US20130192927A1

US20130192927A1 - Scaffolding System

Info

Publication number: US20130192927A1
Application number: US13/754,212
Authority: US
Inventors: Alister Gower; Stuart Kirkland
Original assignee: F BOARD Ltd
Current assignee: F-BOARD Ltd; F BOARD Ltd
Priority date: 2012-01-30
Filing date: 2013-01-30
Publication date: 2013-08-01
Also published as: GB2499186A; GB2499186B; WO2013114067A1; GB201201591D0; EP2809855A1

Abstract

A scaffolding system comprises two sets of boards 30 o to 30 s and 30 u to 30 z laid side by side on transoms 32, 34 etc with their ends aligned. The ends of the boards 30 o etc are interconnected by a connector 40 tied to ledgers 36, 38 of the scaffolding by means of cable ties 42 passed through perforations 40 e in a dependent flange 40 d of the connector 40. The perforations 40 e are spaced apart along the flange 40 d by an amount equal to the pitch p of the scaffolding. The connector has an upper strip 40 a overlying the boards and a lower strip 40 b underlying the boards and joined to the upper strip by a web 40 c. The web 40 c separates the upper and lower strips 40 a and 40 b by an amount sufficient to receive the boards 30 o etc snugly. Preferably the boards and the connector are formed of the same synthetic plastics material.

