New Scaffolding Regulations and Guidance for 2025
As the construction industry evolves, so too must the standards that govern health and safety. In 2025, the United Kingdom will see a significant update to its scaffolding regulations and guidance, designed to enhance site safety, streamline compliance, and incorporate technological innovations into daily practice. For business owners, site managers, scaffolders, and construction professionals, understanding these new scaffolding regulations is critical, not only for legal compliance but for maintaining a safe workplace and efficient projects.
With scaffolding underpinning much of the UK’s construction work, staying informed about new health and safety regulations is essential. This comprehensive guide covers the legislative framework, key changes for 2025 (including NASC TG20:21 and TG30:24 updates), practical guidance on compliance, and insights into industry trends—helping you prepare for the changes and maintain best practice on your sites.
Overview of Scaffolding – What is Scaffolding?
Scaffolding is a temporary structure erected to support work crews and materials during the construction, maintenance, and repair of buildings and other large structures. It provides a safe working platform at varying heights, helping workers access hard-to-reach areas and transport tools or materials efficiently. There are many different types of scaffolding, including traditional tube and fitting, system scaffolding, mobile towers, and bespoke modular systems.
In the modern UK construction sector, scaffolding is not just a practical necessity but a critical safety component, governed by robust regulations and standards, including the requirement for scaffold tags and routine inspection records.
Legislative & Regulatory Framework (HSE, NASC, Work at Height Regulations 2005)
The Key Regulatory Authorities
- Health and Safety Executive (HSE): Sets and enforces national health and safety policy for workplaces, including construction.
- National Access & Scaffolding Confederation (NASC): Develops technical and safety guidance tailored for the scaffolding industry.
- CISRS (Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme): Endorses training and accredits ‘competent persons’ within the sector.
- Local Authorities: Oversee public highway scaffolding licensing and ensure public safety standards.
Core Legislative Instruments
- Work at Height Regulations 2005: All scaffolding work in the UK is regulated under these comprehensive regulations. This legislation requires that anyone working at height is properly trained, competent, and that equipment (including scaffolds) is suitably designed, erected, and maintained by a competent person.
- NASC Guidance (e.g., TG20:21, TG30:24): Industry-specific best practice, with technical guidance for design, erection, use, and dismantling.
This multifaceted framework exists to prevent accidents, injuries, and fatalities, making compliance a legal necessity as well as an ethical imperative.
Key Changes for 2025 – New NASC TG20:21, TG30:24 Guidelines
The 2025 updates to scaffolding health and safety regulations in the UK involve:
- Refined technical standards: Updates to NASC TG20:21 and the forthcoming TG30:24 bring greater clarity on design calculations, safe erection, and risk management.
- Enhanced risk assessments: New, more detailed processes for risk identification, with a focus on site-specific environmental and operational factors, including weather adaptations.
- Increased documentation requirements: More rigorous demands for compliance certification and the maintenance of digital inspection records.
- Emphasis on system scaffolding compliance: Modern system scaffolds require updated guidance for compatibility, fixing methods, and permissible loadings—reflected in new NASC guidance.
- Greater competence verification: Stricter standards for the designation and ongoing evaluation of ‘competent persons’ under CISRS and CPD.
These changes affect all players in the construction sector, from major contractors to SME scaffolding firms like Oculus Group, who already operate at a high standard of compliance in the Bournemouth and Dorset area.
Compliance, Licensing & Documentation
Staying compliant means aligning every scaffolding project with national standards and retaining accurate record, from design through dismantling.
Key Compliance Obligations
- Risk Assessments: Conduct comprehensive, site-specific risk assessments before work begins.
- Licensing: All scaffolds encroaching public highways must have a valid license from the relevant local authority. This safeguards public safety and reduces liability.
- Documentation: Maintain up-to-date records, including scaffold tags, inspection logs, design specifications, load calculations, and compliance certificates.
- Insurance: Verify insurance coverage, protecting both workers and the public in the event of incident.
Oculus Group, as a Dorset-based leader in the sector, upholds these principles by offering fully insured, transparent services and maintaining a focus on regulatory compliance for all commercial and domestic scaffolding contracts.
Scaffolding Planning, Design and Calculations
Proper planning is the backbone of safe, compliant scaffolding.
Planning & Design Specifications
- Site Survey: Undertake thorough site surveys to understand access, ground conditions, overhead hazards, and logistics.
- Design and Load Calculations: Adopt the design criteria per the latest NASC TG20:21, ensuring platforms meet safety and load requirements for persons, materials, and equipment.
- System Scaffolding Compliance: Ensure modular system scaffold components are compatible and satisfy updated guidance for guard rails, toe boards, and bracing.
Detailed design calculations are legally required for all but the most basic structures. For complex or ‘non-standard’ scaffolds, an engineer’s design and sign-off is mandatory.
Safe Erection, Use and Dismantling Procedures
To minimise accidents, only a trained, competent person should erect, adapt, or dismantle scaffolding.
Erection and Dismantling Procedures
- Follow the TG20:21 Guidance: All scaffolding must be constructed to the specifications provided in NASC’s current technical guidance.
