CN115176061A

CN115176061A - Scaffold deck, deck element and components thereof

Info

Publication number: CN115176061A
Application number: CN202080072467.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 哈米德·普尔佐尔基; 吉姆·郭
Original assignee: Outfield Holdings Ltd
Current assignee: Outfield Holdings Ltd
Priority date: 2019-09-11
Filing date: 2020-09-11
Publication date: 2022-10-11
Also published as: JP2022548879A; AU2020344481A1; WO2021046614A1

Abstract

A substantially hollow scaffold deck panel element is described. The substantially hollow scaffold deck panel elements comprise one or more cells integral with the top and bottom skins of the deck panel elements and one or more webs extending between the top and bottom skins. In use, the ends of a plurality of deck plate elements are assembled onto the side rails of the sub-frame, spaced apart continuously along the side rails, to form a scaffold deck assembly. It is intended to retrofit deck panel elements on existing side rails or to fasten to new side rails having locators for receiving ends of deck panel elements.

Description

Scaffold deck, deck element and components thereof

Technical Field

The present technology relates generally to scaffold decks. There are many suitable applications for the present technique, all of which are associated with aerial work, including: a suspended or rocking setting; a system; as well as frame and bracing scaffolding. Certain embodiments are also well suited for particular applications including pipe and clamp type scaffolding, where a deck spans between brackets to form a working platform, sometimes with hatches.

Background

Scaffold decks are known, but they have limitations. The scaffold deck has panels, typically in the form of weather resistant wood products such as plywood or aluminium checkerboard, mounted on a support frame which is coupled at each end to a bracket or clamping bracket. The support frame beneath the deck panel must be assembled to a pair of spaced apart mullions or rails. This arrangement requires time to assemble into a deck and is not particularly strong or reliable in the long term, even at an inappropriate weight.

The known deck arrangements require a large investment in repair and maintenance or, in bad cases, a complete replacement, all of which together result in a short or very expensive longer life cycle.

Furthermore, as mentioned, the deck may be weak or even vary greatly in strength across the deck surface, due in part to the spacing and reliability of the deck material and/or frame elements. Holes may be formed where there are no supporting frame members and if workers fall through the holes, catastrophic results may result.

Furthermore, scaffold decks are often heavy in their strong condition, which is disadvantageous when lifting the scaffold deck to a high position.

Finally, the sliding properties of the known deck panels are not particularly good.

The present inventors have sought to provide a new scaffold deck which at least substantially ameliorates one or more of the disadvantages described above. At the very least, the present technique provides a useful alternative to known devices.

Disclosure of Invention

In summary, the present technique provides a substantially hollow scaffold deck panel element.

In summary, the present technique provides a scaffold deck panel element comprising a plurality of cavities between a top skin and a bottom skin. This arrangement results in a scaffold deck panel element having a substantially honeycomb cross-section. In an embodiment, the deck panel elements comprise one or more units.

In general, in another separate aspect, the present technique provides a scaffold deck assembly including a deck panel secured to spaced apart side rails.

The scaffold deck assembly arrangement is such that the deck panels are secured to the spaced apart rails, wherein substantially no auxiliary support from braces or frames is required.

Advantageously, the present technique provides a scaffold panel element having substantially similar overall dimensions to plywood panels, the deck panel comprising integral frame supports, thereby eliminating the need for connection to auxiliary frame supports. The arrangement is such that essentially the only required fastening is that between the deck panel and the side rail.

In general terms, the present technology further provides, individually, a scaffold deck assembly comprising a deck panel having integral frame supports for fastening to spaced apart rails.

Thus, according to one aspect of the present technique, a substantially hollow scaffold deck panel is provided.

The deck panel comprises one or more deck panel elements.

In one embodiment, the deck panel comprises a plurality of deck panel elements which, in use, are arranged side by side along the side rails.

In one embodiment, the deck panel comprises a plurality of deck panel elements which in use are secured to a portion of the scaffold subframe.

The arrangement of the substantially hollow deck panels is efficient so that a large part of the deck panel element material as top and bottom skins is spaced from the midline to provide a good resistance against bending stresses.

