International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT) - Volume4 Issue6- June 2013

A Comparative Study On Bamboo Scaffolding And Metal

Scaffolding In Construction Industry Using Statistical Methods
Hitesh D. Bambhava1, Prof. Jayeshkumar Pitroda 2, Prof.Jaydev J. Bhavsar 3
1
Student of final year M.E. C E & M, B.V.M. Engineering College, Vallabh Vidyanagar
2
Assistant Professor & Research Scholar, Civil Engg Department, B.V.M. Engineering College, Vallabh Vidyanagar
3
Associate Professor, Civil Engg Department, B.V.M. Engineering College, Vallabh Vidyanagar -Gujarat- India.

Abstract: Scaffolding represents an important trade

in the construction of buildings by providing INTRODUCTION
platforms which allow the workers to carry out their
works at height. In Mega City of Central Gujarat There comes a long history for
region of India particularly Ahmedabad and Ahmedabad’s (Gujarat) economy having been
Vadodara, a variety of scaffolding systems are relying heavily on the Real Estate sector
available. The bamboo scaffolding is regarded to be Ahmedabad and Vadodara (Gujarat) is developing
the dominant type in the local construction industry its infrastructure very rapidly and this development
over the years chiefly because of its low costs. Local continues for further some years. The construction
buildings have been constructed with the ever industry has always played a major role in
increase in height. Literatures reveal the importance Ahmedabad’s (Gujarat) economy and contributed
of safety and cost as well as their close relationship almost 25 per cent of Ahmedabad’s and
in construction. and it is found that bamboo Vadodara’s GDP. Despite being frustrated by
scaffolding is rather unsafe and unreliable especially economic recession over the past few years, the
in such high-attitude constructions, while metal construction industry is ever growing as a result of
scaffolding is too expensive. The success of a the dynamic transaction activities in the first-hand
scaffolding system depends on many factors, e.g. its market, especially during recent booming
features, application and suitability in a market. This recovery.
study aims at investigating the opportunity of
scaffolding system and hence determining its Due to the large amount of developments
success in Mega City of Central Gujarat region of undertaking throughout the years, scaffoldings are
India particularly Ahmedabad and Vadodara. found everywhere. Scaffolding play major role in
Concentrations are put on these safety and cost building construction. They present an important
issues. An investigation is carried out based on part in construction-especially building operations
various literature, questionnaires, interviews as well at height.
as case studies. The results indicate that scaffolding
Bamboo scaffolding has long been the
system does represent a better alternative in
mainstream for providing temporary support and
high-rise construction, especially commercial
access. According to past record, the bamboo
buildings, in terms of safety and cost. Nevertheless,
scaffolding has 100% and 95% of the market share
findings from questionnaires show that the use of
of the construction work in the private section in the
the scaffolding system is very much contingent
2001s and 2011s respectively. Meanwhile, the
upon the scale of the company. Scaffolding system
bamboo scaffolding also grasps100% of the market
is a relatively important topic in the local
share in the work issued by the Housing Society and
construction industry. There were still inadequate
in the new building work issued by the Building
acknowledgement and few research studies about
Authority. It is regarded as one of the oldest
the system. Therefore, an attempt to study
scaffolding (bamboo) system has been widely used
scaffolding system by collecting responses from
in the local construction industry over decades. Its
developers, contractors and suppliers and analyses it
properties of high flexibility, cost effectiveness and
to explore the scaffolding system to give a better
speediness in construction have been appreciated by
insight and recommendation to its local application.
many literatures. And it is believed that those
properties keep bamboo scaffolding stand out from
Keywords: Bamboo, metal, scaffolding, safety, cost
open competition with various metal scaffolding