- Safe Access and Fall Prevention: Incorporate guard rails, toe boards, and secured ladders from the first lift and throughout the structure’s use.
- Monitor Weather Conditions: Suspend work during high winds, heavy rain, or icy conditions that might compromise scaffold stability.
The new guidance also highlights the importance of formal procedures for scaffolding erection and dismantling, underscoring the need for a documented sequence of works and on-site supervision.
Inspection and Maintenance
Frequent inspection and prompt action on defects are cornerstones of scaffolding health and safety regulations.
Scaffold Inspection Protocols
- Frequency: At minimum, scaffolds must be inspected every 7 days, after adverse weather and after any event“likely to affect stability.”
- Who: Only a ‘competent person’—as defined by CISRS/CITB—may conduct inspections.
- Documentation: Use scaffold tags and digital inspection records to evidence compliance.
- Maintenance: Prompt repair or remedial action is required if issues are identified.
Oculus Group’s case studies evidence the importance of ongoing inspections, with routine maintenance helping to avoid stoppages or HSE intervention.
Training & Competency Requirements
Personnel competence is central to the new scaffolding regulations. The CISRS scheme remains the recognised benchmark.
Who Is a ‘Competent Person’?
- Training: Only workers with suitable CISRS cards or equivalent qualifications should work on scaffolding.
- Continuous CPD: Ongoing training and competence verification—including regular CPD—are mandated.
- Supervision: All scaffolding activities must be adequately supervised by qualified staff.
The new 2025 guidance encourages scaffolding companies and main contractors to keep skills up to date via certified courses and ongoing site-based assessments.
At Oculus Group, we are proud to invest in the continued personal development and training of all our scaffolders and staff.
Operational Safety (Access, Fall Protection, Weather Adaptations)
A well-planned scaffold includes built-in features to ensure the safety of everyone on or near the structure.
Construction Site & Public Safety
- Access: Platforms and ladders must allow for safe ascent/egress, with non-slip surfaces and adequate handholds.
- Fall Prevention: Guard rails, toe boards and brick guards are required, with design loads calculated per NASC TG20:21.
- Weather Considerations: Erect protective sheeting or debris netting where needed and be ready to adapt work schedules during adverse weather.
Employing best practice in operational safety helps mitigate both onsite and public risks, a core consideration for companies like Oculus Group, who uphold public and site safety across Bournemouth and the wider South Coast.
Innovations and Future Trends
Digitalisation, sustainability, and the integration of new materials are reshaping scaffolding.
Leading Trends for 2025 and Beyond
- Digital Compliance Tools: Use of mobile apps for scaffold inspection, real-time certification records, and digital asset management is on the rise.
- Modular & Lightweight Materials: Next-generation materials make system scaffolding faster to erect and safer to use.
- Sustainability: Increased focus on recycling, reusable components, and environmentally responsible practices.
For those seeking cost-effective, up-to-date solutions, firms such as Oculus Group continually invest in modern equipment, digital systems, and sustainable methods to meet both regulatory and client expectations.
Closing Thoughts
Navigating the 2025 new scaffolding regulations can seem daunting, but with the right information, practical preparation, and support from accredited providers, legal compliance and operational safety are well within reach.
For those in Bournemouth, Dorset, and across Hampshire, working with trusted local experts such as Oculus Group, renowned for reliability, quality, and strict adherence to industry standards, ensures peace of mind and smoother project delivery.
Staying ahead of evolving scaffolding health and safety regulations protects your business, your team, and the public—now and into the future. For a competitive, compliant scaffold estimate, try the online calculator or speak to an expert for tailored advice.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the new scaffolding regulations for 2025?
The updates centre on revised NASC guidance (TG20:21, TG30:24), enhanced documentation and inspection protocols, stricter competence requirements, and improved guidance around public safety, licensing, and digital compliance.
What are my key compliance obligations as a site manager or business owner?
You must ensure all scaffolding is planned, designed, erected, and inspected by competent persons with relevant CISRS cards, keep up-to-date records, undertake regular inspections, and adhere to legal licensing requirements.
How often must scaffolds be checked?
By law, scaffolds need inspecting at least every 7 days, and after any incident that may affect safety, such as adverse weather, modification, or impact.
What is a ‘competent person’ in scaffolding?
A CISRS-qualified scaffolder, inspector, or supervisor who has up-to-date training and experience relevant to the work being undertaken.
What documentation must I maintain?
Risk assessments, design calculations, scaffold tags, inspection records, certificates of compliance, and (where relevant) local authority licenses for public highway works.
How should risk assessment and planning be approached?
Thorough, site-specific risk assessments are essential. Review them regularly and adapt as site conditions change.
Do I need special licensing for scaffolds on highways or public spaces?
Yes. Public highway scaffolds require permits from the relevant local authority, with conditions designed to protect the public and minimise disruption.
Where can I get more details on the new guidance?
Consult the Health and Safety Executive, NASC’s technical guidance, or contact a reputable local contractor like Oculus Group for practical advice.