The arrangement of embodiments is also effective against shear stresses by providing one or more webs extending between the top and bottom skins. In an embodiment, torsional stress is also effectively achieved by providing one or more closure elements.

In one embodiment, a hollow scaffold deck panel includes a top skin and a bottom skin.

In one embodiment, one or more webs are provided to connect the top skin to the bottom skin to increase stress resistance. The web may be in the form of posts, rods or walls or flanges spaced apart across the panel. The web may be thick or thin and may be of any suitable shape, such as cylindrical, rectangular for example. The webs may extend in a straight line or in a curved path or other arrangement as appropriate along the hollow space between the skins to accommodate particular stress characteristics. The web may define a long cell extending along the cross-section between the top skin and the bottom skin.

In one embodiment, edge webs disposed at the side edges of the deck panels are provided to provide at least one closed hollow tube or cell extending longitudinally between the skins from one end to the other.

In one embodiment, intermediate webs spaced across the deck panels from side to side are provided to provide a plurality of enclosed hollow cells or units to increase stress resistance.

In one embodiment, the top skin is substantially flat and the bottom skin is substantially flat to provide a plurality of rectangular hollow section cells or cells for a low profile deck panel.

Advantageously, the deck panels with flat top and bottom skins occupy a volume similar to that of plywood panels, being approximately 11mm or 13mm thick. This means that the panels can be retrofitted onto side rails of existing but rotten scaffold deck subassemblies, which may require replacement of the deck panels without the need for any frames. In this application, the deck panels of the present technology rely solely on side rails for support.

In one embodiment, a non-slip area is provided on the top skin to prevent workers working on the deck panels from slipping over.

In one embodiment, the non-slip region comprises a rib for increasing grip, said rib extending upwards from the top skin.

In one embodiment, the ribs extend along the panel from one end to the other to facilitate crushing.

In one embodiment, the ribs extend across the panel from one end to the other.

In one embodiment, the ribs include one or more angled sides for reducing stress and/or facilitating cleaning.

In one embodiment, the ribs include flat tops to increase stress resistance and/or improve stability when workers stand on the ribs.

In one embodiment, the ribs are straight to facilitate extrusion.

In one embodiment, at least some ribs are provided in the middle portion of the closed hollow tube or unit to increase stress resistance. In one embodiment, at least some ribs are provided at the top of the web to facilitate crush and/or promote stress resistance.

In one embodiment, one or more fillets are provided at the junction where the web and the top or bottom skin join to reduce stress.

In one embodiment, the deck panel is fastened directly to the deck side rails to simplify manufacturing.

In one embodiment, rivets are provided to secure the deck panels to the side rails, the rivets extending between the top and bottom skins in use to increase strength.

In one embodiment, the deck panel is fastened to the side rails, but not to any cross braces or support frames. In one embodiment, when the deck panel is secured to the side rails, a gap is provided between the deck panel and the cross braces to facilitate assembly.

In one embodiment, the or each deck side rail includes a locator for locating the connection portion of the deck panel directly in the locator, thereby facilitating location during assembly.

In one embodiment, the locator includes a retaining flange extending from the support platform.

In one embodiment, the locator includes a recess.

In one embodiment, the locator includes one or more bosses extending from the side rails for mating with recesses on the deck panel.

In one embodiment, the locator comprises an angle, channel or suitable recess for receiving an end or edge of a deck panel.

In one embodiment, the locator includes a boss, peg, rib or other form for extending into a mating recess on an end or edge of the deck panel member.

In one embodiment, the or each deck assembly has a mass of less than 25kg and has a safe operating load rating of 250 kg. In one embodiment, the deck assembly has a mass of 25kg and a safe operational load rating of 400 kg. In one embodiment, the deck assembly has a mass of 25kg and a safe operational load rating of 450 kg.

In one embodiment, the deck panel elements are oriented such that the cells and ribs extend across the deck to increase stability and stress resistance.

In one embodiment, four hollow units are provided extending along the deck panel elements to facilitate handling during manufacture.

