ScaFixChecklist
Scaffold site survey checklist – what to check before the job
Most of a scaffold plan is decided on the survey. Lengths and heights set the bays and lifts, the ground sets the foundation, and the wall sets the ties. This checklist covers what to look at on site, the rule or guidance behind each point, and how the measurements carry through to the parts list of a real example house.
By Ole Emil Frikstad Urstad · How the numbers are computed ·
What should you check on a scaffold site survey?
Measure every wall, the eaves and ridge heights, and look at the ground where each base jack will stand. Check the wall material for ties, obstructions, overhead lines, whether the scaffold needs a highway licence, and where the lorry can unload. The example house, 11.4 m × 5.3 m, gives 32 base jacks and 24 wall ties in Layher Allround.
Before you go
- Drawings of the building, ideally elevations as a PDF – ScaFix imports them (Basic and Pro), so you arrive with the dimensions in hand.
- Tape or laser measure, spirit level and a camera.
- From the client: what work the scaffold is for, which trades will use it, when it is needed and for how long.
- A look at the map: if the scaffold will stand on a pavement or road, the highway licence has to fit the programme.
The checklist: what to look at on site
Ten points, in the order you usually walk round a building. The third column says why each one matters – the rule or guidance, or what in the plan depends on it.
| Item | What to check on site | Why – rule or consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Measurements | Length of every wall, eaves height, ridge height on the gables, the height of the top working lift and the roof overhang. | Length sets the bays and height the lifts – see the table below. Wrong measurements mean a wrong parts list. |
| Ground and foundation | What the base jacks will stand on: tarmac, gravel, grass, decking, drain covers, basements and the slope along the wall. | HSE expects a firm, level foundation and warns about basements, drains and soft ground (HSE). |
| Ties | The wall material (concrete, brick, block, timber), where ties can go, and whether the facade will be insulated or re-clad. | Ties must stay within their safe working load and follow the manufacturer's instructions (HSE); NASC TG4:25 covers anchor selection and proof testing. See scaffold ties. |
| Obstructions | Windows and doors that must stay usable, bay windows, balconies, canopies, downpipes and trees. | Decides where the scaffold breaks, where brackets or a change of bays are needed – and how many ends to pack. |
| Overhead power lines | Lines over or along the scaffold, service cables into the building, lights and signs on the facade. | Scaffold tube can conduct electricity to earth if it touches or comes too close to a line; follow HSE GS6 and contact the network operator. Power line crossings normally need bespoke design (HSE). |
| Highway | Will the scaffold stand on a pavement or road, and how much space do pedestrian routes and barriers need? | Scaffolds on the highway need a licence from the highway authority under section 169 of the Highways Act 1980; see do I need a scaffolding permit. |
| The public | Footfall, entrances, nearby schools, and where barriers and signs will go. | HSE says scaffolds should never be erected or dismantled over people or busy pavements; consider a closure or a segregated area (HSE). |
| Deliveries and storage | Where the lorry can park and unload, the carry distance, and space to stack kit without blocking access. | Sets the loading order and the labour for carrying; see the scaffold job packing checklist. |
| The work | Which trades will use the scaffold, what materials will be stored on it and at which heights they will work. | Sets the load class and the lift heights; see scaffold load classes. |
| Design route | Whether the scaffold fits a TG20:21 standard configuration or needs bespoke design (sheeting, loading bays, unusual ties). | Scaffolds outside a recognised standard configuration need strength and stability calculations (Work at Height Regulations, Schedule 3); see TG20 compliance sheets. |
From survey to parts list: what the measurements decide
The same detached house – 11.4 m × 5.3 m, eaves 4.5 m and ridge 6 m – calculated by the ScaFix engine in two systems. The table shows what the survey measurements decide: the bay lengths split each wall, and every base jack is a point the ground has to carry.
| Layher Allround | Kwikstage | |
|---|---|---|
| Long wall 11.4 m: bays | 4 × 3.07 m | 1 × 0.76 m + 3 × 3.05 m + 1 × 2.44 m |
| Gable wall 5.3 m (ridge 6 m): bays | 2 × 3.07 m | 1 × 0.76 m + 1 × 3.05 m + 1 × 2.44 m |
| Working lifts | 2.5 m and 4.5 m | 2.5 m and 4.5 m |
| Base jacks (points the ground carries) | 32 | 40 |
| Wall ties | 24 | 20 |
| Pieces in total | 515 | 533 |
Survey with the system in mind
The systems differ enough to survey with the system in mind: Layher Allround puts 32 base jacks on the ground and needs 24 wall ties, Kwikstage 40 and 20. The ties a scaffold actually needs follow the manufacturer's instructions or the design; see also how many scaffold ties per m².
Scaffold software on the survey
ScaFix runs in the browser and as an iPhone app, so the plan can take shape while you stand on site: enter the walls with the survey measurements, pick a system and see the 3D model and the parts list straight away. On sloping ground you enter the ground height at each end of a wall. If there are drawings of the building, the PDF can be imported (Basic and Pro).
More on drawing the plan: how to draw a scaffold plan and scaffolding apps for the site. ScaFix is a planning tool: it does not calculate structural stability and does not replace the on-site judgement of ground and ties.
Questions and answers
Who should do the scaffold survey?
The person planning the scaffold, ideally with the client or principal contractor who knows the building and the work. Under the Work at Height Regulations the scaffold's assembly plan is drawn up by a competent person (Schedule 3), and the survey is what it is built on.
Do I need a licence for scaffolding on the pavement?
In England and Wales, yes: a scaffold on the highway needs a licence from the highway authority under section 169 of the Highways Act 1980. Councils set their own forms and notice periods; see do I need a scaffolding permit.
What if the ground is soft or sloping?
The foundation must be firm and level (HSE). Use sole boards to spread the load, adjust the base jacks within the manufacturer's limits, and enter the ground level per wall in the plan so the lift heights come out right.
How many ties will the scaffold need?
That follows the manufacturer's instructions or the design, from the system, height, sheeting and wind. On the example house ScaFix gives 24 wall ties in Layher Allround and 20 in Kwikstage. The survey should confirm the wall can take anchors where they will go.
Can a survey be done from the office?
Partly. Drawings and maps give dimensions for a first estimate, but the ground, the wall material, overhead lines and delivery space have to be seen on site.
Sources
HSE scaffolding page and GS6, Highways Act 1980 s.169 and Work at Height Regulations 2005 on legislation.gov.uk, NASC TG4:25 notice of 22 Jun 2026, read 25 Oct 2026. Bays, base jacks and ties: the ScaFix engine, the same example house as the system pages.
Limits
- The number of wall ties follows the system's tie rule. Their positions must be checked against the manufacturer's assembly instructions.
- Round corners, silos and hanging scaffolds are in Pro. A round scaffold is not a standard configuration and needs a calculation or the supplier's documentation. A hanging scaffold (Layher Allround and HAKI Universal) always needs a structural calculation from the supplier or an engineer.
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