FAQs
Please see below the most common questions we usually get asked about the Alto access products.
If we still haven't answered your questions here, please get in touch and our sales team will assist you.
Why would I use or buy a scaffold tower?
If you are considering using, buying or renting a scaffold tower or access tower, then you are almost certainly intent on carrying out a task that involves working at height.
It may sound obvious but if you get this wrong, gravity will probably ruin your day - and possibly the rest of your life. Falls from height are the biggest single cause of fatalities in the workplace and a huge contributor to serious injury statistics.
Assembled and used properly, a well-designed mobile access tower is probably one of the safest methods of carrying out many construction and maintenance activities that involve working at height.
They provide a sound structure with a level guard railed and toe-boarded working area and a purpose designed method of access. A sound safety case for tower access for working at height can be made in the vast majority of situations.
Towers come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are capable of enabling a huge range of work in a wide variety of situations.
Alto Towers are the best mobile access towers that money can buy. They are stronger, more versatile and longer lasting than any other brand of tower.
To find out more - choose one of our product ranges below:
For Industrial strength and absolute top quality towers - Alto HD
For general purpose towers where extreme strength is not vital - Alto MD
For towers in advanced applications (which really are best only attempted using Alto HD equipment) - BS1139 Towers
For towers on stairs - Alto Stairwell Towers
Can I build a tower on stairs?
Building a tower on a staircase requires special consideration. Clearly wheels would be an absurdly dangerous element and for most staircases, the tower needs to be quite narrow to fit in the stairwell and facilitate operatives moving up and down the staircase whilst it is in position.
The Alto MD Stairwell tower is an ideal solution. It has all the merits of the Alto MD system with the added benefit of a compact footprint and walkthrough base frames.
Click here to find out more.
What makes an Alto HD tower better than the others?
Alto HD towers are the ultimate industrial aluminium mobile access tower on the market today. The most robust form of non-powered mobile access equipment available.
They are made using 3mm thick extruded aluminium tube. Most competitors use 1.6mm or less - and often seam welded tube - with a consequent effect on capacity, resistance to damage and performance.
Joints in our frames and braces are formed using all round welds not weaker strip welds and castings - both of which are inherently less suitable for joints in tension. These all-round welds virtually eliminate cracked welds and make the tower a much more rigid structure with joints 5 times stronger in tension & 13 times stronger in bending.
The ALTO conical head fittings prevent frames from jamming when dismantling towers so hammer damage is totally eliminated. An additional benefit of the head fittings is the frames automatically lock together during assembly, eliminating the requirement for flimsy, awkward spring clips that can be lost or damaged and render the tower unusable.
If Alto HD towers are so good - why do you make other towers?
The Alto HD tower is, in our view the best tower you can buy. However, it is undeniably, more expensive than other towers. it is also true that the enormous strength and capability of the Alto HD tower, whilst desirable in itself, isn't always required for many applications.
To provide a solution for users and operators who cannot justify the cost of a tower of this type, we created the Alto MD range. The towers are still designed and manufactured using the same uncompromising approach but with a lower total capacity and a capability tailored to the demands of the majority of the market. This means we can offer the MD tower at a competitive price - whilst still giving a vastly superior tower to owners and operators.
Click here to find out more about the Alto MD range.
What is a ladderspan tower?
Ladderspan towers became popular around 20-30 years ago as an alternative to the original stair tower which incorporated a stair unit between platform levels.
Originally a lot of the impetus for this was a cost saving exercise as stair units could be eliminated and some manufacturers also eliminated almost all of the intermediate platforms. The consequence of this is of course the greatly increased risk of a serious injury in the event of an operative falling from the ladder due to the greater distances involved.
This advantage has been significantly reduced by the improvement in standards and regulations over the years which mean that there is much less scope for omitting intermediate platforms.
Now users are broadly left with a ladder access - which is not terribly convenient compared to a staircase and a series of hatches to negotiate - also a needless inconvenience.
Scaffolders are being strongly encouraged to move from ladder to stair access on the grounds of the substantial safety benefits - we think there should be a similar move for tower users too. The benefits are fairly obvious as far as we can see.
What is a stair tower?
When towers were first deployed, they were all stair towers. As the name suggests, they use staircases to gaine access to various levels rather than ladders either built or clipped into the frames of the tower.
Ladderspan towers became more popular around 20-30 years ago as they involve a few less components and are consequently a little simpler to erect and are cheaper for hire companies to buy.
However, a ladder is intrinsically a riskier thing to use than a staircase - all other factors being the same. It is certainly pretty difficult to safely carry any tools or materials up a ladder in a tower and negotiate the hatch opening safely.
Scaffolders are being strongly encouraged to move from ladder to stair access on the grounds of the substantial safety benefits - we think there should be a similar move for tower users too. The benefits are fairly obvious as far as we can see.
Take a look at the Alto Stair Tower and see how much easier it would be to ascend and descend safely and in comfort by clicking here
What is a 3T tower?