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International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT) - Volume4 Issue6- June 2013

system imported overseas and become the dominant for different types of findings and also to present the
type of access scaffolding in Ahmedabad’s and findings in different perspectives.
Vadodara’s building construction . The purpose of analysing the data is to
provide information about variables and
Regardless of its merits, the local relationships between them so as to aid
application of bamboo scaffolding has inevitably understanding and support decision making of a
been a controversial issue in the building matter. The data analysis aims at condensing a mass
construction. From the Labor of the Occupation of data into summary statistics that succinctly
Safety and Health Branch of Labor Department, characterize the observations and variables, and
expresses his worry about the high percentage of the examining the relationship between two or more
accident tolls related to working with scaffold. He variables.
concludes that there is a need to make a great deal
more to improve the safety of bamboo scaffolds, Statistical Methods
despite of the steady improvements over the past Nonparametric tests are mainly used in the
decade. According to past records, there have been analysis of the ordinal data. Nonparametric tests, as
reports of bamboo scaffolding related accidents for defined by Darren (2003), deals primarily with
years. Obviously, the volatile property and safety populations that are not normally distributed. Since
aspect of this traditional method desperately need the valid sample size in the research is not large
deeper examination. enough to ensure normality, the technique is
therefore employed. It highlights the advantage of
Safety is a basic human need. To achieve
this technique of being flexible as it is
zero accidents is a common goal that everybody
distribution-free.
would like to see. However it is not easy to attain it
Below are the techniques adopted in this research:
and we still have much to work towards it. In fact,
Ranking and scoring
construction safety can be further developed and
Correlation
continually improved by providing adequate and
Tables and charts
practical training to the relevant workers of the
Scoring of the ranked data
contractors.

Nowadays, everything is speed and all All ordinal data are obtained in a ranking
projects have to be completed within this time pattern. It points out that ranking is an integral part
frame. Moreover, for multi-storied buildings, of statistics, especially in non-parametric analysis. It
traditional system of wooden poles and bamboos are aims at investigating respondents' preferences and
neither suitable nor meeting any safety parameters. ordering of different issues. However, the ranking
So for staging, centring, Access Scaffolding various responses from individual respondents are difficult
metallic system are being used. to combine in giving an overall picture of the issue.
As a result, scoring system is used, where different
For the ever blooming property market in scores are assigned to the respective ranks. Total,
Ahmedabad and Vadodara, there is always a high mean scores as well as a proportional ratio for
demand of the scaffolding formwork for the different variables can then be calculated to present
construction of new high-rise buildings. According the overall perspectives of the respondents.
to current market status, scaffolding works normally
share about 1% of a construction project, which can
be a considerable sum in large projects. As a result,
there comes a wide variety of scaffolding systems,
whether inherited from tradition or imported DESIGN OF QUESTIONNAIRES
overseas, within the market. And each system has its
respective merits and weaknesses in the cost and Factors Influencing Questionnaire
safety performances. Cost, Availability, Safety, Erection and dismantling
time, Others (please specify), Bamboo scaffolding,
Analysis of Findings Metal scaffolding, Bamboo-metal mixed
Analysis of the findings from scaffolding, Seminars and conferences, Other
questionnaires and interviews forms the heart of a companies, Articles and journals, No confidence,
research. Different approaches of analysis are used

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International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT) - Volume4 Issue6- June 2013

Inaccessible to supply, Cost factor, Time factor, mixed scaffolding.

Market trend, and Cost-effectiveness Q.14) Merits of bamboo scaffolding.
Q.15) Merits of metal scaffolding.
Questions Q.16) Merits of bamboo metal mixed scaffolding.
Q.17) Satisfaction towards the most frequently used
Q.1) Considerations in adopting a scaffolding scaffolds
system. Q.18) Acknowledgement of bamboo scaffolds
Q.2) Usage of various types of scaffolding systems. Q.19) Acknowledgement of metal scaffolds
Q.3) Reasons for adopting the most frequently used Q.20) Acknowledgement of bamboo-metal mixed
scaffolds. scaffolds
Q.4) Areas that need most improvement. Q.21) Experience in the use/ supply of bamboo
Q.5) Supply of various scaffolding systems at scaffolding
current. Q.22) Experience in the use/ supply of metal
Q.6) supply of various scaffolding system in the past scaffolding
5 years. Q.23) Experience in the use/ supply of
Q.7) Sources of acknowledgement. bamboo-metal mixed scaffolding
Q.8) Reasons for not using/supplying bamboo Q.24) Interests in using bamboo scaffolding.
scaffolding. Q.25) Continue use/supply of bamboo scaffolding.
Q.9) Reasons for not using/supplying metal Q.26) Interests in using metal scaffolding.
scaffolding. Q.27) Continue use/supply of metal scaffolding.
Q.10) Reasons for not using/supplying bamboo Q.28) Interests in using Bamboo-metal mixed
metal mixed scaffolding. scaffolding
Q.11) Considerations in adopting bamboo Q.29) Continue use/supply of Bamboo-metal mixed
scaffolding. scaffolding.
Q.12) Considerations in adopting metal scaffolding. Q.30) Suggestions for improvement of scaffolding
Q.13) Considerations in adopting bamboo metal system.

