California Code of Regulations › Title 8 - Industrial Relations › Division 1 - Department of Industrial Relations › Chapter 4 - Division of Industrial Safety › Subchapter 4 - Construction Safety Orders › Article 23 - Suspended Scaffolds › Section 1664 - Needle-Beam Scaffold

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a)
					 Needle-beam scaffolds shall be designed with a factor of safety of at least 4,
					 to support the loads to be imposed, but in no case shall the strength or
					 quality be less than required by the following specifications. (See B-37,
					 Appendix)
(1) Wood needle beams shall be not
					 less than 4 inches by 6 inches in cross section, if the distance between
					 supports does not exceed 10 feet. Larger beams are required for spans in excess
					 of 10 feet, and in all cases they shall be placed with the greater dimension
					 vertical. They shall be "selected lumber," or equivalent, straight-grained, and
					 free of knots or other defects. Other materials or types may be used if of
					 equivalent strength and rigidity.
(2) Wood needle beams shall be made from one
					 piece of material without splices or laminated joints. Laminated wood beams,
					 manufactured of good quality, glued members, subjected to proper bonding
					 pressure, may along with other materials be used if of equivalent
					 strength.
(3) Wood needle beams
					 shall not be painted in such a manner as to hide the grain structure. They may
					 be coated with linseed oil or other transparent coating.
(4) Ropes used for the support of needle
					 beams shall be not less than 1 ¼ -inch diameter Manila rope, or
					 equivalent, free from flaws, deterioration, chemical damage, or other
					 imperfections. C-clamps or open hooks shall not be used for support of needle
					 beams or needle-beam ropes.
(5) The
					 ropes shall be attached to the needle beams by a scaffold hitch, or some other
					 equally effective method, at a point not less than 1 foot from the end of the
					 beam. Ropes shall be so secured to the beams or girders as to prevent tipping
					 or slipping of either the beam or the scaffold. When the rope attachment is
					 within 2 feet of beam end, bolt or cleat shall be attached or other means taken
					 to prevent rope from coming off beam.
(6) Planks making up platforms on needle
					 beams shall not be less than 2 inches by 10 inches and not have more than a 10
					 foot span. All planks shall be secured by suitable cleats or drop bolts to
					 prevent slipping, tipping, or collapsing, with special attention for those
					 planks that are on the beam overhang outside the rope attachment. When planks
					 are in an inclined position of 5 percent or more, they shall be provided with
					 cleats on the working surface at least 1 ¾ inches by 2 inches in cross
					 section, spaced not more than 16 inches apart.
(7) Platforms used for riveting or other work
					 requiring similar tools shall be not less than 36 inches wide when used on
					 exterior of structures, and not less than 30 inches wide for interior
					 work.
(8) Needle-beam platforms
					 that are used for rivet heaters shall be not less than 6 feet wide and 10 feet
					 long, with planks laid close together, and some provision shall be made to
					 prevent materials or tools from rolling off edges.
(9) Where the supports for needle beams are
					 fixed members rather than suspension ropes, positive means shall be taken to
					 prevent the beams from turning or rotating to a position where the strength is
					 reduced.
(10) All unattached tools,
					 bolts, and nuts used on needle beam scaffolds shall be kept in suitable
					 containers, properly secured.
(11)
					 If one end of a needle beam scaffold platform rests on a permanent structural
					 section, all applicable sections of this Article and Article 23 shall be
					 observed.
(12) Each employee
					 working on a needle beam scaffold shall be provided with and use personal fall
					 protection in accordance with the requirements of Article 24 or by a safety net
					 rigged as provided in Section
					 1671.