In one embodiment, the or each hollow tube is about 40mm wide.

In one embodiment, the or each web is about 1.5mm thick. The or each web may be about 0.5mm, 1mm, 2mm, 2.5mm, 3mm thick and each web may vary in dependence on the distance across the panel relative to the side edges.

In one embodiment, the or each top skin is about 1.5mm thick. The or each web may be about 1mm, 2mm, 2.5mm, 3mm at different locations depending on the expected load and distance from the side edges.

In one embodiment, the or each rib is spaced at a pitch of about 20 mm.

In one embodiment, the or each rib is about 2mm high. In one embodiment, the or each rib is about 1.5mm high. In one embodiment, the or each rib is about 2.5mm or 3mm high, and the individual ribs may be of different heights and shapes, as an indication of the position of the worker with respect to their foot relative to the edge or middle, or to accommodate strength requirements; for example, in the intermediate position, the ribs may be taller or otherwise coarser, such as thicker, across half of the tube for more bending support at that point.

In one embodiment, the or each deck panel element is 165mm wide.

In one embodiment, the or each deck panel element is 200mm wide.

In one embodiment, the or each deck panel element is between 100mm wide and 750mm wide.

In one embodiment, each panel is disposed with a gap adjacent an adjacent panel on the side rail to promote water outflow, which enhances grip, and/or to allow thermal expansion without increasing stress and buckling.

In one embodiment, each deck panel member is extruded.

In one embodiment, the deck panel is a unitary hollow panel having a plurality of cells extending from one end to the other end.

In one embodiment, each deck panel is constructed of aluminum for durability and/or ease of manufacture and to have a suitable strength to weight ratio. In one embodiment, the aluminum is alloy 6061 to increase the stress resistance per unit mass.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a scaffold deck assembly comprising:

spaced apart side rails;

a scaffold bracket receiver disposed on each end of the spaced apart rails;

one or more scaffold deck panel elements of the deck are provided, the deck panel elements comprising integral braces and being secured only to the side rails.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of assembling a scaffold deck assembly, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a pair of spaced apart side rails;

one or more scaffold deck panel assemblies are secured directly to the spaced apart side rails.

In one embodiment, the method comprises the further steps of:

the support frame is formed by securing the cross braces to the spaced apart rails before or after securing the scaffold deck panel to the spaced apart side rails to provide a gap between the bottom surface of the scaffold deck panel and the cross braces.

In one embodiment, the method comprises the further steps of:

locators are provided on the spaced apart side rails for locating at least the end or side portions of the scaffold deck panel elements.

In one embodiment, the method comprises the further steps of: at least the end portions or the side portions of the scaffold deck plate elements are positioned on the positioners provided on the side rails.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises the step of securing the cross brace between the side rails.

In one embodiment, the method comprises the further steps of:

one or more scaffold deck slab elements are extruded.

In one embodiment, the method comprises the further steps of:

printing one or more scaffold deck panel elements.

In one embodiment, the method comprises the further steps of:

the side rails are pressed.

In one embodiment, the method comprises the further steps of:

the side rails are printed.

In one embodiment, the method comprises the further steps of:

ribs are provided on the top surface of the scaffold deck slab elements for additional grip.

In one embodiment, the method comprises the further steps of:

a scaffold deck panel element is provided having a top skin and a bottom skin spaced apart by a plurality of webs to form a hollow deck panel having one or more longitudinally extending cells or cavities.

In accordance with another aspect of the present technique, there is provided a side rail for use in a scaffold deck assembly, the side rail comprising a side rail web, a base flange, and a locator provided on a top of the side rail web for locating a scaffold deck element.

In one embodiment, the support platform is integral with or secured to the top of the side rail web.

In one embodiment, the locator comprises a recess for receiving a portion of the scaffold deck element.

In one embodiment, the retaining flange and the support platform are perpendicular to each other to form a recess for receiving a portion of the deck element.

Advantages of

Advantageously, embodiments of the apparatus provide a deck panel that is light, durable, and strong. The assembly of such deck panels into a deck assembly is simple and fast and provides a very long service life and reduced maintenance and replacement costs.

