Why the Use of Aluminium Mobile Scaffolding Is Widespread in the Trades Industry

Like their static kin, mobile scaffolds provide safe and stable platforms for performing work at height. However, they have the added advantage of being mobile as they can be relocated from point A to point B of the same job site with relative ease: that is, without being dismantled and reassembled. This gives people the ability to do multiple jobs quickly without compromising their safety. 

Mobile scaffolds are typically made of either aluminium or steel. Each option has its merits and demerits, which determine its suitability for use in a specific application. If you're looking to rent or buy mobile scaffolding for a trade job, such as painting, plumbing construction, installation of insulation, and more, you can't go wrong with aluminium versions of the equipment.

Continue reading to acquaint yourself with some of the reasons why aluminium mobile scaffolding is a popular choice for users in the trades industry.

Aluminium scaffolding is corrosion resistant

Even though aluminium scaffolds are not as strong as their steel kin, they provide a level of corrosion resistance that can only be achieved through galvanic protection.

In a galvanic protection system, a zinc coating is applied onto the surface of the steel substrate to protect it from corrosion. The zinc corrodes in place of the steel, explaining why this system of protection is also referred to as sacrificial protection.

Aluminium is naturally resistant to corrosion as it readily reacts with the oxygen in the air to form an oxide coating over its surface area. This oxide coating serves a similar purpose to the zinc coating applied over steel, but without the additional expense.

Aluminium scaffolding is affordable

Cost is one of the biggest reasons why tradespeople choose aluminium over steel when they're choosing mobile scaffolding equipment. Mobile scaffolding made of aluminium is generally cheaper than steel ones because it does not need to undergo the alloying process that steel requires before it can be used.

What's more, aluminum's inherent resistance to corrosion eliminates the need for galvanic protection, which usually adds to the cost of producing steel.

Aluminium scaffolding is lightweight yet sturdy

Whether it's working on roofs or painting the walls of a tall building, the work that tradespeople do usually involves a lot of moving around. For many tradespeople, mobile scaffolds that are easy to move around are an absolute godsend.

Aluminium weighs about one-third the weight of steel, meaning it can match steel's strength without being as heavy. The lightweight design of aluminium mobile scaffolds makes them relatively easy to move from one place to another, thus saving time and energy.

Despite the many great advantages of aluminium mobile scaffolding, there are situations when steel versions are the better option. To determine which type of mobile scaffolding is right for your needs, speak to a trusted industry expert based in your area.


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