SANS 10085 Scaffolding Regulations: The Complete South African Compliance Guide (2024)
Date: May 7, 2026
Category: Health and Safety, Scaffolding
TLDR
SANS 10085 is South Africa's mandatory national standard for the erection, use, inspection, and dismantling of access scaffolding. The 2024 update (SANS 10085-1:2024) introduces stricter competency requirements, formally bans unsafe scaffold types including trestle "bokkies," and aligns scaffolding practice with the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Non-compliance carries Compensation Fund liabilities, project shutdowns, and criminal prosecution.
Table of Contents
- What is SANS 10085?
- SANS 10085:2004 vs SANS 10085-1:2024: What Changed?
- Why Compliance is a Business Imperative
- Scaffolding in Industrial Environments
- 7 Critical Compliance Tips
- Inspection and Tagging Requirements
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Work with a SANS 10085-Compliant Partner
What is SANS 10085? {#what-is-sans-10085}
SANS 10085 is the South African National Standard for access scaffolding, published by the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS). It is the primary technical reference for the safe design, erection, inspection, use, and dismantling of temporary access structures in construction and industrial settings across South Africa.
The standard carries full legal force through its incorporation into the Occupational Health and Safety Act (Act No. 85 of 1993) and the Construction Regulations, 2014. Under Section 16 of the Construction Regulations, every contractor using access scaffolding must ensure compliance with SANS 10085. This is not optional guidance — it is a mandatory code of practice.
Pro Rise Scaffolding, based in Johannesburg and operating across Gauteng and into Richards Bay (KwaZulu-Natal), designs, erects, and dismantles scaffolding in full compliance with SANS 10085 for industrial plants, refineries, and shutdown projects throughout South Africa.
SANS 10085:2004 vs SANS 10085-1:2024: What Changed? {#what-changed}
The latest revision, SANS 10085-1:2024, is a substantial update to the previous 2004 standard. For contractors, plant managers, and safety officers, the key differences include:
| Area | SANS 10085:2004 | SANS 10085-1:2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Scaffold types permitted | Broader range including frame and trestle | Trestle ("bokkie") and non-compliant frame scaffolds formally excluded |
| Competency requirements | General competence guidelines | More stringent formal requirements for written competent person appointment |
| Load calculations | Standard provisions | Updated requirements for design and load calculations |
| Documentation | Basic record-keeping | More detailed safety file and inspection register requirements |
The exclusion of trestle scaffolds ("bokkies") is one of the most significant operational changes. Many older work practices on South African industrial sites relied on these structures — they are now formally non-compliant under the updated standard.
Why SANS 10085 Compliance is a Business Imperative {#why-compliance}
The consequences of non-compliance reach far beyond a notice from a Department of Employment and Labour inspector.
The human cost: The construction industry is consistently one of South Africa's top four high-risk sectors. The Deputy Minister for Employment and Labour has confirmed that between 1.5 and 2 fatalities occur every week in the South African construction sector. Falls from scaffolding remain a leading cause.
The financial cost: The Compensation Fund has paid out more than R500 million in a single financial year for construction-industry injuries and diseases. Companies found non-compliant face:
- Project shutdowns and lost production time
- Increased insurance premiums
- Civil and criminal liability under the OHS Act
- Damaged reputation and loss of procurement eligibility with major industrial clients
Proactive SANS 10085 compliance protects workers, protects the business, and protects the bottom line.
Scaffolding in Industrial Environments: Why the Stakes Are Higher {#industrial}
Industrial settings — petrochemical plants, refineries, power stations, and manufacturing hubs — present challenges that go well beyond standard construction sites. Scaffolding erected at these facilities must account for:
- Complex geometries: Structures must wrap around pipe racks, pressure vessels, boilers, and heat exchangers — often in three dimensions with no standard configuration.
- Hazardous environments: Materials must withstand exposure to chemicals, extreme temperatures, and corrosive atmospheres. Non-sparking components are required in classified hazardous zones.
- Live plant operations: Scaffolding is sometimes required while production continues, demanding SIMOPS (simultaneous operations) planning, hot work permits, and strict access control.
- Shutdown time pressure: During planned plant shutdowns, scaffolding must be erected and struck rapidly to minimise downtime. A single day of lost production at a South African refinery can represent millions of rands in lost output.
In these environments, a scaffolding contractor that fully understands SANS 10085 is not just a convenience — it is a risk-management necessity.
7 Critical SANS 10085 Compliance Tips {#compliance-tips}
Tip 1: Appoint a Competent Person in Writing
SANS 10085 and the Construction Regulations require the formal, written appointment of a competent person to supervise all scaffolding operations. This individual must have the knowledge, training, and practical experience to:
- Conduct site-specific risk assessments
- Verify scaffold designs and load calculations
- Supervise all erection and dismantling work
- Conduct or oversee all mandatory inspections
Keep signed appointment letters, certificates of competency, and training records in a dedicated safety file for every project.
