--- title: When A Scaffold Does & Doesn't Need A Design description: Updated guidance to TG20:21 and scaffolding design. image: https://blog.designsafe.co.uk/hubfs/Book+Pad2.jpg --- [![Access Design & Safety Limited](https://blog.designsafe.co.uk/hubfs/Access_Design__Safety_October2018%20Theme/Images/logo.png)](https://www.designsafe.co.uk/) - [HOME](https://www.designsafe.co.uk/) - SERVICES - [Scaffold Design](https://www.designsafe.co.uk/scaffold-design/) - [Scaffold Inspections](https://www.designsafe.co.uk/scaffold-inspections/) - [Design Check](https://www.designsafe.co.uk/design-check/) - [Site Surveys](https://www.designsafe.co.uk/site-surveys/) - [PROJECTS](https://designsafe.co.uk/projects) - [Commercial](https://www.designsafe.co.uk/project-category/commercial/) - [Education](https://www.designsafe.co.uk/project-category/education/) - [Government / MOD](https://www.designsafe.co.uk/project-category/government-mod/) - [Residential](https://www.designsafe.co.uk/project-category/residential/) - [Religious](https://www.designsafe.co.uk/project-category/religious/) - [Transport](https://www.designsafe.co.uk/project-category/transport/) - [ABOUT US](https://www.designsafe.co.uk/about-us/) - [GUIDES & RESOURCES](https://www.designsafe.co.uk/free-guides/) - [BLOG](https://blog.designsafe.co.uk/) - [CONTACT](https://www.designsafe.co.uk/contact-us/) - [REQUEST A QUOTE](https://blog.designsafe.co.uk/request-a-quote-step-one) #### [01384 459090](tel:01384%20459090) #### [info@designsafe.co.uk](mailto:info@designsafe.co.uk) #### 1 Parsons Street Dudley, DY1 1JJ - [HOME](https://www.designsafe.co.uk/) - SERVICES - [Scaffold Design](https://www.designsafe.co.uk/scaffold-design/) - [Scaffold Inspections](https://www.designsafe.co.uk/scaffold-inspections/) - [Design Check](https://www.designsafe.co.uk/design-check/) - [Site Surveys](https://www.designsafe.co.uk/site-surveys/) - [PROJECTS](https://designsafe.co.uk/projects) - [Commercial](https://www.designsafe.co.uk/project-category/commercial/) - [Education](https://www.designsafe.co.uk/project-category/education/) - [Government / MOD](https://www.designsafe.co.uk/project-category/government-mod/) - [Residential](https://www.designsafe.co.uk/project-category/residential/) - [Religious](https://www.designsafe.co.uk/project-category/religious/) - [Transport](https://www.designsafe.co.uk/project-category/transport/) - [ABOUT US](https://www.designsafe.co.uk/about-us/) - [GUIDES & RESOURCES](https://www.designsafe.co.uk/free-guides/) - [BLOG](https://blog.designsafe.co.uk/) - [CONTACT](https://www.designsafe.co.uk/contact-us/) - [REQUEST A QUOTE](https://blog.designsafe.co.uk/request-a-quote-step-one) # Access Design & Safety Blog ## When A Scaffold Does & Doesn't Need A Design Posted by [Matthew Robinson](https://blog.designsafe.co.uk/author/matthew-robinson) on Sep 15, 2021 3:00:00 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![Book+Pad-1](https://blog.designsafe.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Book+Pad-1.jpeg?width=421&name=Book+Pad-1.jpeg) ## Introduction Whether work is taking place on a domestic or commercial property, one of the main considerations that clients have is whether scaffolding arrangements require a design. While the HSE has compiled a useful list of scaffold arrangements that need a design prior to work taking place, it’s understandable that confusion sometimes arises. Historical practices throughout the scaffolding industry and documents which highlight when scaffolding needs a design – such as the TG20:21 guidance literature - often clash. That’s not to say TG20:21 isn’t specific or prescriptive in regard to the requirements of scaffolding which can be erected without further design requirements – factors such as the estimated wind load, whether the scaffolding is netted/sheeted, where the scaffolding is located etc. are usually taken into consideration. Ultimately, your scaffold configuration could meet some or all of these criteria, but perhaps the ultimate guidance as to whether you need a design is to consider what your customer wants. It’s possible to argue that certain scaffold configurations won’t require a design if it complies with the British Standard/TG20. In these circumstances a TG20:21 compliance sheet can be used instead of a full design. However, if your customer insists on a design, in most cases you’ll have no choice but to provide one. Most large-scale contractors won’t allow scaffolds to be erected on-site without a design. These designs often form a vital component of the contractors’ Health & Safety management – and furthermore, designs are useful to co-ordinate all tradespersons who may need to use the scaffold. ## So Which Scaffolds Require Design? Essentially any scaffold where Tube & Fittings have been used and a TG20:21 compliance sheet cannot fully cover all aspects of the scaffold, should be designed. For more a comprehensive lift of typical scaffolds that do and do not require design, plus information on what we believe a design should include, legal requirements of scaffolding, competence and supervision guidelines and inspecting a scaffold, please download our full guide [here](https://blog.designsafe.co.uk/when-scaffolding-does-and-doesnt-need-a-design). For more information contact Access Design & Safety Ltd, where we can help you create safe ramps and scaffolding designs that are compliant with all the relevant guidance & codes. You can contact us on 01384 459090 or [info@designsafe.co.uk](mailto:info@designsafe.co.uk)[mailto:info@designsafe.co.uk](mailto:info@designsafe.co.uk)   [![Request A Quote CTA - Large](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4895389/6c6801dc-b1a1-450d-89a4-84831df932e9.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4895389/6c6801dc-b1a1-450d-89a4-84831df932e9) Topics: [Scaffold Design](https://blog.designsafe.co.uk/tag/scaffold-design), [TG20](https://blog.designsafe.co.uk/tag/tg20), [TG20:21](https://blog.designsafe.co.uk/tag/tg2021) [![Request A Quote](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4895389/a893cb0b-e28b-4f96-ba72-a6d6978b3748.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4895389/a893cb0b-e28b-4f96-ba72-a6d6978b3748) ### Subscribe Here! 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Scaffold design is at the core of our business and our scaffold design drawings and calculation works are founded on many years of experience. ### SERVICES - [Scaffold Design](https://www.designsafe.co.uk/scaffold-design/) - [Site Surveys](https://www.designsafe.co.uk/site-surveys/) - [Design Check](https://www.designsafe.co.uk/design-check/) - [Scaffold Inspections](https://www.designsafe.co.uk/scaffold-inspections/) ### QUICK LINKS - [Blog](https://blog.designsafe.co.uk) - [Request a Quote](https://blog.designsafe.co.uk/request-a-quote-step-one) - [Contact Us](https://www.designsafe.co.uk/contact-us/) - [Privacy Policy](https://www.designsafe.co.uk/privacy-policy/) - [Terms and Conditions](https://www.designsafe.co.uk/terms-and-conditions/) ### CONTACT US **Access Design & Safety Ltd** 1 Parsons Street Dudley, West Midlands DY1 1JJ  **01384 459090**  [info@designsafe.co.uk](mailto:info@designsafe.co.uk) Company Number: 07459706 VAT Number: 105 2545 49 © Copyright Access Design & Safety Ltd 2017. 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