Elucidation of

In this specification, where a document, act or item of knowledge is referred to or discussed, this reference or discussion is not an admission that the document, act or item of knowledge or any combination thereof was at the priority date:

(a) Is part of the common general knowledge; or alternatively

(b) Known as being associated with attempting to solve any of the problems involved in this specification.

It should be noted that throughout the description and claims of this specification, the word "comprise", and variations of the word such as "comprises" and "comprising", are not intended to exclude other variations or additional components, integers or steps.

Modifications and improvements to the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such modifications and improvements are intended to be within the scope of the invention.

Drawings

In order that the technology may be more clearly understood, preferred embodiments of the technology will now be further explained and illustrated by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an end view (rotated 90 degrees to view in a vertically disposed manner) of a substantially hollow four-chambered scaffold deck panel as an embodiment of the present technique;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view from above of a substantially hollow five-cavity scaffold deck panel as an embodiment of the present technique;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the deck panel shown in FIG. 1 from above;

FIG. 4 is an end view of a substantially hollow two-chambered scaffold deck panel as an embodiment of the present technique;

FIG. 5 is an end view of a side rail as a component of the present invention clearly showing the location and shape of the locator used to locate the side portion of the deck panel to be secured directly to the locator;

FIG. 6 is an underside isometric view of a scaffold deck assembly as an embodiment of the present technique, including details of the end arrangement;

FIG. 7 is an underside isometric view of another scaffold deck assembly with a side-swinging access hatch, including details of the end arrangement; and

fig. 8 is an underside isometric view of another scaffold deck assembly with a longitudinally swinging access hatch, including a detail end view.

Detailed Description

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a substantially hollow scaffold deck panel generally designated 1. The deck panel 1 comprises a plurality of deck panel elements 10. In fig. 1 to 4, the deck panel elements 10 are first shown in various ways and in various embodiments independently of any supporting parts or other deck panel elements 10. In fig. 6 to 8, the deck panel 1 is also shown assembled with other components to form a scaffold deck assembly 20.

For the sake of clarity, in this description the deck panel 1 may be one large deck element 10 or a plurality of deck elements 10. The dimensions of the deck element 10 depend on the dimensions of the available press or the available printing press. Typically, as described below, the deck elements are 165mm wide, and all embodiments of the deck 1 in this description comprise 10 or 15 or 16 deck elements 10 to form a deck panel 1 of 2400mm length; in this sense, it may be easiest to understand the deck 1 as a plurality of deck elements 10 assembled side by side. It should be understood that any number of deck members 10, including one deck member 10, may be used to form the scaffold deck panel 1.

Thus, for the deck panel 1 itself: the substantially hollow scaffold deck panel element 10 comprises a plurality of cavities 12 located adjacent to each other across the width of the entire panel element 10 between a top skin 14 and a bottom skin 16. The cavities 12 in the scaffold deck panel elements 10 are in the form of units 13 extending along a cross-section, as shown in fig. 1 to 4. There are a plurality of support walls 18 of the cells 13, the plurality of support walls 18 being spaced across the width of the cross-section to provide the cells 13. The support wall 18 is in the form of a web 19 which holds the top and

bottom skins

14, 16 apart and extends from one end of the panel 11 to the other end 15 along the cross-section of the panel element 10.

The substantially hollow deck panel elements 10 are efficient so that most of the deck panel element material as top skin 14 and bottom skin 16 is spaced from the midline 17 to provide good resistance to bending stresses. The top skin 14 and bottom skin 16 are about 1.5mm thick, but it may be 1.0mm, 2mm, 2.5mm, 3mm, and may vary depending on the load and location across the tube 14. Although each web is shown as 1.5mm, they may be about 1mm, 2mm, 2.5mm, 3mm at various locations depending on the expected load and distance from the side edges.

The panel element 10 is also effective against shear stresses by providing a plurality of webs 19 extending between the top skin 14 and the bottom skin 16. Torsional stress is also effectively achieved in the panel element 10 by providing one or more closure cells 13, wherein the one or more closure cells 13 are provided by spacing the web 19 from the side 8 to the side 9.

