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As a minimum, we need your drawings or sketches showing the structure to be scaffolded, any photos of the site if available, and an indication of your programme. The more information you can provide — tie options, access constraints, loading requirements, sheeting — the more accurate and useful the quotation will be. If you're unsure what to send, just get in touch and we'll talk you through it. We'd rather have a conversation early than produce a quote based on assumptions that turn out to be wrong.
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Our typical turnaround on standard projects is 7–10 working days from receipt of all required information. For more complex schemes — sheeted structures, temporary roofs, cantilever designs or rail-adjacent projects — timescales will depend on the scope and we'll agree these with you at quotation stage. If you have a tight programme, tell us upfront and we'll do everything we can to accommodate it. Reactive turnaround is something our clients consistently highlight, and we take it seriously.
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Yes. We provide free, no-obligation quotations based on the information you supply. There's no cost to getting a quote and no obligation to proceed.
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Sending drawings allows us to produce a desk-based design, which is suitable for many straightforward projects where the structure and access constraints are clearly defined. A site survey is recommended where tie options are uncertain, ground conditions are unknown, the structure is complex or irregular, or where the site has access or logistical constraints that aren't captured on drawings. For projects in Cornwall and the South West in particular, we often recommend a survey given the variability of ground conditions, coastal exposure and access on rural sites. We'll advise you at quotation stage if we think a survey would materially improve the design.
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We'll always try to. Tell us your required date at the point of enquiry and we'll let you know whether we can meet it. Where timescales are very tight, early engagement gives us the best chance of delivering what you need without compromising quality or compliance.
Your Questions, Answered
Getting Started & Quoting
Design & Compliance
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TG20 provides a compliance route for standard tube and fitting scaffolds that fall within defined parameters — height, bay size, loading, exposure and tie patterns. When a scaffold falls outside those parameters, a bespoke engineered design is required. Common triggers include heavily loaded platforms, sheeted structures in exposed locations, irregular facades, limited tie options, cantilever or bridging arrangements, and scaffolds adjacent to the railway. If you're unsure whether your project needs a bespoke design, send us the details and we'll advise you — there's no cost to asking.
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Our designs are produced in accordance with the relevant British and European Standards, including BS EN 12811, BS EN 1991 (Eurocode 1 — wind loading), BS EN 1993 (Eurocode 3 — steel design) and the NASC technical guidance documents including TG20 where applicable. All calculations and drawings are produced by qualified engineers and checked in accordance with our internal quality procedures.
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A standard design package includes structural calculations, erection drawings showing the scaffold arrangement, tie layout and key dimensions, and any specific erection notes relevant to the scheme. For Network Rail projects, packages are produced in accordance with NR/L2/CIV/006 requirements. We can also provide method statements and risk assessments where required — just let us know at enquiry stage.
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Yes — this is what we refer to as an as-built design. Rather than designing the scaffold before erection, we produce a design that records and verifies the scaffold as it has been built. This is commonly required for compliance, sign-off, or where a scaffold has been altered on site and the original design no longer reflects what's been erected. As-built designs carry the same engineering rigour as pre-erection designs — they are not simply a rubber stamp on whatever has been built. If the as-built arrangement cannot be verified as structurally adequate, we'll advise you on what remedial action is required.
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Network Rail requires an independent CAT III check on scaffold designs for structures within — or adjacent to — the operational railway, including structures that could affect the railway in the event of collapse or overload. The check is carried out by a competent engineer independent of the original designer, verifying that the design, calculations and drawings are technically sound and compliant with Network Rail standards. We hold Network Rail CAT III capability and can provide independent checks on designs produced by other parties, as well as full design and check packages where we act as both designer and checker through our internal independence procedures.
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It depends on the nature of the change. Minor variations that fall within the tolerances of the original design may not require a formal redesign, but this needs to be assessed by the designer — not assumed by the contractor. Changes that affect tie positions, loading, height, bay configuration or sheeting arrangements will typically require the design to be reviewed and reissued. Proceeding with significant changes without involving the designer puts the contractor and TWC in a difficult position from both a safety and liability perspective. Our advice is always to contact us before making changes rather than after — it's quicker and cheaper to assess a proposed change than to produce an as-built design for something that may not be structurally adequate.
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We're a close-knit team and we work hard to maintain continuity on client relationships. Where possible, you'll deal with the same engineer throughout a project. For ongoing clients, we aim to build a relationship where our engineers understand how you work and what you expect — something our clients consistently tell us matters to them.
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The design is a legal document and the scaffold must be erected in accordance with it. If the erected scaffold deviates from the design — whether due to site conditions, material availability or erector decisions — the original design no longer applies and the structure is technically unverified. In that situation, an as-built design should be commissioned to assess whether the as-erected arrangement is structurally adequate. Leaving a significant deviation unaddressed creates liability for the contractor, the TWC and the principal contractor. If you find yourself in this situation, contact us and we'll advise on the most practical way to resolve it.
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Yes. We hold professional indemnity insurance appropriate to the scope of our design work. Details are available on request.
Process & Working With Us
Still have a question? If you haven't found what you're looking for, get in touch with our team directly — we're happy to discuss your project and advise on the best approach before any commitment is made.