A 3T tower is a traditionally designed tower using horizontal and diagonal braces to join the end frames together forming a rigid structure. 3T stands for Through The Trap and refers to operatives remaining within confines of the trap platform until guardrails on the newest installed platform are installed.
What is an AGR tower?
An AGR tower uses AGR or Advanced Guard Rail Frames instead of conventional braces to create guardrails above the operative ready for the installation of the next platform. AGR towers are generally quicker to build - though some of the parts are larger and heavier and the towers are generally less strong to some degree.
What is the relevance of EN 1004?
BS EN 1004:2004 is the current European standard which sets required levels of performance for mobile access towers of platform heights of between 2.5 metres and 8 metres (outdoors) or 12 metres (indoors).
It defines a number of characteristics of towers such as modes of access and sets minimum performance levels for things like platform or guardrail deflection under load, sizes of components or gaps between elements such as guardrails.
It also specifies a load rating derived from a pre existing scaffolding standard.
A tower can be either class two or class three. Everyone claims to be a class three tower - and indeed, most if not all have a test certificate that says they have been tested to class three.
Unfortunately for users, every currently made brand of tower that we have checked restricts their double width tower platform loading to substantially less than a class three load.
What is BS1139 part 6?
This standard governs structures made from mobile access tower components in non-standard configurations - in other words anything other than a straight up and down tower.
Examples of such structures would include:
Linked towers - also referred to as facade runs;
Towers incorporating bridges or high clearance frames;
Cantilever towers;
Towers built to over 12 metre platform height - and, oddly towers built to less than 2.5 metres platform height.
These are advanced tower applications and it is vital that anyone considering using a tower in such a form has a design approved by the manufacturer either as a "standard" variant or as a bespoke design.
This is because the loads on the towers in these applications can be considerably greater than in normal builds - and with the exception of Alto HD towers none of the other towers currently available can safely cope with the loads of some of these structures without additional strengthening components.
Should you use the smallest end frames at the top or bottom of a mobile tower?
This is a dangerously misleading “rule of thumb”. ALWAYS build the tower according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Do I need to be trained to use a tower?
The Work at Height Regulations requires all persons working at height to be competent using the relevant equipment and they must be able to prove their competency.
There is no specific mandatory qualification in relation to towers above and beyond the general requirement of the WAHR set out above. However, PASMA offer a range of courses including many that are specifically designed to equip users to assemble, use and disassemble towers more safely.
Details can be found here https://pasma.co.uk/training/
Why do I need the manufacturer's instructions?
Towers are not all the same. The fact that you may have built a tower before does not mean that this tower will be the same. If you do not build your tower correctly, its strength and stability is likely to be impaired.
Quite simply - if you don't have a copy of the manufacturer's instructions, you cannot safely assemble the tower.
if you hire a tower you should be issued a copy by the hire company.
A good set of instructions should give you crystal clear directions and comprehensive safety information and schedules of components.
Instructions for Alto Towers may be found by clicking here.
Do I need to fit stabilisers to my tower?
If the instructions for your tower require stabilisers - fit them.
Always follow the manufacturer's instructions.
When should mobile towers be inspected?
Towers must be inspected as often as is necessary to ensure safety.
PASMA recommends that on towers where it is possible o fall 2m or more you should carry out inspections after assembly or significant alteration, before use and following any event likely to have affected the towers stability or structural integrity. You should complete and issue the inspection report in accordance with the requirements of the Work at Height Regulations. Re-inspect the tower as often as is necessary to ensure safety but at least every 7 days and issue a new report each time.
Should you use a safety harness and lanyard as fall protection when working on a mobile tower?
Only the Alto Ultima tower is tested and certified as capable of safely providing work positioning and fall arrest protection in addition to the collective protection afforded by the guardrails of the tower.
Find out more about the Alto Ultima Tower by clicking here.
To see a video demonstration of the tower's fall arrest capability, click here.
Why should I buy an Alto tower?
Well - that depends on your point of view and attitude towards risk and value.
If you regard cheapest as always being the best value - then you probably won't appreciate an Alto tower. Cheaper towers are available. Some of them are an acceptable standard for light usage - some of them we wouldn't go up.
If you are using towers commercially or running a hire fleet of towers, we think the benefits of Alto Towers are unanswerable. They are tougher, last longer, suffer less damage and have a vastly greater capability than any other tower on the market. In our experience, they will continue to repay your investment many times over long after other towers have been consigned to the scrap bin.
We think our towers are safer than any other brand because of the way they are designed and the way they go together. In our experience, gravity doesn't care how much money you saved buying a cheaper tower - it will punish you for a failure when working at height without fear or favour.
Why should I demand an Alto Tower off my hire company?
If you are renting a tower - then these things seem to us to matter:
- How capable is it? - an Alto Tower is stronger than any other available tower - so you are highly unlikely to overload it or find it lacking in functionality.
