To the layman, one scaffolding tower is pretty much indistinguishable from any other, but anyone who works in the scaffolding industry knows that a variety of different scaffolding arrangements and designs are used for different jobs. One of the most commonly used specialised scaffolding arrangements is cantilevered scaffolding; these scaffolds minimise the space taken up at ground level by using the building they are attached to to provide structural support.
Because these scaffolding arrangements do not have a traditional base to provide stability and load-bearing strength, they have very specific requirements, and using quality scaffolding tubes to erect them is the most important. Consequently, many scaffolding firms that regularly erect cantilevered scaffolds make extensive use of aluminium scaffolding tubes, as these tubes have a number of advantages over traditional steel scaffolding that make them very well suited to cantilevered arrangements.
Rustproof
Unlike steel, aluminium does not rust when exposed to moisture, as it creates a layer of rustproof aluminium oxide when exposed to air. Many scaffolding firms choose aluminium tubes over conventional steel poles solely for this immunity, and it is particularly useful for firms that routinely used cantilevered scaffolds.
Because cantilevered arrangements have less support poles at ground level (some small scaffolds used on residential buildings have as few as two support poles), keeping all of your poles free of damaging rust is especially important; fewer support poles means fewer redundancies if a tube should buckle due to rust damage. Using aluminium scaffolds gives both you and your workers extra peace of mind when working on cantilevered scaffolds. Using aluminium also makes storing your tubes safely easier, since you don't have to worry about ambient moisture levels.
Lightweight
Aluminium tubes are also significantly lighter than their steel counterparts, another property that makes them ideal for use in cantilevered arrangements. Less weight means less strain is placed on the building that supports your scaffold, which decreases the risks of accidental wall damage.
Less weight also allows you to use fewer support poles to hold up your finished scaffold; since cantilevered scaffolds are designed to minimise obstruction at ground level, this is a particularly useful quality, especially if you are working in urban areas with heavy foot traffic.
Recyclable
No scaffolding tube, whether it is made of steel or aluminium, lasts forever, and selling on your aging, damaged tubes once they are no longer usable can help defray scaffolding purchase costs and balance your business's books. Because aluminium tubes do not suffer rust damage over time, they are particularly valuable when sold as scrap, and the metal itself is far more valuable to scrap merchants than steel.
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