DATA ANALYSIS

Figure1. Considerations in adopting a scaffolding Figure2. Usage of various types of scaffolding systems.
system.

Figure3. Reasons for adopting the most frequently used Figure4. Areas that need most improvement.
scaffolds.

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International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT) - Volume4 Issue6- June 2013

Figure5. Supply of various scaffolding systems at Figure6. Supply of various scaffolding system in the
current. past 5 years.

Figure7. Sources of acknowledgement. Figure8. Reasons of not using/supplying bamboo

scaffolding

Figure9. Reasons of not using/supplying metal Figure10. Reasons of not using/supplying bamboo
scaffolding. metal mixed scaffolding.

Figure11. Considerations in adopting bamboo Figure12. Considerations in adopting metal

scaffolding.
scaffolding.

Figure13. Considerations in adopting bamboo metal

mixed scaffolding. Figure14. Merits of bamboo scaffolding

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International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT) - Volume4 Issue6- June 2013

0%
Cost-
33% 37% effectiveness
Safety
30%
Time

Figure15. Merits of metal scaffolding. Figure16. Merits of bamboo metal mixed scaffolding.

Figure17. Satisfaction towards the most frequently Figure18. Acknowledgement of bamboo scaffolds
used scaffolds

Figure19. Acknowledgement of metal scaffolds Figure20. Acknowledgement of bamboo-metal mixed

scaffolds

Figure21. Experience in the use/ supply of bamboo Figure22. Experience in the use/ supply of metal
scaffolding scaffolding.

Figure23 Experience in the use/ supply of Figure24. Interests in using bamboo scaffolding
bamboo-metal mixed scaffolding.

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International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT) - Volume4 Issue6- June 2013

Figure25. Continue use/supply of bamboo scaffolding. Figure26. Interests in using metal scaffolding.

Figure27. Continue use/supply of metal scaffolding Figure28. Interests in using Bamboo-metal mixed
scaffolding

Figure29. Continue use/supply of Bamboo-metal

mixed scaffolding

CONCLUSION 29% pointed out that the system shall improve its
"cost".
1. The findings showed that people in the 5. In both supply and demand sides, bamboo
construction industry generally concerned safety scaffolding was found to be in the largest average
more than anything. The overall ranking of the amount according to the respondents.
factors was: "safety" (32%) > “availability" (30%) 6. Supply of various scaffolding system in the past 5
>" cost” (25%)>" erection and dismantling time years, among the 54 respondents most of them 69%
(12%) ". supplies bamboo scaffolding system. 23% of the
2. From the analyses, it was obvious that bamboo respondents supply metal scaffolding system, 8% of
scaffolding (51%) maintained the most frequent the respondents supply bamboo metal scaffolding
type adopted by the developers and contractors, system.
followed by metal (36%) and bamboo-metal mixed 7. Among the 54 respondents most of them (36%)
(13%) types in descending order. The findings got the knowledge of scaffolding through other
showed that the traditional trade still dominated the companies’ source. 30% of the respondents heard of
scaffolding market nowadays. the system from articles and journals sources, 17%
3. In the perspective of overall considerations within of the respondents heard of the system from
the respondents' pool; “Readiness of Availability” Seminars and conferences sources, and 30% of the
(34%) represented the major reason to adopt respondents heard of the system from Others
bamboo scaffolding, followed by "low cost"(25 %) sources like it from traditional view.
and "safety"(12%). 8. Reasons of not using/supplying bamboo
4. Areas that need improvement most, Most of the scaffolding main reason is respondents’ have no
respondents 71% thought bamboo scaffolding confidence in it they fill less safety in using it. 42%
needed to improve its "safety" while the remaining of the respondents selected no confidence factor.

