A Maryland-based scaffolding company has successfully defended its championship title at the United States’ most prestigious scaffold building competition, held at the World of Concrete trade show in Las Vegas.
Scaffold Resource, from Lanham, Maryland, completed the timed challenge in one hour, 20 minutes and 55 seconds to claim their second consecutive victory at the Scaffold & Access Industry Association (SAIA) competition on 20 January.
The annual event, under SAIA’s organisation, saw 13 teams from across the United States and the United Kingdom compete in a timed build-and-dismantle challenge, testing their technical skill, safety protocols and teamwork under real-world conditions.
International Competition
Turn Key Scaffold from California finished second with a time of one hour, 34 minutes and 20 seconds, whilst fellow Californian firm Scaffold Solutions claimed third place at one hour, 35 minutes and 40 seconds.
AK Scaffolding from Manchester represented the UK contingent, finishing fourth overall with a time of one hour, 43 minutes and 38 seconds.
The competition, sponsored by German scaffolding manufacturer Layher, attracted considerable attention from the estimated sixty thousand of construction professionals attending the World of Concrete exhibition.
In a separate public vote, Atlas Sales from Hawaii won the Crowd Favourite Award, securing 234 votes in an online poll—significantly ahead of other competitors.
SAIA President Mike Bredl presented the awards, including the coveted Championship Belt which has become a symbol of excellence within the American scaffolding industry.
Industry Recognition
The competition was judged by a panel of 19 industry experts, including representatives from major scaffolding firms and engineering consultancies across North America.
Beyond the competitive element, SAIA used the event to deliver safety demonstrations, with their Fall Protection Council highlighting the critical importance of rescue planning following falls, a factor often overlooked in workplace safety protocols.
“Fall protection is only half the story—what happens after a fall matters just as much,” organisers emphasised during Wednesday’s educational sessions, which examined suspension trauma risks and anchor testing.
One of Scotland’s largest scaffolding contractors, JR Scaffold Services, has completed a specialist access installation to support restoration works at St Fillan’s Church.
The 19th-century church, built in 1841 and located at the entrance to the village of Houston, is undergoing essential roof repairs. The scaffolding solution was designed to allow full removal and replacement of the existing slate roof, helping the project continue through winter weather conditions.
JR Scaffold Services installed a custom temporary roof and access scaffold over a two-week period. The project was led by contracts director John Jack and in-house temporary roof adviser Owen Stoney, supported by a team of three scaffolders.
The scaffold design was developed in collaboration with Gallery Access Solutions and incorporated a combination of Cuplok scaffolding and the Uni Roof system supplied by Altrad Dessa. The approach allowed the structure to be erected at roof level, rather than from ground level, due to limited space around the church.
The building’s proximity to the main road presented additional challenges. JR Scaffold Services worked closely with designers to ensure the scaffold complied with road and pavement regulations. Additional beam work was also introduced to manage restricted access at the rear of the site.
Owen Stoney said the project required careful planning due to the age and location of the building.
“This was an exciting and complex project to be involved with, as it allowed us to showcase our adaptability and expertise for our client,” he said.
“We worked closely with the designers to ensure the scaffold provided safe access for the restoration team, while also protecting pedestrians and road users around the site.”
The National Access & Scaffolding Confederation and the Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme are set to move to a new digital infrastructure on Monday, 26 January 2026, marking a significant change in how members and cardholders access services.
Revealed in its latest newsletter, the new platform is designed to bring NASC and CISRS systems together into a single, integrated digital environment. It will link existing online tools, including the ePortal, and is intended to improve usability while strengthening cybersecurity.
Clive Dickin, Group CEO of NASC, said the move reflects the organisation’s aim to provide a more streamlined and secure experience for users.
He said the goal was to create “a better user experience with a single, joined-up digital ecosystem”, adding that the new system has been built in a purpose-designed environment offering a higher level of cyber security.
Cyber security requirements have become increasingly important for NASC members, particularly those tendering for government or public sector work, where standards such as Cyber Essentials Plus are often required. NASC said the new digital ecosystem will support members in meeting those expectations.
Alongside improved security, the platform will allow users to personalise news updates and messages, making information more relevant to their roles and interests.
A new NASC and CISRS mobile app is also due to launch in the Apple and Android app stores from 14 February. From March, the app will include a digital CISRS card.
