Scaffolding is a working platform constructed to ensure the smooth progress of various construction processes. It is categorized by the location of construction into external and internal scaffolding; by material into wooden, bamboo, and steel pipe scaffolding; and by structural form into upright, bridge, gate, suspended, hanging, cantilever, and climbing scaffolding.

Different types of construction projects require different types of scaffolding. Most bridge support scaffolding uses bowl clamp scaffolding, with some using gate scaffolding. For the main structure construction, the most common type of scaffolding used is the clip joint scaffolding. The longitudinal spacing of the scaffolding uprights is generally 1.2~1.8m; the transverse spacing is usually 0.9~1.5m.

Scaffolding, compared to general structures, has the following characteristics in terms of working conditions:

1. Significant variability in the load it withstands.

2. The connecting nodes of the fasteners are semi-rigid, and the rigidity of the nodes is related to the quality of the fasteners and the installation quality, with significant variations in node performance.

3. Scaffold structures and components have initial defects, such as initial bending of rods, rust, large assembly size errors, and eccentric loading.

4. The connection points with the wall exhibit significant variations in their constraints on the scaffolding. Research on the aforementioned issues lacks systematic accumulation and statistical data, thus not meeting the conditions for independent probability analysis. Therefore, the adjustment coefficient, which is multiplied by the structural resistance, is determined by calibrating against coefficients used in the past. Consequently, the design method adopted in this specification is essentially a hybrid of semi-probabilistic and semi-empirical approaches. Compliance with the structural requirements specified in this specification is the fundamental condition for design calculations.