The web 19 is about 1.5mm thick and extends all the way from end 11 to end 15, and it also includes rounded corners 7 at its top and bottom to reduce stress concentrations at the junction with the top and

bottom skins

14, 16. Each web 19 is spaced about 40mm apart and there is one panel having four cells 13, about 165mm wide and another panel having five cells 13 and about 200mm wide.

As shown, the top skin 14 of the panel is substantially flat to provide a flat work platform, and the bottom skin 16 is also substantially flat; the purpose is to provide a low profile deck panel with rectangular hollow section units 13. Advantageously, the deck panel elements 10 with flat top and bottom skins occupy a volume similar to that of the same width portion of a plywood panel, approximately 11mm or 13mm thick (the plywood panel includes anti-slip ribs, as described below). This means that the panel element 10 can be retrofitted onto old components which may require deck panel replacement by fastening directly to the rail without the need for a frame which is normally required. The deck panel elements 10 occupy substantially the same volume as old plywood panels of similar dimensional width, but the deck panel elements 10 do not require a frame to be used with plywood due to the integral and one-piece support of the deck panel elements 10.

Further details of the steering panel element 10: the panel element 10 includes a non-slip region 24 on the top skin 14 to prevent slipping. The non-slip region 24 is in the form of a rib 25 for increasing grip, which extends upwardly from the top skin 14. To facilitate compression, the ribs 25 extend from one end along the panel to the other, extending across the top skin 14 from end 11 to end 15. The ribs 25 also include one or more angled sides for reducing stress and/or facilitating cleaning. The ribs 25 also include flat tops to increase stress resistance and/or improve stability when workers stand on the ribs 25. To facilitate extrusion, the ribs 25 are straight and it can be observed that half of the ribs are provided on the middle portion of the closed hollow tube to increase stress resistance, while the other half of the ribs are provided on top of the web 19 to promote stress resistance. The ribs 25 are about 2mm high to provide a grip for the worker rather than a tripping hazard.

To form the panel element 10, the panel element 10 is extruded from aluminum for added strength, which is a known 6061 alloy. The panel element 10 may be printed from titanium or other suitable process that may become economically available.

Turning to the deck assembly 20. The deck assembly 20 comprises at least one scaffold deck plate element 10 and a subframe assembly 40 to which the scaffold is directly fastened. The sub-frame assembly 40 includes a plurality of cross braces 32 and side rails 30, 31 secured between the cross braces 32. The deck panel 1 is configured to be fastened directly to a portion of the subframe assembly 40; the part of the sub-frame assembly 40 to which the deck panel elements 10 are fastened is the spaced apart rails 30, 31.

The or each

deck side rail

30, 31 comprises a side rail web 39 and a locator 35, the locator 35 being mounted on the side rail web 39 for locating the

side portions

11, 15 of the deck plate member 10 to facilitate location during assembly. The retainer 35 includes a retaining flange 36 extending from a support platform 37, the support platform 37 being secured to or integral with a side rail web 39. The retaining flanges 36 and the support platform 37 form recesses for receiving the sides of the deck panel 10. The side rails 30, 31 also include a reinforcement in the form of flanges 38 at the base of the side rail web 39.

As can be seen from fig. 6 to 8, when the scaffold deck assembly 20 is assembled, the ends 11 and 15 of the scaffold deck panel 10 are fastened only to the spaced apart rails 30, 31, and not to the cross braces 32; in fact, there is a small gap with the bottom skin 16 of the hollow panel 10 and therefore substantially no auxiliary support from the cross brace members 32. Under heavy loads, the hollow deck may have some flexing such that the deck panel 10 contacts the cross braces 32 under those conditions, resulting in some support under heavy loads, but it should be understood that no time need be spent during assembly of the deck panel 10 to the cross braces 32 or any other frame member other than the side rails.