Description

This application claims the benefit of UK Patent Application No. GB1201591.3, filed Jan. 30, 2012, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention concerns a scaffolding system, particularly but not necessarily exclusively to provide elevated working platforms in construction and building maintenance.
Scaffolding comprises a rectilinear framework erected against a building and comprising a plurality of vertical members commonly known as ‘standards’ and a plurality of horizontal members of which ‘ledgers’ extend longitudinally, generally parallel to the building line, and ‘transoms’ extend from front to rear of the scaffolding, generally orthogonal to the building line. The standards, ledgers and transoms conventionally comprise metal tubes interconnected by scaffolding fittings—which is to say clamps of which several kinds are in general use, and the precise form of which is not germane to the present invention. When the framework is assembled and the fittings secured, longitudinally extending scaffolding boards are laid across the transoms as and where required to provide one or more elevated working platforms. Regulations call for the transoms to be regularly spaced at a specified distance apart, which in the United Kingdom is 1200 mm, and this defines a modular dimension or ‘pitch’ for the scaffolding. To fit this, scaffolding boards are made in standard dimensions of up to 3900 mm long and 225 mm wide. To avoid trip hazards it is also preferred that all boards are of the same thickness, at least on any one site, and the standard thickness is 38 mm.
The assembly and use of scaffolding platforms present a variety of safety related problems. Individual boards may move so as to become unstable on the scaffolding; they may warp so as to create a trip hazard; and at platform corners boards are conventional laid on top of lower boards, creating another tip hazard. If the boards are interconnected, the platform as a whole may be lifted off the scaffolding by a strong updraught. Various attempts have been previously made to tackle some of these problems.
It is an object of the present invention to improve the safety of scaffolding boarding and other boarded platforms.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a scaffolding system comprising two coplanar sets of longitudinally extending boards laid side by side on laterally extending horizontal members of the scaffolding between ends of the boards, ends of each set being aligned and the aligned ends of the two sets being longitudinally adjacent, and a connector carried by the boards at the adjacent ends thereof, which connector is integrally formed from synthetic plastics material and comprises a vertical web between the adjacent ends of the boards, a horizontal upper strip overlying edges of the boards in each set at their adjacent ends and a horizontal lower strip underlying edges of the boards in each set at their adjacent ends, wherein said connector comprises integral securing means which extends along and downwards from said lower strip and is tied to the scaffolding.
The securing means may comprise a flange dependent from said lower strip. Otherwise the securing means may comprise turned-down margins of said lower strip. Either way, because the securing means is below the lower strip it is readily accessible during assembly, use and after-use disassembly of the platform.
The securing means is preferably formed with perforations holding ties securing the connector to the scaffolding. And where, as is conventional, horizontal members of the scaffolding are longitudinally spaced apart by a regular pitch p, said perforations may be regularly spaced apart along said securing means by an amount which is equal to or a multiple of p.
The upper strip of the connector may be formed with a non-slip upper surface.
Preferably said synthetic plastics material comprises recycled material and is recyclable, and the connector may be extruded therefrom.
Traditionally scaffolding boards have been made of wood, usually softwood, and this exacerbates the safety problems noted earlier herein. Wooden boards are particularly prone to warping and splitting, so wooden boarded platforms become uneven and therefore hazardous; and although this can be resisted by metal strapping on the ends of the boards, the strapping itself commonly becomes bent or damaged, creating a further hazard. Wood is inherently subject to much variety from differences in grain pattern (especially where there are knots), density (such as the difference between sapwood and heartwood) and rate of growth, and this variety demands wide safety margins; even so, wooden boards may break without warning. Also, wooden boards almost inevitably have splinters, which makes them difficult to handle. Thus in the present invention it is preferred that each board is formed of synthetic plastics material, preferably the same material as that of the connectors.
The synthetic plastics material preferably comprises recycled material, and it may itself be recyclable. Recycled polyvinyl chloride, PVC, is an appropriate material, being thermoplastic and having an otherwise limited market for post-consumer recycling.
Each board may comprise a hollow-form section constant along the length of a board so that, if the board is cut transversely at any point to form a new end, said new end will match the uncut end of another board.
A significant feature of the present invention is that connection may be provided along the sides of the boards as well as at their ends. To this end the scaffolding system may comprise a further connector integrally formed from synthetic plastics material and comprising an upper strip formed to overlie edges of said boards along adjacent sides thereof, a lower strip formed to underlie edges of said boards along adjacent sides thereof and a web connecting the upper strip to the lower strip.
It is common, particularly at corners of scaffolding platforms, for a first layer of boards extending in one direction to be placed on top of a second layer extending in another direction. The difference in levels creates an additional trip hazard. The present invention may therefore include an end piece to combat this, which end piece comprises an upper end strip formed to overlie an edge of a first said board, a intermediate strip formed to underlie an edge of the first board, a lower end strip overlying a second said board under the first board and extending to a free edge, an end web having an upper edge joined to and along the upper end strip and a lower edge joined to and along the intermediate strip, and an inclined face between the upper edge of the end web and the free edge of the lower end strip so as in use to provide a sloping transition between the first board and the second board.
Preferably each board includes an identifying marker. Thus, to combat theft, for instance, each board may be impressed or stamped or electronically tagged to show ownership; for promotional purposes each board may be distinctively coloured and/or carry a user's trade mark; and each board may be embedded with a microchip whereby its age and usage may be monitored.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of making a platform for scaffolding comprising standards, ledgers and transoms, which method comprises: providing a plurality of longitudinally extending boards each having mutually orthogonal dimensions comprising a length x between ends of the boards, a width y between sides of the boards and a thickness z between faces of the boards; providing a plurality of connectors each comprising an upper strip formed to overlie adjacent edges of the boards, a lower strip formed to underlie adjacent edges of the boards, a web connecting the upper strip to the lower strip and securing means extending along and downwards of said lower strip; laying the boards side by side on the transoms with their ends aligned; fitting said connectors between aligned ends of the boards to be supported thereby; and securing said securing means of the connectors to ledgers of the scaffolding.
According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a kit of parts for making a scaffolding platform, which kit comprises a plurality of boards so dimensioned that x=3900 mm, y=225 mm, z=38 mm; a plurality of connectors each of length being an integral multiple of y and comprising a horizontal upper strip to overlie edges of the boards at their ends, a horizontal lower strip to underlie edges of the boards at their ends and separated from the upper strip by an amount sufficient to receive the ends of the boards in snug fitting relationship therebetween, and securing means extending downwards from the lower strip; and a plurality of cable ties for tying said securing means to the scaffolding; wherein said boards and said connectors are each formed of the same synthetic plastics material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE INVENTION

