System - Access
CUPLOK Scaffold System - Falsework Support
CUPLOK Scaffold System in use with Safety Harnesses
COVERSPAN Temporary Roofing System
ENVIROWRAP Shrink Cladding System
EXTRAGUARD Edge Protection System
Fencing and Barriers
GASS Shoring System
Groundworks
Hoarding Panels
Ladders and Steps
Mobile Anchor
Props
Rollafloor Temporary Flooring
Rollaroad Temporary Roadway
ROOFGUARD Edge Protection System - Permanent
ROOFGUARD Edge Protection System - Temporary
Scaffold Tube, Fitting and Ladder Beam
Scaffolding Anchor and Tie
Spandeck, Stagings and Superboards

All information in this User Guide is correct at the time of going to press.
SGB Services Limited reserves the right to change products details or withdraw products at any time.
This brochure and its contents are the copyright of SGB Services Limited
For further information on this product or any other products and services, please contact
your local branch:
tel: 08705 288 388 email: info@sgb.co.uk www.sgb.co.uk

SGB Group
Harsco House, Regent Park, 299 Kingston Road, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 7SG
Tel: 01372 381300
09/05