A Scaffmag mock-up of how the app might look
The digital card will display current training records and qualifications and will update automatically as new achievements are added. NASC said this will reduce the risk of outdated information and make card checks quicker and more reliable for contractors and site managers.
AT-PAC Ringlock has been used to support what the project team described as the longest zipline installation ever constructed in Qatar, spanning approximately 200 metres at a desert events site near Dukhan.
Delivered for Swiss Open Air International as part of the Brouq Desert Festival, the temporary installation required a scaffold solution capable of managing elevated cable tensions and dynamic loads, while also accommodating public access around the base of the structure.
The scale of the zipline set this project apart from typical event installations. A 200-metre span introduced significantly higher forces at the launch point, placing greater demands on stability, load transfer, and overall structural control.
Engineered support for a two-tower configuration
The scaffold formed the primary support for a two-tower zipline arrangement, consisting of a 20-metre-high launch tower and a 5-metre-high landing tower. Each tower had distinct performance requirements, with the launch structure designed to resist the highest cable tensions and associated overturning forces.
AT-PAC Ringlock was selected for its modular flexibility and structural capacity, allowing both towers to be configured efficiently while maintaining a controlled footprint suited to a live event environment. Counterweighting was integrated into the scaffold design to manage applied forces and ensure overall stability throughout operation.
Ringlock’s rosette connections enabled accurate alignment and rapid assembly, supporting the tight installation programme typically associated with large-scale events.
Managing public access and trip risk
In addition to structural performance, public safety around the base of the installation was a key design consideration. High footfall in close proximity to the towers required clear circulation routes and the removal of low-level obstructions wherever possible.
AT-PAC’s Raised Ledger System (RLS) was deployed specifically in public walkway areas around the structure. By elevating ledger connections, the system removed low-level components from pedestrian zones, significantly reducing trip hazards without compromising the integrity of the scaffold.
Trip hazard reduction was the primary driver for the use of RLS on this project, reflecting the additional safety demands of a people-facing events environment.
Installation of the two towers was completed over five days, requiring close coordination between engineering, logistics, and site teams. The scaffold solution incorporated a combination of rental and purchased material, demonstrating the flexibility of system scaffolding in temporary event applications.
At the time of reporting, the structure remains in place, with dismantling scheduled following the conclusion of the event programme.
Adapting system scaffolding for events
Supporting the longest zipline installation in Qatar required Ringlock to perform beyond its conventional role as access scaffolding. The project illustrates how engineered system solutions can be adapted for temporary structures subject to dynamic loading, public interface, and programme-driven installation constraints.
It also highlights how targeted system features, such as raised ledger configurations, can play a decisive role in managing specific safety challenges unique to event environments.
Inner City Scaffolding, a London-based scaffolding contractor working across commercial and urban construction projects, has appointed Ben Ramsey as its new managing director.
The appointment marks a leadership change as the company enters 2026 and follows a period of development under Sean Phillips, who will remain a director and co-owner of the business.
Inner City Scaffolding delivers access and temporary works solutions across London and the surrounding regions, supporting commercial developments, refurbishment projects and complex inner-city sites. The business is known for operating in constrained urban environments where logistics, safety and coordination are critical.
Ramsey steps into the role during a wider transition for the company, which includes a planned change of operational premises and a continued focus on strengthening internal capability.
Commenting on the appointment, Ramsey said the change represented a new phase for the business, with an emphasis on developing people, maintaining high safety standards and building long-term client relationships.
He added that the workforce remained central to the company’s performance, with project quality and consistency driven by skilled teams on site.
Inner City Scaffolding said the leadership handover was designed to provide continuity while positioning the business for its next stage of growth, with Phillips continuing to contribute his experience to the company’s long-term strategy.
Access equipment manufacturer POP UP Products is marking its 20th anniversary in 2026, with a programme of events planned across the year.
The Deeside-based company was founded in 2006 and designs and supplies access equipment for work at height. Its product range includes POP UP lifts, the MI TOWER system and EIGER aluminium towers. The business was the first to introduce a push-up access lift to the market.
To mark the milestone, the company will run a series of customer and industry activities throughout 2026, with a larger anniversary event planned for December.
Managing director Nigel Woodger said the company’s growth over two decades had been built on a focus on product design, safety and consistency.