The scaffold deck slab elements 10 may each have 15 units and are extruded into one slab 600mm wide and 2400mm long. During assembly, each deck panel 10 will be laid longitudinally along the

rails

30, 31, wherein the

sides

8 and 9 will be riveted to the support platforms 37 of the locators 35. This would be a deck panel assembly 20 that could be quickly assembled.

It will be appreciated that the scaffolding assembly 20 provides a more robust platform if the deck panels 10 are laid laterally. In such an arrangement, each deck panel 10 may have 4 units 13 or 5 units 13, and each panel is about 165mm or 200mm wide (but of course may be of any particular and suitable width, limited only by the size of the available extruder or molding or printing machine). Each deck panel 10 is only 600mm long (to make a 600mm wide deck assembly 20) and each deck panel 10 is laid laterally across the

rails

30, 31 such that the ribs 25 and cells 13 extend across the

rails

30, 31. The deck panel 10 may have one, two (fig. 4), three, four (fig. 1 and 3), five (fig. 2), six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen or twenty or other suitable number of cells 13.

Ribs for slip prevention are provided. The or each rib 25 is spaced apart by about 20mm and is about 2mm high.

In practice, to manufacture a deck plate assembly 20 of 2400mm length, a total of about 15 panel elements 10 are typically laid over the entire subframe 20 between the

rails

30, 31. In one form of deck, each deck panel element 10 is 600mm long and two units wide (fig. 4). For an alternative form of deck there will be 15 deck panel members 600mm long and four units wide (fig. 1 and 3). In another alternative there may be 15 panel elements, each 5 units wide (fig. 2), 600mm long, laid on (each placed across) the locators 35 of the sub-frame assembly to form the scaffold deck assembly 20. Sometimes a 165mm wide deck member is mixed with a 200mm deck member to accommodate the particular length of scaffold panel assembly 20 required. For example, there may be a 12 x 165mm wide panel element 10 at both ends with a 2 x 200mm panel element to form a 2400mm long deck panel assembly. The hatch deck may only have panel elements 10 of 10 x 200mm width leaving a gap at the hatch end for access.

Assembling

To fasten the deck panel elements 10 to the side rails, rivets are used and extend through the

ends

11 and 15 between the top and

bottom skins

14 and 16 to increase the strength and speed of assembly.

When assembled, the or each deck assembly 20 (600 mm wide and 2400mm long) has a mass of less than 25kg and has a safe operational load rating of about 450 kg. This is much higher than the safe operational load rating of the known deck assembly of about 225kg for the same mass.

When assembled on the side rails 30, 31 of the sub-frame assembly 40, each deck plate element 10 is positioned adjacent to the adjacent deck plate 20 on the side rail locators 35 with a 1mm gap to facilitate water egress-which enhances the grip of the user's boot-and/or allows for thermal expansion without increasing stress and buckling.

For assembly, the panel element 10 of the scaffold deck assembly 20 is extruded and cut to a length of about 600mm, and then the ends 11 and 15 of the panel element 10 are laid into the locators 35 of the two

side rails

30, 31. Cross brace 32 may already be bolted to the walls of side rails 30, 31 and bracket receiver 45 is also bolted to side rails 30, 31.

Claims

1. A substantially hollow scaffold deck panel element.

2. The substantially hollow scaffold deck panel element of claim 1, further comprising one or more units.

3. The substantially hollow scaffold deck element as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the one or more cells comprise top and bottom skins and one or more webs extending between the top and bottom skins.

4. A substantially hollow scaffold deck panel element as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 wherein there is provided an edge web and one or more intermediate webs spaced across the deck panel element from side to provide a plurality of closed cells.

5. A substantially hollow scaffold deck element as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 wherein the top skin is a substantially flat top skin of a deck and the bottom skin is a substantially flat bottom skin of a deck to provide a plurality of substantially rectangular hollow section cells or cells integral with and disposed between the top and bottom skins.

6. The substantially hollow scaffold deck panel element of claim 5, wherein a non-slip area is provided on the top skin to prevent workers working on the deck panel from slipping.

7. The substantially hollow scaffold deck element as claimed in claim 6, wherein the skid resistant area comprises ribs for increasing grip, the ribs extending upwardly from the top skin.