Tip 2: Conduct a Site-Specific Risk Assessment
Before any scaffold goes up, a thorough risk assessment is mandatory. Generic checklists do not satisfy the standard — the assessment must be site-specific and must evaluate:
- Wind loads and weather exposure at the specific location
- Ground conditions and foundation load-bearing capacity
- Proximity to live equipment, power lines, or operating plant
- Planned scaffold loads: personnel, materials, and equipment
- Environmental hazards specific to the site (chemicals, extreme heat, classified zones)
Tip 3: Follow the Mandatory Inspection Schedule
SANS 10085 requires a scaffold to be inspected:
- Before first use
- At least once every seven days
- After any incident that could affect structural integrity (impact by a vehicle, falling object, or nearby incident)
- Following adverse weather conditions (high winds, heavy rain, lightning)
Inspections must be carried out by a competent person and results logged in a scaffold inspection register. A colour-coded tag system — green (safe to use), yellow (restricted use with conditions), red (unsafe, do not use) — provides clear, immediate communication to all site personnel.
Tip 4: Use Only Certified, Compatible Components
The safety of any scaffold is only as strong as its weakest component. Compliance requires:
- Steel to the correct grade specified in SANS 657-1
- Professionally engineered modular systems designed for the specific application
- No mixing of components from different manufacturers unless compatibility is formally certified by a competent person
Reject any non-certified or visibly damaged component before erection begins.
Tip 5: Train and Certify All Personnel
Every person involved in scaffolding operations — erectors, dismantlers, inspectors, supervisors, and users — must hold a valid certificate of competency for their specific role. Refresher training keeps all personnel current with the latest SANS 10085 requirements and site-specific procedures.
Tip 6: Install Full Fall Protection
Falls from height are the leading cause of construction fatalities in South Africa. SANS 10085 requires:
- Collective protection first: Guardrails, mid-rails, and toe boards on all working platforms at all times
- Personal PPE: Safety harnesses for all personnel during erection and dismantling, where collective measures are not yet fully in place
- Controlled access: Secure, designated access points — ladders or stair towers — to all working platforms. No climbing the scaffold frame.
Tip 7: Plan Dismantling from Day One
Dismantling is a reversal of erection and carries equal risk if not planned correctly. Before any scaffold goes up, a dismantling plan must be developed by the competent person, communicated to the full crew, and executed in a controlled, systematic sequence. Unplanned or rushed dismantling is one of the most common causes of scaffold collapse in South Africa.
Inspection and Tagging Requirements in Detail {#inspection}
The scaffold inspection register is one of the most scrutinised documents during a Department of Employment and Labour site visit. Each entry must record:
- Date of inspection
- Name and signature of the inspecting competent person
- Areas of the scaffold inspected
- Any defects identified and corrective action taken
- Date defects were rectified
- Current tag status (green / yellow / red)
The register must be kept on-site and made available for inspection at all times. For a detailed look at the costs associated with scaffolding compliance and documentation requirements, see our separate cost breakdown guide.
Frequently Asked Questions {#faq}
Is SANS 10085 legally binding in South Africa?
Yes. SANS 10085 is incorporated by reference into the Construction Regulations, 2014, under the OHS Act. This makes it a mandatory code of practice for all scaffolding work in South Africa — not optional guidance.
What is the difference between SANS 10085:2004 and SANS 10085-1:2024?
The 2024 revision introduces stricter competency and documentation requirements, updates load calculation provisions, and formally prohibits trestle ("bokkie") scaffolds and certain non-compliant frame scaffolds that were still in common use under the older standard.
Who qualifies as a "competent person" under SANS 10085?
A competent person is someone formally appointed in writing by the contractor, with the required knowledge, training, and practical experience to supervise scaffold operations, conduct risk assessments, verify designs, and perform inspections. A certificate alone is not sufficient — practical experience and a formal written appointment are both required.
How often must scaffolding be inspected under SANS 10085?
At minimum, every seven days — plus before first use, after any incident that could affect structural integrity, and after adverse weather conditions.
What scaffold types are banned under SANS 10085-1:2024?
The 2024 standard formally excludes trestle scaffolds (known locally as "bokkies") and certain non-compliant frame scaffolds. These are prohibited from all regulated scaffolding work in South Africa.
What are the penalties for non-compliance?
Non-compliance with the OHS Act and Construction Regulations can result in project shutdowns, criminal prosecution of site managers and directors, civil liability for injuries, and Compensation Fund exposure. The Fund has paid out more than R500 million in a single year for construction-industry injuries alone.
Can scaffolding components from different manufacturers be mixed?
Only if compatibility between the components has been formally verified and certified by a competent person. Mixing uncertified components from different manufacturers is prohibited under SANS 10085 and constitutes a compliance failure.
Work with a SANS 10085-Compliant Scaffolding Partner {#partner}
Understanding SANS 10085 is the first step — consistent, documented compliance across every project is the ongoing requirement. For industrial plants in Gauteng and across South Africa, the combination of complex environments, time-sensitive shutdowns, and stringent regulatory requirements makes choosing the right scaffolding partner a critical decision.
Pro Rise Scaffolding has been designing, erecting, and dismantling industrial scaffolding across Gauteng and into KwaZulu-Natal for over two decades. Every structure we erect is fully compliant with SANS 10085-1:2024. Our teams hold certifications in scaffolding erection, scaffold inspection, working at heights, legal liability, and first aid — and we maintain comprehensive documentation on every project.
For industrial maintenance scaffolding, shutdown scaffolding, and specialist refinery work across South Africa, contact Pro Rise Scaffolding today for a consultation and free quote.
