SS 598 : 2014

(ICS 53.020.99)

SINGAPORE STANDARD

Code of practice for suspended scaffolds

[Formerly CP 20]

Published by
SS 598 : 2014
(ICS 53.020.99)

SINGAPORE STANDARD
Code of practice for suspended scaffolds

ISBN 978-981-4557-49-8
SS 598 : 2014

This Singapore Standard was approved by the Building and Construction Standards Committee on
behalf of the Singapore Standards Council on 21 October 2014.

First published, 1999

First revision and re-numbered as SS 598, 2014

The Building and Construction Standards Committee, appointed by the Standards Council, consists of
the following members:

Name Capacity

Chairman : Mr Chan Kok Way Member, Standards Council

Deputy
Chairmen : Er. Chew Keat Chuan Building and Construction Authority
Mr Larry Ng Lye Hock Urban Redevelopment Authority
Secretary : Ms Lee Hiok Hoong SPRING Singapore
Members : Mr Bin Chee Kwan National Environment Agency
Er. Chan Ewe Jin Institution of Engineers Singapore
Er. Chee Kheng Chye Housing & Development Board
Mr Chng Chee Beow Real Estate Developers’ Association of Singapore
Mr Dominic Choy Singapore Contractors Association Limited
Er. Paul Fok Land Transport Authority
Mr Goh Peng Thong Individual Capacity
Mr Desmond Hill Individual Capacity
Er. Lee Chuan Seng Individual Capacity
Mr Benedict Lee Khee Chong Singapore Institute of Architects
Mr Rodney Lee Singapore Manufacturing Federation
Assoc Prof Leong Eng Choon Nanyang Technological University
Mr Darren Lim Building and Construction Authority
Dr Lim Lan Yuan Association of Property and Facility Managers
Er. Lim Peng Hong Association of Consulting Engineers Singapore
Mr Silas Loh Singapore Institute of Surveyors and Valuers
Er. Mohd Ismadi Ministry of Manpower
Assoc Prof Gary Ong Khim National University of Singapore
Chye
Er. Yvonne Soh Singapore Green Building Council
Mr Christopher Tan Singapore Civil Defence Force
Dr Tam Chat Tim Individual Capacity
Er. Tang Pei Luen JTC Corporation

The Technical Committee on Construction Management, appointed by the Building and Construction
Standards Committee and responsible for the preparation of this standard, consists of representatives
from the following organisations:

Name Capacity

Chairman : Mr Desmond Hill Member, Building and Construction

Standards Committee
Secretary : Ms Barbara Bok SPRING Singapore

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Members : Mr Dominic Choy Singapore Contractors Association Ltd

Dr David Chua Kim Huat National University of Singapore
Mr Lee Yoon Seng Surbana Corporation Pte Ltd
Er. Low Kam Fook Institution of Engineers, Singapore
Er. Ng Say Cheong Housing & Development Board
Mr Seah Muah Lock Building and Construction Authority
Er. Subbaiya Mahatma Association of Consulting Engineers
Singapore
Mr Teo Kian Hun Singapore Polytechnic
Dr Ting Seng Kiong Individual Capacity
Assoc Prof Robert Tiong Nanyang Technological University
Er. Yap Boon Leong Land Transport Authority
Er. Yeang Hoong Goon CPG Consultants Pte Ltd
Mr Winston Yew Ministry of Manpower
Co-opted
Member : Mr Khairul Sani Samsudin Individual Capacity

The Working Group, appointed by the Technical Committee to assist in the preparation of this standard,
comprises the following experts who contribute in their individual capacity:

Name

Convenor : Mr Dominic Choy

Secretary : Ms Lee Mong Ni
Members : Mr Chua Teong Joo
Ms Lee Guek Hoon
Er. Lim Boon Huat
Er. Henry Lim Hung Tjung
Mr Sunny Teo

The organisations in which the experts of the Working Group are involved are:

China Construction (SP) Development Co Pte Ltd

Fusion Strength & Associates
Hexacon Construction Pte Ltd
Ministry of Manpower
Scatech Engineering Pte Ltd
Tractel Singapore Pte Ltd

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(blank page)

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Contents
Page

Foreword 6
1 Scope 8
2 Normative references 8
3 Definitions 8
4 Suspended scaffold cradles 10
5 Suspension members and anchorages 12
6 Lifting appliances, brakes and safety features 21
7 Materials and care of materials 22
8 User requirements 24
9 System design 24
10 System installation, testing prior to use and dismantling 28
11 Safe use of suspended platforms 31
12 Maintenance 33
13 Periodical testing and inspection 33
14 Additional safety guidelines specific to permanently suspended scaffold systems 35

Annex
A General safety precautions 37

Tables
1 Consideration for materials stress factors 25
2 Impact factors 26
3 Wind load conditions 27

Figures
1 Multi-level suspended scaffold 10
2 Adjustable parapet clamps with tie-back to columns or roof beams 13
3 Examples of various types of anchorages 14
4 Examples of counterweight outriggers 15
5 Example of drop-through support system 16
6 Examples of Davit and socket system 17
7 Example of anchorage incorporating a travelling mechanism 18
8 Example of suspension system 20
9 Example of restraining device 29

Bibliography 38

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Foreword
This Singapore Standard was prepared by the Working Group for review of CP 20 under the direction
of the Technical Committee on Construction Management. The Technical Committee is under the
purview of the Building and Construction Standards Committee.

This code is a revision of CP 20 : 1999 'Code of practice for suspended scaffolds' and has been re-
numbered as SS 598 : 2014. The main changes in this revision are the following:

1. Besides the initial part of the code which addresses material and equipment, the balance of
the code is re-organised along the typical procurement and usage process of the suspended
scaffold systems. As there are usually many parties involved in the planning, supply,
installation, inspection, usage and maintenance of the suspended scaffold systems, it is
hoped that this will enable all parties to understand what needs to be done in each step of the
process.

2. The section on design has been modified to reflect the shift toward EN standards for design.

3. Consideration has also been given in the code to recognise that suspended scaffold will be
used in increasingly taller buildings in Singapore.

4. A section has been added to discuss the use of permanent suspended scaffold systems
which are becoming more prevalent since the introduction of the previous code.

5. Hinged continuous working platform systems that are no longer used in Singapore have been
removed.

In preparing this code, reference was made to the following publications:

1. BS 5974 : 1990 Code of practice for temporarily installed suspended scaffolds and access
equipment

2. BS 6037-1 : 2003 Code of practice for the planning, design, installation and use of permanently
installed access equipment, Part 1: Suspended access equipment

3. EN 1808 : 1999 + A1 : 2010 Safety requirements on suspended access equipment – Design

calculations, stability criteria, construction – Tests

4. Workplace Safety and Health (Scaffolds) Regulations.

Acknowledgement is made for the use of information from the above publications.

In Singapore, all design and works relating to the suspended scaffold systems shall also comply with
the latest versions of the following:

a) Relevant Design Codes

b) Workplace Safety and Health Act and Regulations

c) Guidelines and circulars issued by the Ministry of Manpower and relevant Authorities.

Some relevant Acts and Regulations are given in the bibliography. This list should not be considered
as exhaustive.

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Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this Singapore Standard may be the
subject of patent rights. Enterprise Singapore shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all of
such patent rights.

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Code of practice for suspended scaffolds

1 Scope
This code of practice is intended to establish the minimum safety requirements for the system design,
installation, testing and inspection, use and maintenance of working platforms suspended by wire ropes
and capable of being raised and lowered by mechanical or manually operated winches and climbing
devices.

It is applicable to both permanent and temporary equipment.

2 Normative references
There are no normative references cited in this code.

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