“We have always focused on developing products that meet real site needs and on doing business properly,” he said. “That approach has helped us build trust and maintain a strong position in the market over a long period.”
As part of the anniversary year, POP UP Products will run a limited promotion involving 40 specially finished “golden decks”, which will be supplied across selected MI TOWER units between February and November. Customers receiving one will be invited to erect the tower correctly and submit a photograph as part of the promotion.
The company also plans to take part in roadshows and industry events during the year and will run a charity initiative alongside the anniversary programme.
Sales director Ben Sly said the business would continue to invest in product development, with updates planned for the IQ Lift range and further developments to the MI TOWER system.
POP UP Products said it is also reviewing its environmental impact, including packaging changes and measures to reduce carbon emissions, as it aligns with wider industry net zero targets.
An earlier version of this article referred to “interim” leadership arrangements at NASC and CISRS.This was incorrect. David Brown has formally resumed the roles of President and Chair in line with existing governance arrangements. He will serve as President until June 2026 and will continue as Chair of the NASC and CISRS Boards until June 2028.The article has been updated to reflect this accurately.Following the death of Wayne Connolly, the Boards of the National Access & Scaffolding Confederation and the Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme have confirmed leadership arrangements in accordance with their established governance framework.
David Brown, Immediate Past Chair of both organisations, has resumed the roles of President and Chair. He will serve as President until June, after which he will continue as Chair of the NASC and CISRS Boards until June 2028. The arrangements reflect decisions already agreed within the governance structure and are intended to provide continuity.
Under plans agreed at General Meeting, Sarah Klieve, currently Vice President, will assume the Presidency in June. David Brown will continue as Chair of the NASC and CISRS Boards until June 2028.
During this period, he will oversee the delivery of a revised governance structure, including the planned appointment of an Independent Chair in June 2028. The move forms part of a longer-term programme to strengthen governance across both organisations.
The Boards said they remain committed to delivering Wayne Connolly’s vision for the future of NASC and CISRS, including improved transparency, representation and independence, while maintaining a member-led structure.
David Brown said the focus would be on continuing the reforms already underway. He described Wayne Connolly as a leader who cared deeply about the industry and its future, adding that delivering the governance changes he championed was the most fitting way to honour his legacy.
Clive Dickin, Group CEO, said NASC and CISRS continued to be supported by professional Boards, Councils and committee structures. He said the organisations remained focused on raising standards, protecting competence and supporting the long-term success of the scaffolding and access sector.
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Each year on 14 January, the scaffolding industry marks Scaffolder’s Day. There is no formal programme, no governing body and no official endorsement. Yet the date has become widely recognised across the trade, referenced by contractors, suppliers and scaffolders themselves.That didn’t happen by chance.Behind Scaffolder’s Day is a story that reflects how ideas gain traction in this industry. Slowly, informally and only when they align with the realities of the job.
Where the idea began
Scaffolder’s Day did not originate from a trade association or an industry committee. It was first promoted by global scaffolding supplier Leach’s, which began highlighting 14 January as a day to recognise scaffolders and their contribution to construction.The date was chosen deliberately. January is traditionally one of the most challenging periods for scaffolding work. Short daylight hours, poor weather and demanding site conditions make it a difficult time of year. Positioning a recognition day in mid-winter was a conscious acknowledgement of that reality.The date also carries personal significance. According to Leach’s, 14 January was chosen to mark the anniversary of the company’s acquisition, with the intention that it would grow into a recognised day for scaffolders. That connection has never been hidden. However, the aim was not to create a branded anniversary, but to anchor the idea to a fixed point in the calendar that could carry wider meaning for the trade.In its initial form back in the late 2010s, Scaffolder’s Day struggled to gain wider industry engagement. Early activity was closely associated with commercial promotions, which limited its appeal beyond Leach’s immediate customer base.At that stage, the day risked being seen as a marketing exercise rather than a genuine moment of recognition. Without broader uptake, it could easily have faded.
A change in approach
The turning point came when Leach’s reassessed its role. The company reduced its visibility around the day and shifted the focus away from branding and offers.The rationale was straightforward. If Scaffolder’s Day was to have lasting relevance, it could not belong to a single organisation. It needed to be recognised and adopted by the industry itself.That change allowed the idea to move beyond its Hereford-based origins.
