Assessment of Scaffolding Systems in Addis Ababa Public Building Projects; Current Practice, Related Problems, and Potential Solutions

The assessment of the current practice and related issues of the scaffolding systems in Addis Ababa public building projects are presented. Public building construction projects of at least five stories high were studied using both qualitative and quantitative data analysis. This research was conducted using the Stratified sampling method, in which 120 copies of the questionnaires were distributed to respondents, and 112 of them responded. The research findings indicated that eucalyptus wood dominated the current practice of scaffolding materials in Ethiopia building construction. Of the selected buildings, 43.75% used eucalyptus wood, 31.25% used metal, and the remaining 25% used combinations of both scaffolding materials. The financial capacity of the main contractors, the initial cost of the material, and the foreign currency problem in importing the construction materials were identified as the main factors limiting the implementation of modern scaffolding materials. The study identified that 77.5% of the contractors preferred to use wooden scaffolding due to its lower initial cost. Generally, most contractors prefer to use metal scaffolding over eucalyptus wood; however, the associated higher initial cost forced most of the contractors to use eucalyptus wood material for scaffolding. However, RHS H-frame metal scaffolding with diagonal bracing offers a superior lifespan (50 years) compared to the conventional eucalyptus tree scaffolding, resulting in 128.8% cost reduction in scaffolding expenses, particularly for large-scale projects.

Keywords: Scaffolding system; eucalyptus wood; metal scaffolding; temporary structures; Addis Ababa