Other aspects of the invention will be apparent from the following description, which is made by way of example only with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, which are not to scale and in which—

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of scaffolding to which the invention may be applied;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a scaffolding platform formed from conventional boarding;

FIG. 3 is an end elevation of a platform formed from conventional boarding illustrating a number of common problems;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of part of a scaffolding platform formed from a boarding system according to the invention and including an end-to-end connector for boards;

FIG. 5 is a cross-section at A-A of FIG. 4 showing an end-to-end connector of the invention;

FIG. 6 shows the end-to-end connector of FIG. 5 in side elevation;

FIG. 7 shows a side-to-side connector of the invention in side elevation;

FIG. 8 illustrates an end piece of the invention in cross-section;

FIGS. 9 to 12 show a board used in the invention respectively in plan, side elevation, end elevation and (substantially enlarged) cross-section;

FIG. 13 shows in cross-section an end-to-end connector of the invention modified from that shown in FIGS. 5; and

FIG. 14 shows in cross-section a further modified end-to-end connector of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring first to FIG. 1, this shows scaffolding indicated generally at 10 erected against a wall 12 extending upwards from the ground (indicated by line 14) and supporting an elevated platform 16. The scaffolding 10 comprises a rectilinear framework of interconnected standards, ledgers and transoms mutually spaced apart by a modular pitch p. Conventionally, and in accordance with common practice, p=1200 mm, but those skilled in the art of scaffolding will appreciate that this is by no means essential.
The rear elevation of the scaffolding 10, against the wall 12, is formed by a run of five vertical standards S1 to S5, the front elevation of the scaffolding 10 is formed by a corresponding run of five standards S7 to S11, and between the front and rear elevations are two intermediate standards S6 and S12. The longitudinal disposition of the forward standards S7 to S11 is maintained by horizontal ledgers L1, L2 and L3, and corresponding ledgers (not numbered in the drawing, for sake of simplicity) interconnect the rearward standards S1 to S5. Extending between and secured to the front and rear standards are horizontal transoms T1 to T9. The lower transoms T3 to T7 support the platform 16 (and in FIG. 1 the transoms T3 to T6, being concealed by the platform 16, are shown in broken lines).
In well-known manner, the ledgers L1 etc are connected to the standards S1 etc, and the transoms T1 etc to the ledgers L1 etc, by appropriate fittings, not detailed in the drawings, which may be of any convenient kind and the form of which does not form part of the present invention. Also not detailed in FIG. 1, to comply with safety regulations the framework has diagonal bracing and the platform 16 is surrounded at its front and ends by toe boards and debris netting extending upwardly from the lower transoms T3 to T7.
As shown diagrammatically in FIG. 2, the platform 16 is assembled from a plurality of boards 20 laid side-by-side and supported by the transom T7 and the other lower transoms (not shown in FIG. 2). As they appear in FIG. 2, the boards 20 appear perfectly flat and regular. In practice, however, conventional wooden boards are commonly not flat or regular. Thus, as illustrated by FIG. 3, the board 20 a is warped upwards across its width, the boards 20 b and 20 c are reasonably flat but they have become separated to create a gap 30, the board 20 d is warped along its length so that one side is raised at the end, and the board 20 e is warped downwards across its width. As a result the working surface of the platform 16 is uneven and hazardous.
By contrast, the present invention provides a scaffolding platform which is and remains flat and regular.
As shown in FIG. 4, the platform is formed from a boarding system comprising a plurality of boards 30 o to 30 z laid side-by-side on transoms 32 and 34 mutually spaced apart by pitch p. The transoms 32 and 34 extend above and orthogonally of ledgers 36 and 38 also mutually spaced apart by pitch p.