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International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT) - Volume4 Issue6- June 2013

9. Reasons of not using/supplying metal scaffolding (15%) had not. The result shows that Metal
main reason are it is more costly than other scaffolding is adequately known within the
scaffolding system. construction industry.
10. Reasons of not using/supplying bamboo- metal 20. The result shows that Bamboo- Metal
mixed scaffolding main reason are it is costly and no scaffolding is not known or not popular within the
more safety in using it. construction industry.
11. The findings showed that 34% of the 21. Experience in the use/ supply of bamboo
respondents selected Readiness of availability, scaffolding, among the 54 respondents, 46 (85%)
“Readiness of availability " was regarded to be the answered that they had experience of the bamboo
major reason for the respondents to choose bamboo system while only 8 (15%) had not. The result
scaffolding system as the most frequently used shows that respondents are experienced in the
systems while "low cost" followed in the second bamboo scaffolding system within the construction
position 25% of the respondents selected Low cost.. industry.
Notably, "safety" did not take up the most important 22. The result shows that respondents are also
position in the consideration. Most respondents experienced in the metal scaffolding system within
agreed safety was one of the most important factors the construction industry.
to consider, but they adopted a practice which 23. The result shows that respondents are not
diverted from that belief. experienced in bamboo-metal mixed scaffolding
12. The findings showed that 37% of the system within the construction industry.
respondents selected Safety, “Safety " was regarded 24. Interests in using bamboo scaffolding, among
to be the major reason for the respondents to choose the 54 respondents, 44 (81%) answered that they
metal scaffolding system as the most frequently had interest of the bamboo system while only 10
used systems. (19%) had not. The result shows that respondents
13. Considerations in adopting Bamboo-Metal are interested in the bamboo scaffolding system
Mixed scaffolding. The findings showed that 33% within the construction industry.
of the respondents selected Fast erection and 25. The result shows that respondents are continuing
dismantling time. use/supply of bamboo system within the
14. Merits of bamboo scaffolding, from the results construction industry.
of the analysis, “Cost-effectiveness” as the 26. The result shows that respondents are also
overwhelming merits of bamboo scaffolding interested in the metal scaffolding system within the
compared to others. construction industry.
15. From the results of the analysis, “safety” as the 27. The result shows that respondents are continuing
overwhelming merits of metal scaffolding or not continuing use/supply of the metal system
compared to others. within the construction industry.
16. From the results of the analysis, 28. The result shows that respondents are not
“Cost-effectiveness” as the overwhelming merits of interested in bamboo- metal mixed scaffolding
bamboo-metal mixed scaffolding compared to system within the construction industry.
others.
29. The result shows that respondents are not
17. Satisfaction towards the most frequently used
continuing use/supply of bamboo-metal mixed
scaffolds, among the 54 respondents, 52 (96%) were
system within the construction industry.
satisfied with the performance of the dominating
scaffolding system used in their construction 30. Suggestions for improvement of scaffolding
project. Meanwhile, 2 (4%) found the performance system, most respondents thought that there was still
of the systems are not satisfactory. a lack of relevant knowledge of the new system in
18. Acknowledgement of Bamboo scaffolds, among the industry. They urged further education as well as
the 54 respondents, 52 (96%) answered that they a construction standard for metal scaffolding.
had heard of the bamboo system while only 2 (4%) Meanwhile, some other respondents reflected that
had not. The result shows that Bamboo scaffolding metal scaffolding needed to have some
is adequately known within the construction improvement on its cost implication. They pointed
industry. out that the system was only suitable for high-rise
19. Among the 54 respondents, 46 (85%) answered buildings in terrn of cost-effectiveness, e.g. more
that they had heard of the Metal system while only 8 than 20 stories. Some even responded that more

