Book excerpt: Access scaffolding is the most important element of plant for building, civil engineering and structural engineering contractors. In fact a building or structure cannot be constructed to a height of more than two metres without platforms to work from. These platforms have to be constructed on the site in the minimum of time but nevertheless backed up by accurate calculations and design details. Access Scaffolding brings together for the first time all the elements of scaffolding, providing a comprehensive and unique guide to the best practice in scaffolding, its engineering properties and the hazards involved. The book covers the very wide varieties of structure which have to be built and used in practice, including suspended and completed structures. Diagrammatic details of the commonest types are featured. Access Scaffolding is a unique and indispensible handbook on the subject for contractor's field and design staff, safety inspectors of statutory bodies, and structural, civil and building consulting engineers. It is also a useful resource for students of structural and civil engineering and building degree courses.