Only an Alto tower allows you to have multiple working levels as standard.
Only Alto HD towers have over two and a half times the load rating of their nearest competitor. Even our MD tower has more than double the capacity of its nearest competitor. - How safe is it? Most towers available in the UK are safe if they are in good condition and used within their capability. Hire equipment is seldom new and dents, creases or broken welds fundamentally weaken tower components. A damaged tower component is a dangerous component.
- How much does it cost me? The cost of renting a given tower is pretty much the same irrespective of tower brand. The issue is how much are you going to be charged for damage to the tower when you return it. A lot of towers are so flimsy that they are easily damaged in the construction and maintenance environment. If you enjoy paying for your hire company's new equipment - keep renting whatever they give you. Alternatively, you could specify Alto.
- How easy is it to put up and take down? Alto's unique conical head fittings mean that our frames are highly unlikely to jam and there are no clips to lose. Our toe boards unfold and install in a single piece.
If your hire company of choice doesn't stock Alto - they can always cross hire from one of our stockists - or of course contact us to discuss buying a real quality tower for use by their valued customer!
- How capable is it? - an Alto Tower is stronger than any other available tower - so you are highly unlikely to overload it or find it lacking in functionality.
I don't have wheels for my tower - can I still build it?
Never use a mobile tower without either the castors or base plates fitted at the base of all uprights.
Never use a tower with the base of the end frames resting on the ground, even if you have placed boards or other packing beneath. They are not designed to be used in this way.
The castors or base plates and their associated adjustable legs are vital to the safe use of any tower.
Can I build a tower on the pavement?
Legally, in order to install towers - short term or otherwise - on a "highway", a license must be obtained from the Highway Authority. A highway is defined as any place where the public has a right to pass, such as pavements, carriageways, footpaths and verges.
PASMA provides pavement license guidance for those using mobile access towers built in areas the public can cross on foot.
The guidance and license template was produced by PASMA in consultation with the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), the Highway Authority and the National Traffic Managers' Forum.
An example license application is available on the PASMA website and can be viewed here:
PASMA's guidance notes can be found here:
What is a cantilever tower?
A cantilever tower has a platform at the working level which projects out from the side of the tower.
It is used to reach over obstructions where the tower cannot be positioned immediately next to the desired work position.
As the cantilever is outside the basic tower framework, there is automatically a greater risk of overturning if the tower is incorrectly built, stabilized or if the cantilever is overloaded. Extra care is requird in selecting, deploying and using a cantilever tower.
Cantilever towers are special applications with separate instruction sets and are not covered by the basic PASMA Towers for Users course.
Alto HD equipment can be used to construct cantilever towers. An instruction set and guidance can be found here.
For more information on advanced and specialist applications, call us on 01527 500577 or use our contact page to contact us by email.
What is a facade tower?
This is a typical advanced application at which the Alto HD equipment excels. With its massive strength rating, compatibility with standard scaffolding and range of specialist walkthrough frames, the Alto HD is the only serious choice for large linked tower applications.
For more information see here: https://www.altoaccess.com/bs1139-tower.html
A number of linked tower structures can be built using Alto HD as “standard” configurations.
For an example of an assembly manual for this type of application – click here
There is an almost infinite range of possible structures that can be achieved with support from our design service.
For more information on advanced and specialist applications, call us on 01527 500577 or us our contact page to contact us by email.
What is a universal stair unit and why is it necessary?
Scaffolding is a superb and almost infinitely variable way to construct temporary structures to enable work at height.
Traditionally, scaffolders have used ladders for access as they are cheap and flexible way of achieving access between levels. However, the ladder is increasingly being seen as a choice of last resort even as a means of access.
As part of this general move, scaffolders are moving rapidly away from using ladders as part of their structures - and many sites will no longer accept them including several notable housebuilders in the UK.
The difficulty is in the very flexibility of scaffolding as structural system - especially traditional tube and fitting scaffolding.
Enter the Alto Universal Stair. Each unit has a nominal height - 1.0m; 1.5m; 2.0m; 2.5m; 3.0m; but each can cover a range of heights whilst still providing a completely compliant and safe stairway with handrails to suit.
Technical details may be found here: https://www.altoaccess.com/assets/tech-datasheet_universal-stair.pdf
For more information on pricing and availability, call us on 01527 500577 or use our contact page to contact us by email.
What is the Alto Scaffmate?
The Alto Scaffmate is a product designed to allow scaffolders to safely preinstall guardrails to the next lift whilst working from a guard railed position.
The Alto Scaffmate itself is not a new concept - but the Scaffmate Duo is. The Alto Scaffmate Duo adds an extra layer of functionality by neatly folding in half to allow scaffolders to eliminate the separate 0.5m step that they have had to carry until now.
https://www.altoaccess.com/assets/datasheet_scaffmate-duo.pdf
For more information on pricing and availability, call us on 0152 500577 or use our contact page to contact us by email.
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