Scaffolding equipment is routinely left outdoors assembled in construction projects; this leaves it exposed to corrosion damage. Corroded scaffolds pose a serious risk to the lives of workers or bystanders and hence will not comply with strict industrial scaffolding safety requirements. Scaffolding providers such as Access Scaffolding in Sydney must take measures against corrosion to ensure the safety and longevity of their equipment.
There are many ways of protecting industrial scaffolding from corrosion damage; options include painting, galvanizing, cathodic protection, and more. The most commonly used are painting and galvanizing.
Painting:
Painting is a simple method of protecting metals from corrosion, the paint forms a physical barrier between the water and the metallic component, preventing the contact needed to corrode. Paint must be routinely inspected for breaks as these will allow rapid corrosion to commence.
Galvanizing:
Metals corrode due to chemical reactions between regions called anodes and cathodes which are connected by an electrolyte (usually water). When steel corrodes, it exposes deeper layers of anode and cathode to allow corrosion to continue. Galvanizing uses another metal such as zinc which develops an insoluble patina on the surface to prevent corrosion spreading.
Access Scaffolding in Sydney uses a galvanized finish on its CUPLOK scaffolds to provide exceptional and long-lasting resistance to corrosion damage in their industrial scaffolding. This protection ensures strength and integrity throughout projects to keep workers and bystanders safe. Find out more about Access Scaffolding in Sydney today!