How much overlap should planks on scaffolding have that are not immovable?

How much overlap should planks on scaffolding have that are not immovable?

• A. 12 inches
• B. 3 inches
• C. 6 inches
• D. 9 inches

Answer: (A)

On scaffolds, when planks aren’t secured to be immovable, the joint between end-to-end planks must have a long overlap to keep the walking surface safe. A 12-inch overlap ensures the load is shared by both planks and the joint is covered across the supports, so if one plank shifts slightly, the other still provides solid bearing and there’s no large gap underfoot. Shorter overlaps don’t give enough bearing area or redundancy, making the surface more likely to shift, separate at the joint, or create a gap that could cause a fall.

On scaffolds, when planks aren’t secured to be immovable, the joint between end-to-end planks must have a long overlap to keep the walking surface safe. A 12-inch overlap ensures the load is shared by both planks and the joint is covered across the supports, so if one plank shifts slightly, the other still provides solid bearing and there’s no large gap underfoot. Shorter overlaps don’t give enough bearing area or redundancy, making the surface more likely to shift, separate at the joint, or create a gap that could cause a fall.