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Cantilever scaffolding with sketches

Short answer

Cantilever scaffolding carries its platform on needles projecting from the wall, supported by struts or anchors. It is used when the ground cannot support standards, such as over basements or busy pavements. Types include needle type passing through the wall and truss-out type with inclined struts.

Explain cantilever scaffolding with neat sketches.

Cantilever scaffolding is a scaffold in which the platform is carried on needles (projecting beams) that cantilever out from the wall, instead of on standards resting on the ground. It is used when the ground cannot support standards (e.g. beside a basement, or on soft or sloping ground), or when the building is on a street where the pavement must remain free.

Parts: needles (steel/timber beams), struts or braces, standards on the needles, ledgers, putlogs, boards and guard rails.

Types:

  1. Needle (built-up) type: needles pass through holes in the wall and are anchored inside by a counterweight or by tying to the floor.
  2. Truss-out type: needles are supported by inclined struts fixed to the wall.
              guard rail |
    wall |== boards ======|
    wall |==== needle ====|
    wall |           /
    wall |         /
    wall |       /  strut
    wall |     /
    wall |   /
    wall | /

✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)

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