The objective of this Standard is to provide manufacturers and suppliers of suspended scaffolds and accessories with requirements for the proper operation of suspended scaffolds. Unlike independent scaffolds, suspended scaffolds have various rated capacities rather than being light, medium, heavy and special duty. Modular cradles may have different rated capacities, depending on the length of cradle.

The objective of this revision is to provide designers, manufacturers and suppliers of suspended scaffolds and accessories, up-to-date information and application on the equipment used currently in the suspended scaffold industry.

This edition incorporates the following major changes to the 1991 edition:

(a) Rope factor of safety (as in AS 1418.2) has been reduced from 10 to 8 to align with European Standards. (All scaffold hoists are now imported and it is appropriate that the values used by the hoist designers be followed.)
(b) Inclusion of a test to confirm the strength of a cradle assembly as an alternative to design by analysis (Appendix G).
(c) Inclusion of mandatory secondary rope at each suspension point.
(d) The following informative elements have been added and in some instances provide similar information to AS/NZS 4576, Guidelines for scaffolding:
(i) Examples of different configurations of suspended scaffolding (Appendix A).
(ii) Safety procedures for unattended cradles (Appendix B).
(iii) Operational guidance (Appendix C).
(iv) Advice on inspection and maintenance (Appendix D).
(v) Relevant matters to be checked before installation and use (Appendix E).
(vi) Flow chart outlining the different phases of the design, supply and use of suspended scaffolds (Appendix F).
(v) Cradle strength test (Appendix G).

The terms ‘normative’ and ‘informative’ have been used in this Standard to define the application of the appendix to which they apply. A ‘normative’ appendix is an integral part of a Standard, whereas an ‘informative’ appendix is only for information and guidance.