Ainscaff Scaffolding · Commercial Scaffolding Documentation · Dublin, Cork and Galway

Commercial Scaffolding: RAMS, Design Drawings & Handover

By Ainscaff Scaffolding

A compliant commercial scaffold should come with four things: a RAMS pack (Risk Assessment and Method Statement), scaffold design drawings and load calculations, a handover certificate confirming safe erection, and dated inspection records throughout the hire. Together these prove the scaffold was designed, built and maintained to a recognised standard.

The documentation a main contractor's safety file needs from a scaffolding subcontractor, and what each document actually proves, is often unclear until a site inspection asks for it. This guide sets out the four documents a compliant commercial scaffold should come with, based on the standard Ainscaff provides across Dublin, Cork and Galway.

Why Scaffolding Documentation Matters

On a commercial site, the scaffold is only as good as the paperwork that proves it is safe. A main contractor's safety file has to show that the temporary works were designed by a competent person, erected to that design, checked before use and inspected throughout. Missing documentation is one of the most common reasons a scaffold is quarantined or a site inspection escalates. Ainscaff provides the full set as standard on commercial projects, and this guide explains what each document is for.

The Full Document Set, Explained

• 1
  The RAMS Pack RAMS stands for Risk Assessment and Method Statement. The risk assessment identifies the hazards of erecting, using and dismantling the scaffold and the controls that reduce them; the method statement sets out, step by step, how the crew will carry out the work safely. A good RAMS pack is specific to the project, covering access routes, exclusion zones, lifting method and sequence of erection, rather than a generic template. Ainscaff produces a project-specific RAMS pack for every commercial scaffold.
• 2
  Design Drawings and Load Calculations Any scaffold that is not a straightforward, standard configuration should be designed by a competent engineer and supported by load calculations. Design drawings show the bay dimensions, lift heights, tie pattern, bracing and loading class; the calculations demonstrate the structure can carry the intended loads. Ainscaff's in-house structural engineers produce drawings and calculations to EN 12811 (the European standard for temporary works equipment) and TG20:21 (the industry guidance for tube-and-fitting scaffolds).
• 3
  The Handover Certificate When the scaffold is complete and safe to use, the scaffolding contractor issues a handover certificate. This confirms the scaffold has been erected in accordance with the agreed design and is fit for the loads it was designed for. It is the point at which responsibility for safe use passes to the user; nobody should access a scaffold that has not been handed over, or one displaying a "do not use" status.
• 4
  Inspection Records A scaffold must be inspected before first use, then at least every seven days, and again after any event likely to have affected its stability, most commonly high winds or an alteration. Each inspection is recorded and signed. Ainscaff carries out weekly inspections and post-weather inspections, retains the records for the hire period and for at least 12 months afterwards, and makes them available to the client on request.

The Full Document Set at a Glance

Documentation FAQs

• Is a RAMS pack a legal requirement?

  A suitable risk assessment and a safe system of work are required under Irish construction safety law, and main contractors require a RAMS pack from scaffolding subcontractors as standard. Ainscaff provides one for every commercial project.
• Does every scaffold need a bespoke design?

  No. Many standard configurations are covered by TG20:21 compliance sheets. A bespoke design and calculations are needed when the scaffold falls outside standard configurations, such as unusual loads, heights, tie patterns or ground conditions.
• Who can inspect a scaffold?

  A scaffold must be inspected by a competent person before first use, at least every seven days, and after any event likely to affect its stability. Ainscaff's trained inspectors carry this out and maintain the records.