scaffolding material

[engrom]

what are the suitable scaffolding material other than wooden planks to use inside a stainless steel vessel in offshore environment? Scaffolding is required for inspecting the vessel. Is Aluminium suitable? Are there any GRP scaffolding material available in the industry? Not using CS to avoid iron contamination.

 

[Bagman2524]

If you're just looking for planks, I would check into fiberglass. We've used fiberglass grating/decking supported by stainless steel at our Waste Ponds and its' worked well.

 

[MiketheEngineer]

Any type of plank - wood, steel, aluminum, plastic will work as long as properly sized and loaded. It is just that the environment will affect them in different ways at different speeds.

We have done applications where we found it more economical to supply steel and then just scrap(recycle) them after the project is done. AL or plastic is very expensive compared to steel - 3-6 times higher.

You must inspect ALL components before every shift (OSHA rule) to verify they are still OK. Good luck

 

[Duwe6]

Plain carbon steel is not an option, when it rubs on the stainless the transferred material makes the stainless start rusting. If you wrapped the carbon plank ends with a s/s or aluminum thin plate, it would word. Hot-dip galvanizing works to keep carbon off the stainless. I would just buy off-the-shelf aluminum 'pick boards' and make sure that any steel fittings are hot-dip galvanized. The galvanizing will eventually fail due to saltspray corrosion, but they will last months.

 

[gtaw]

I would stay away from using galvanized material around stainless. They do not play well together especially if there is a chance welding will be involved.

The zinc alloy can easily transfer to the stainless and cause cracking issues if a weld is subsequently made in the area contaminated with zinc.

Best regards - Al