Work out scaffold load class instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.
Scaffold load classes define a permitted uniformly distributed load per square metre of platform: 75 kg/m² for inspection access, 200 for general trades, 450 for masonry. Dividing the actual load, materials plus workers with their tools, by the bay area shows which class the scaffold must be designed and tagged to.
Platform load
kg/m² = (material load + workers x mass per worker) / bay area
Class thresholds
75, 150, 200, 300, 450 and 600 kg/m² for classes 1 to 6
Preliminary estimate only. Scaffold design, load class and tagging must be established by a competent scaffold designer to the applicable standard.
kg/m² = (material load + workers x mass per worker) / bay area. Scaffold load classes define a permitted uniformly distributed load per square metre of platform: 75 kg/m² for inspection access, 200 for general trades, 450 for masonry.
No. The scaffold tag states the load class, and stacking bricks or blocks on a light duty platform is a common cause of scaffold collapse. Loading must match the tag.
This calculator takes 4 inputs: Platform bay area, Materials stored on the bay, Workers on the bay, Mass per worker including tools. The pre-filled defaults are a realistic worked example — replace them with your own site or project figures.