8. The substantially hollow scaffold deck panel element of claim 7, wherein the ribs comprise one or more angled sides for reducing stress.

9. A substantially hollow scaffold deck panel element as claimed in claim 7 or 8, wherein the ribs comprise flat tops.

10. The substantially hollow scaffold deck element as claimed in any of claims 2 to 9, wherein the units extend horizontally along a cross section of the deck element.

11. A substantially hollow scaffold deck panel element as claimed in any of claims 2 to 10 wherein the or each unit is about 20 to 100mm wide.

12. A substantially hollow scaffold deck panel element as claimed in any of claims 3 to 11, wherein the or each web is about 0.5 to 3mm thick.

13. A substantially hollow scaffold deck panel element as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 12, wherein the or each skin is about 1 to 5mm thick.

14. A substantially hollow scaffold deck panel element as claimed in any of claims 2 to 13, wherein the or each web is about 1mm, 2mm, 2.5mm or 3mm thick.

15. A substantially hollow scaffold deck panel element as claimed in any of claims 7 to 14, wherein the or each rib extends along a panel element cross section and is spaced from the other ribs by a spacing of about 20 mm.

16. A substantially hollow scaffold deck panel element as claimed in any of claims 7 to 15, wherein the or each rib is about 2mm high.

17. A substantially hollow scaffold deck panel element as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the or each deck panel element is 100 to 750mm wide.

18. A substantially hollow scaffold deck panel element as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the or each deck panel element is about 200mm or 165mm wide.

19. The substantially hollow scaffold deck panel element of any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein each deck panel element is extruded.

20. A scaffold deck assembly comprising one or more deck panel elements according to any of claims 1 to 19 secured to a portion of a subframe.

21. The scaffold deck assembly of claim 20, wherein the portion of the subframe securing the one or more deck panel elements is a pair of spaced apart rails.

22. The scaffold deck assembly of any of claims 1 to 20, wherein the one or more deck plate elements are transversely oriented on the subframe such that the units extend transversely between side rails.

23. The scaffold deck assembly of claim 20 or 21, wherein a plurality of deck plate elements are provided, each extending between spaced apart side rails, one deck element being disposed adjacent to the other deck element substantially along the rail to form a scaffold deck from one end of the rail to the other.

24. The scaffold deck assembly of claim 20, 21, 22 or 23, wherein rivets are provided to fasten the deck panels to the sub-frames.

25. A scaffold deck assembly as claimed in any of claims 20 to 24, wherein the or each sub-frame comprises a locator provided on the sub-frame for locating a connecting portion of the one or more deck panel elements directly in the locator.

26. The scaffold deck assembly of claim 25, wherein the locator comprises a retaining flange extending from the support platform.

27. The scaffold deck assembly of claim 24 or 25, wherein the locator comprises a recess for receiving a portion of the deck element.

28. The scaffold deck assembly of any one of claims 21 to 27, further comprising a scaffold bracket receiver disposed on each end of the spaced apart rails.

29. A method of assembling a scaffold deck assembly, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a pair of spaced apart side rails;

securing one or more scaffold deck panel elements directly to the spaced apart side rails.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising the steps of: forming a sub-frame by securing cross braces to the spaced apart side rails before or after securing the scaffold deck panel elements to the spaced apart side rails to form a deck panel.

31. The method according to claim 29 or 30, further comprising the step of: one or more deck panel sections are mounted in locators disposed on the spaced side rails.

32. A side rail for use in a scaffold deck assembly, the side rail comprising:

side rail webs;

a base flange; and

a locator disposed on top of the side rail web, the locator for locating a portion of a scaffold deck element on the side rail.

33. The side rail according to claim 32, wherein the locator includes a retaining flange extending from the support platform.

34. The side rail according to claim 32 or 33, wherein the retaining flange and the support platform are perpendicular to each other to form a recess for receiving a portion of a deck element.

35. The side rail according to claim 33 or 34, wherein the support platform is integral with or secured to the top of the side rail web.