Articles

The Metro line running from RFK Stadium down to Benning Road in NE Washington D.C. needed retrofitting. The aging column piers that supported the trains and roadway above were getting closer to the end of their service life. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) hired contractor W.M. Schlosser to undertake the massive job of providing additional support to the metro train line columns, which would provide for a much... Read More

Safety is a top concern when working at height. For instance, around 4500 scaffolding-related injuries occur in the construction industry every year—resulting in roughly $90 million in lost workdays and other associated costs such as potential fines and increased insurance premiums. These accidents are often preventable, thereby making a bit of preparation incredibly valuable.  There are many ways for employers to protect their employees from scaffolding-related accidents, including providing adequate... Read More

Nuclear power plants are required to routinely undergo rigorous monitoring, inspecting, and maintenance procedures to help ensure their safe operation. In the Spring of 2020, Scaffolding Solutions was hired to provide safe access to the outside of the curved structure of a nuclear plant located in rural South Carolina. “Scaffolding Solutions did a great job on the nuclear shutdown. They designed and installed a custom suspended access bracket to meet... Read More

Construction elevators help get workers and materials safely to upper-level floors. However, not all elevators are created equal. Some are made to only move people, others only materials and still others are ideal for moving people and materials together.  You can start the hoist selection process for your project by asking yourself a few questions. Do I need to move people or just materials—or both? Are there any potential access... Read More

The National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) in Washington D.C. champions the work of women artists through exhibits, online content, programs, and collections. NMWA has been located in the same building since it first opened in 1983. As time went by, the 112-year-old iconic building was starting to show signs of its age—exterior cornices and designs were crumbling, and the original windows were cracked. Because of this, the... Read More

There’s a time and a place for using a scissor lift or rolling tower. For example, when a church needs repairs done high above its altar stage, the first inclination might be to run down to the local equipment rental store and pick up a scissor lift for a few days. But how exactly do you get a ~4,000lb piece of equipment onto a raised platform in a confined space... Read More

Scaffold systems are subjected to the same winds as the building to which they are attached. That means safety and compliance with various regulations hinges on scaffolding engineers being able to correctly calculate wind loads and design an appropriate system.  Many different factors need to be considered when making these calculations, including: Geographic LocationThe shape of the scaffoldingThe shape of the buildingScaffolding heightWind pressure The wind has a tendency not... Read More

When repairing or renovating older buildings, the suitability of the existing structure to support scaffolding must be carefully evaluated.  This is because scaffolding systems often rely on anchoring into existing facade elements for lateral stability.  The scaffold design may also require leg supports to rest on top of existing roofs or walls that will impart gravity loads into delicate structural elements. Improperly designed or erected scaffolding can damage an older... Read More

The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, houses some of the Smithsonian’s largest aircraft and spacecraft, including a Concorde jet and the Space Shuttle Discovery. The Center is a popular destination, attracting nearly eight million visitors and aviation enthusiasts every year. The on-site Boeing Aviation Hangar, which shelters many of the museum’s pieces, is the length of three football fields and reaches a height of 10 stories. The hangar’s... Read More

When completed in 1928, the Buncombe County Courthouse became North Carolina’s tallest local government building at 17 stories high. Over time, the landmark structure deteriorated and eventually required extensive restoration. To get it done, remediation crews would have to work 195 feet above ground to mend the historic building’s exterior brickwork. This meant that safe and reliable scaffolding would be critical to the project’s success. The county needed experts familiar... Read More