The boards comprise two sets of six, 30 o to 30 t and 30 u to 30 z, the two sets being laid end-to-end and the adjacent ends being interconnected by a connector 40 extending transversely of the boards. As shown in FIG. 4 the connector 40 extends across the whole width of six boards. However for a wider platform it may extend across more boards and for a narrower platform it may extend across fewer: for most purposes the platform will be no narrower than four boards, and for such a platform it is sufficient for the connector 40 to extend up to four boards, and not less than three. The connector 40 may be cut to length on site or prior to assembling the scaffolding, or connectors 40 may be preformed to a standard length as elements of a kit of parts for a scaffolding system.
As can be seen in FIG. 4, the boards 30 o to 30 t and 30 u to 30 z are laid side-by-side on the transoms 32 and 34 (and, of course, other transoms not shown in FIG. 4, supporting the boards between their ends). The connector 40 is carried by the projecting ends of the boards. Otherwise expressed, the connector 40 does not carry the boards, so it is of light weight and integrally and inexpensively formed as will be understood from the following description.
The connector 40 is integrally formed by extrusion from synthetic plastics material and its form is shown, much enlarged in comparison with
FIG. 4, in FIG. 5. The connector 40 comprises an upper strip 40 a overlying end edges of the boards (the boards 30 t and 30 z are seen in FIG. 5) and a lower strip 40 b underlying the end edges of boards. The upper strip 40 a and the lower strip 40 b are joined by a web 40 c integral therewith. Extending downwards from the lower strip 40 b and also integral therewith is securing means in the form of a flange 40 d that extends along and downwards from the lower strip 40 b.
The flange 40 d is perforated at 40 e and a cable tie 42 (of conventional form) extends through the perforation 40 e and around the ledger 38, whereby the connector 40 is secured to the scaffolding, to prevent the platform formed by the boards from being dislodged by impacts or updraughts. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the flange 40 d may be perforated at intervals along its length, eg at intervals equal to the pitch p of the scaffolding, whereby the connector 40—and thence the boards themselves—may be tied to the ledger 38 (and/or other ledgers) at multiple points.
The margins of the lower strip 40 b are chamfered as indicated at 40 g, to facilitate the fitting of the boards 30 t, 30 z etc. The vertical dimension of the web 40 c is only very slightly greater than the thickness z of the boards 30 t, 30 z etc, so the boards are a snug fit between the upper and lower strips 40 a and 40 b of the connector 40.
As seen in FIG. 5, the upper face of the upper strip 40 a is roughened at 40 f, eg by corrugations, to provide a non-slip surface, as an additional contribution to user safety.
For the avoidance of uncertainty, two aspects of FIG. 5 may be noted here. First, the transoms 32 and 34, which extend above and orthogonally of the ledgers 36 and 38, do not appear in FIG. 5 because their spacing at pitch p places them outside the field of view. Second, in reality the ledger 38 (like other elements of the scaffolding) is substantially thicker than the thickness z of the boards and, to accommodate the transoms, the ledger 38 is spaced below the underside of the boards by an amount not less than the diameter of the transoms.
The difference between end-to-end connection and side-to-side connection is illustrated by FIGS. 6 and 7.
FIG. 6 shows the end-to-end connector 40, in side elevation. As described above, the connector 40 has an upper strip 40 a and a lower strip 40 b joined together by a vertical web 40 c which in use extends between ends of the platform boards. The securing means comprises a flange 40 d extending downwards from the web 40 c and along the length of the connector 40, with perforations 40 e spaced apart by an amount equal to the pitch p of the supporting structure. The spacing p of the perforations 40 e makes it easy for the connector 40 to be secured to the ledgers 36,38 that are also spaced at pitch p, the supporting structure being modular. (Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the perforations 40 e may otherwise be spaced apart by a multiple of p.) Because the flange 40 d is below the lower strip 40 b, it is clear of the boards forming the platform and therefore readily accessible during assembly, use and after-use disassembly thereof. In addition the flange 40 d improves the strength and stiffness of the connector 40.