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International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT) - Volume4 Issue6- June 2013

emphasize shall be put on inspection of materials Under Pattern Loads And Load Paths” By: J. L.
and maintenance of quality of bamboo scaffolding Peng, T T. Yen/ Y. Lin, K. L. Wu, And W. F.
rather than investigating the new system. Chen, Journal Of Construction Engineering
And Management (1997)
REFERENCES [5] "Scaffolding: Safety, Design, and Construction
Issues” By: Soliman Khudeira, American
[1] “A Sustainable Scaffolding Alternative – Society of Civil Engineering, (2008)
Bamboo Scaffolding” By Aiyin Jiang, Ph.D., [6] "Scaffolding on High-Rise Buildings" By:
CPC University Of Cincinnati, Ohio Soliman Khudeira, American Society Of Civil
[2] "Designing Suspended Scaffold Structural Engineering, (2009)
Support Elements And Lifeline Anchorages In [7] “Wind Load On Integral-Lift Scaffolds For Tall
Conformance With Federal OSHA Building Construction" By: F. Yue; Y. Yuan;
Requirements" By: Howard J. Hill; Gary R. G. Q. Li; K. M. Ye; Zh. M. Chen; And Zh. P.
SEARER; Richard A. DETHLEFS; Jonathan E. Wang, American Society Of Civil Engineering,
Lewis, M.ASCE; And Terry F. PARET, (2005)
M.ASCE, American Society Of Civil [8] www.britishscaffolding.com
Engineering, (2010) [9] en.wikipedia.org/wiki/scaffolding
[3] “Metal Scaffolding Safety” By: Henry THO [10] www.buildingconservation.com
Lam And Alexander C.S. Chan Industrial [11] http//ajwengineer.com
Centre The Hong Kong Polytechnic University [12] www.ehow.com
Hong Kong [13] www. decorativepavingsolutions.com
[4] “Performance Of Scaffold Frame Shoring [14] www.classes.engr.oregonstate.edu

AUTHORS BIOGRAPHY

Hits Danabhai Bambhava was born in 1989 in an Andarna village of Rajkot District,
Gujarat. He received his Bachelor of Engineering degree in Civil Engineering from
the Birla Vishvakarma Mahavidyalaya Engineering College of Sardar Patel
Univesity in 2011. At present he is Final year student of Master`s Degree in
Construction Engineering and Management from Birla Vishwakarma
Mahavidyalaya, Gujarat Technological University

Prof. Jayeshkumar R. Pitroda was born in 1977 in Vadodara City. He received his
Bachelor of Engineering degree in Civil Engineering from the Birla Vishvakarma
Mahavidyalaya, Sardar Patel University in 2000. In 2009 he received his Master's
Degree in Construction Engineering and Management from Birla Vishvakarma
Mahavidyalaya, Sardar Patel University. He joined Birla Vishvakarma
Mahavidyalaya Engineering College as a faculty where he is Assistant Professor of
Civil Engineering Department with a total experience of 12 years in the field of
Research, Designing and education. He is guiding M.E. (Construction Engineering
& Management) Thesis work in the field of Civil/ Construction Engineering. He has
papers published in National Conferences and International Journals.

Prof. Jaydevbhai J. Bhavsar received his Bachelor of Engineering degree in Civil

Engineering from the Birla Vishvakarma Mahavidyalaya, Sardar Patel University in
1978. In 1986 he received his Master's Degree in Building Science and Technology
from University of Roorkee. He joined Birla Vishvakarma Mahavidyalaya
Engineering College as a faculty where he is Associate professor of Civil
Engineering Department with a total experience of 32years in the field of Research,
Designing and education. He is guiding M.E. (Construction Engineering &
Management) Thesis work in the field of Civil/ Construction Engineering. He has
papers published in National Conferences and International Journals.

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