Industry adoption
In recent years, Scaffolder’s Day has been referenced by companies with no direct link to where it began. Competitors, contractors and individual scaffolders now mark the date in their own way.There is no prescribed format. Some firms use it to thank their workforce. Others highlight projects, share site images or simply acknowledge the trade. Many scaffolders recognise the day independently, without prompting.The absence of formal ownership has been central to its growth. Scaffolder’s Day has remained informal, flexible and industry-led.
Why the date matters
There have been discussions within the sector about establishing an officially recognised day for scaffolding. Should that happen, the choice of date will be important.Fourteen January already carries meaning within the trade. It has been used consistently and is associated with recognition during one of the year’s hardest periods. Changing that focus would risk weakening what has been built organically.
A day shaped by the trade
Scaffolder’s Day now exists independently of the company that first proposed it. While its origins are clear, its continued relevance depends on industry participation rather than promotion.That evolution reflects the character of the scaffolding sector. Initiatives endure when they align with real working conditions and when they are allowed to develop without formal ownership.The real story around Scaffolder’s Day is not simply about how it began. It is about how a single idea, tied to a specific date, became a shared moment of recognition across the trade.
Safety & Access has added CITB Site Safety Plus (SSP) courses to its training portfolio, extending its offer to include site safety and management qualifications.
The courses now available are:
Site Management Safety Training Scheme (SMSTS)
SMSTS Refresher
Site Supervisor Safety Training Scheme (SSSTS)
SSSTS Refresher
Health & Safety Awareness (HSA)
Training is available for individual learners and employer groups, including on-site delivery.
The expansion means Safety & Access can now deliver training for operatives, supervisors and site managers, alongside its existing scaffolding courses.
The company already provides scaffolding-related training, including CISRS programmes. The addition of CITB courses brings formal site safety and supervisory training into the same portfolio.
CITB Site Safety Plus courses are widely required across the construction industry and are commonly specified by principal contractors for workers with supervisory or management responsibilities. The training covers legal duties, risk management and site supervision.
The courses support compliance with the Health & Safety at Work Act and the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations, as well as contractor and client competency requirements.
Falls from height remain one of the leading causes of serious injury in construction, particularly on projects involving scaffolding. Site safety training is often used alongside trade qualifications to address these risks.
All CITB courses are delivered by trainers with construction and safety experience and are provided in line with CITB requirements.
With the addition of the Site Safety Plus courses, Safety & Access now offers both scaffolding trade training and site safety qualifications through the same provider.
Embrace Building Wraps has begun 2026 by confirming that it has helped plant more than 20,500 trees as part of a long-running climate commitment linked to its printed scaffold wrap projects.
The company first made the pledge in December 2020, committing to invest in climate-positive initiatives every month and with every project delivered using flexible substrates. Five years on, that promise has developed into what the firm describes as the Embrace Building Wraps Global Forest.
Working with its clients, the business has supported 20 tree-planting projects across the UK, Madagascar, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Uganda and Ethiopia. The projects form part of a wider programme aimed at delivering measurable environmental impact rather than symbolic offsetting.
Alongside tree planting, Embrace Building Wraps reports that it has helped avoid an estimated 261.86 tonnes of CO? equivalent through 51 verified carbon avoidance projects. These include waste-to-recycling and waste-to-energy schemes designed to prevent spent printed scaffold and building wraps from entering landfill.
The company says the approach is intended to demonstrate that sustainability and commercial performance do not need to be in conflict.
Greg Forster, Managing Director at Embrace Building Wraps, said the commitment was embedded into how the business operates.
“We are a climate-positive workforce and believe there should never be a trade-off between supporting the planet and running a successful business,” said Greg Forster. “Through our policies, procedures and ongoing commitments, we are proud to contribute to a more sustainable future.”
Embrace Building Wraps says the programme will continue to expand throughout 2026, with further projects planned as new scaffold wrap contracts are delivered.
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The competition, sponsored by German scaffolding manufacturer Layher, attracted considerable attention from the estimated sixty thousand of construction professionals attending the World of Concrete exhibition.
In a separate public vote, Atlas Sales from Hawaii won the Crowd Favourite Award, securing 234 votes in an online poll—significantly ahead of other competitors.
SAIA President Mike Bredl presented the awards, including the coveted Championship Belt which has become a symbol of excellence within the American scaffolding industry.