FIG. 7 shows a side-to-side connector 50, in side elevation. The connector 50 has an upper strip 50 a and a lower strip 50 b joined together by a vertical web 50 c which in use extends between ends of the platform boards. Unlike the end-to-end connector, the side-to-side connector has no dependent flange, because any such flange would foul the transoms that support the boards. The lower strip 50 b may be formed with perforations at spaced apart locations 50 e whereby the connector 50 may be secured by cable ties 42 (below the web 50 c and therefore readily accessible). Alternatively, and even more accessible, the connector 50 may be formed with downwardly projecting perforated nubs spaced apart to avoid the transoms.
FIG. 8 illustrates an end piece 60 forming part of the invention. As is well known it is often necessary, particularly at corners of a scaffolding platform, to place one layer of boards on top of another. In FIG. 8 a top board 62 is above a bottom board 64. The end piece 60 ameliorates the trip hazard resulting from this arrangement. The end piece 60 comprises an upper strip 60 a, a lower strip 60 b and a vertical web 60 c. The upper strip extends on only one side of the web 60 c (leftwards as seen in FIG. 8) to overlie the edge of the board 62, with the web 60 c against the end of the board 62. Between the upper strip 60 a and the lower strip 62 an intermediate strip 60 d (also extending leftwards of the web 60 c as seen in FIG. 8) underlies the upper board 62. The lower strip 60 b extends (rightwards as seen in FIG. 8) to a free edge and overlying the lower board 64. An inclined face 60 e, reinforced by a supporting brace 60 f, provides a sloping transition between the upper board 62 and the lower board 64. As will be recognised by those skilled in the art, this sloping transition substantially reduces the risk of a user tripping or stumbling at the change of levels between the boards 64 and 64. The upper strip 60 a and the inclined face 60 e are each formed to provide a non-slip surface. Between the intermediate strip 60 d and the lower strip 6 ob is a step of height h dimensioned to make up the difference between the thickness of a board (nominally 38 mm) and the diameter of a scaffolding pole (nominally 60 mm).
The non-slip surfaces of the end-to-end connector 40, the side-to-side connector 50 and the end piece 60 are all formed as follows. V-shaped grooves about 1 mm deep are formed along the length of each item during extrusion and then further V-shaped grooves about 0.5 mm deep are cut across each item. This provides very good grip in use and allows rain or other deposited water to flow off lengthways.
A further feature of the invention is that the platform boards are extruded from recycled PVC (or possibly some other synthetic plastics material) and do not warp or split or splinter. A board 70 is shown in FIGS. 9 to 12. Each board 70 comprises a hollow-form extrusion of length x between its ends, of width y between its sides and of thickness z between its faces. The hollow-form extrusion of the board 70 is formed with a plurality of internal webs 72 and its form is constant along its length so that it may be cut at any point whenever necessary. The overall dimensions of the (uncut) board 40 match those of a conventional wooden scaffolding board, ie x=3900 mm, y=225 mm and z=38 mm. The wall thickness s of the hollow-form extrusion is 3 mm and the web thickness t is 2 mm. It should also be understood that, although not detailed in FIGS. 9 to 12, the board 70 is radiused at its corners and at the junctions between the walls and the webs, the radius being approximately 4 mm.
It is recommended that the connectors (and end pieces) and the boards of the invention be formed of the same material. By this means thermal expansion/contraction of the connectors and the boards with changes in temperature will be the same. In particular, it will be the same in a vertical dimension (ie the length of the web 40 c and the thickness z of the boards) and therefore the snug fit of the boards in the connector 40 will be preserved as temperature varies—which may be over a range of 60° C. or even more.
As an adjunct to the invention, boards of hollow form as shown in FIG. 12 may be connected end-to-end and/or side-to-side by joiners plugging into the hollow-form sections at the ends of the boards.
The connector 80 shown in FIG. 13 has a form slightly modified from that of the connector 40 shown in FIG. 5. Thus the connector 80 has margins 80 g of the lower strip 80 b turned down, instead of the chamfers 40 g of the connector 40.
In other respects the connector 80 is similar to the connector 40. The connector 80 is integrally formed by extrusion from synthetic plastics material and comprises an upper strip 80 a overlying end edges of the boards (the boards 30 t and 30 z are seen in FIG. 13) and a web 80 c extending downwards therefrom, between adjacent ends of the boards, to the lower strip 80 b. Extending downwards from the lower strip 80 b and also integral therewith is securing means in the form of a flange 80 d that extends along and downwards from the lower strip 80 b. The flange 80 d is perforated at 80 e and a cable tie 82 (of conventional form) extends through the perforation 80 e and around the ledger 38, whereby the connector 80 is secured to the scaffolding, to prevent the platform formed by the boards from being dislodged by impacts or updraughts. The flange 80 d has perforations 80 e at intervals along its length, eg at intervals equal to the pitch p of the scaffolding, whereby the connector 80—and thence the boards themselves—is tied to the ledger 38 (and/or other ledgers) at multiple points. The upper face of the upper strip 80 a is roughened at 80 f to provide a non-slip surface.
The connector 90 shown in FIG. 14 is further modified. Like the connector 80 of FIG. 13, it has the margins 90 g of the lower strip 90 b turned down. The turned-down margins 90 g are thus clear of the boards 30 t, 30 z etc, and being therefore accessible for cable ties can serve as securing means for the connector 90. Accordingly the turned-down margins 90 g has perforations has perforations 90 e at intervals along its length, eg at intervals equal to the pitch p of the scaffolding, whereby the connector 90—and thence the boards themselves—is tied to the ledger 38 (and/or other ledgers) at multiple points. And the connector 90 does not need a securing flange like the flange 40 d of the connector 40 or the flange 80 d of the connector 80.
In other respects the connector 90 is similar to the connector 80. The connector 90 is integrally formed by extrusion from synthetic plastics material and comprises an upper strip 90 a overlying end edges of the boards (the boards 30 t and 30 z are seen in FIG. 14) and a web 90 c extending downwards therefrom, between adjacent ends of the boards, to the lower strip 90 b. The upper face of the upper strip 90 a is roughened at 90 f to provide a non-slip surface.
The connectors and endpieces of the invention are extruded from the same material and all have a constant cross-section so that they may be cut to any required length. Combining such connectors and endpieces with boards, scaffolding and ties, the invention thus provides a kit of parts facilitating the construction of an elevated platform which is flat, safe and stable.
As well as the flatness, safety and stability of the platform provided by use of connectors with boards according to the invention, certain other benefits of the invention may now be pointed out. First, because the boards are formed of synthetic plastics material, they do not warp or split or splinter like wood. Second, with plastics manufacture it is easy and very inexpensive to incorporate a marker in each board: the boards can be distinctively coloured, for instance, or provided with a logo or other trade mark to indicate their ownership; otherwise a microchip can be embedded, to guard against theft or to allow age and usage to be checked automatically. Third, the boards do not rot and they resist environmental degradation. Fourth, it is easy and cheap to provide a non-slip working surface on each board as well as on the connectors. Fifth, the extruded form provides consistency (of form and strength) over each length of board and from board to board, in contrast with the variability of wood. Sixth, the hollow-form extrusion is regular over the length of the board, so any board can be cut to any required length. Seventh, the hollow form allows weight-saving without loss of strength. Eighth, both the boards and the connectors can be made from recycled material. And ninth, the boards and the connectors can themselves be recycled after the end of their useful life.
It should be understood that the invention may be used for purposes other than scaffolding, for instance to form temporary staging or terracing, or for providing walkways across potentially muddy areas as around toilet facilities at country shows, open-air festivals and so forth. The invention may otherwise be used to form truck beds or flooring for containers etc.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A scaffolding system comprising two coplanar sets of longitudinally extending boards laid side by side on laterally extending horizontal members of the scaffolding between ends of the boards, ends of each set being aligned and the aligned ends of the two sets being longitudinally adjacent, and

a connector carried by the boards at the adjacent ends thereof, which connector is integrally formed from synthetic plastics material and comprises a vertical web between the adjacent ends of the boards, a horizontal upper strip overlying edges of the boards in each set at their adjacent ends and a horizontal lower strip underlying edges of the boards in each set at their adjacent ends,

wherein said connector comprises integral securing means which extends along and downwards from said lower strip and is tied to the scaffolding.

2. A scaffolding system as claimed in claim 1 wherein in that said securing means comprises a flange dependent from said lower strip.

3. A scaffolding system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said securing means comprises turned down margins of said lower strip.

4. A scaffolding system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said securing means is formed with perforations holding ties securing the connector to the scaffolding.

5. A scaffolding system as claimed in claim 4 wherein horizontal members of the scaffolding are longitudinally spaced apart by a regular pitch p and said perforations are regularly spaced apart along said securing means by an amount which is equal to or a multiple of p.

6. A scaffolding system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the upper strip of the connector is formed with a non-slip upper surface.

7. A scaffolding system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said synthetic plastics material comprises recycled material and is recyclable.

8. A scaffolding system as claimed claim 7 wherein said connector is extruded from said synthetic plastics material.

9. A scaffolding system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said boards are formed from synthetic plastics material.

10. A scaffolding system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said boards are formed from the same synthetic plastics material as that of said connector.

11. A scaffolding system as claimed in claim 1 wherein each board comprises a hollow-form section constant along the length of a board so that, if the board is cut transversely at any point to form a new end, said new end will match the uncut end of another board.

12. A scaffolding system as claimed claim 1 wherein said system comprises a further connector integrally formed from synthetic plastics material and comprising an upper strip formed to overlie edges of said boards along adjacent sides thereof, a lower strip formed to underlie edges of said boards along adjacent sides thereof and a web connecting the upper strip to the lower strip.

13. A scaffolding system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said system comprises an end piece comprising an upper end strip formed to overlie an edge of a first said board, a intermediate strip formed to underlie an edge of the first board, a lower end strip overlying a second said board under the first board and extending to a free edge, an end web having an upper edge joined to and along the upper end strip and a lower edge joined to and along the intermediate strip, and an inclined face between the upper edge of the end web and the free edge of the lower end strip so as in use to provide a sloping transition between the first board and the second board.

14. A scaffolding system as claimed claim 1 wherein each board includes an identifying marker.

15. A method of making a platform for scaffolding comprising standards, ledgers and transoms, which method comprises:

providing a plurality of longitudinally extending boards each having mutually orthogonal dimensions comprising a length x between ends of the boards, a width y between sides of the boards and a thickness z between faces of the boards;

providing a plurality of connectors each comprising an upper strip formed to overlie adjacent edges of the boards, a lower strip formed to underlie adjacent edges of the boards, a web connecting the upper strip to the lower strip and securing means extending along and downwards of said lower strip;

laying the boards side by side on transoms between ends of the boards and with said ends aligned;

fitting said connectors with the webs thereof between aligned ends of the boards to be supported thereby; and

securing said securing means of the connectors to ledgers of the scaffolding.

16. A kit of parts for making a scaffolding platform, which kit comprises:

a plurality of boards so dimensioned that x=3900 mm, y=225 mm, z=38 mm;

a plurality of connectors each of length being an integral multiple of y and comprising a horizontal upper strip to overlie edges of the boards at their ends, a horizontal lower strip to underlie edges of the boards at their ends and separated from the upper strip by an amount sufficient to receive the ends of the boards in snug fitting relationship therebetween, and securing means extending downwards from the lower strip; and

a plurality of cable ties for tying said securing means to the scaffolding;

wherein said boards and said connectors are each formed of the same

synthetic plastics material.