In brief
Three risks stand out in external wall insulation and facade cladding work: falls from scaffolding or suspended platforms, the fire load of insulation boards and packaging accumulating on site, and material falling from the facade striking pedestrians below. The access method should be chosen according to the duration of the work and the height of the building, scaffold ties should not be removed unplanned during insulation, hot work should be subject to a permit, and building entrances should be secured with protected walkways.
External wall insulation safety: the flow of work and its risks
External wall insulation work is short, is mostly carried out by a subcontractor team, and is frequently done on buildings in which people live or work. Because of these three features, external wall insulation safety requires different planning from structural construction: the team is new to the site, the work progresses quickly, and people with no connection to the work walk beneath the facade.
| Work step | Main risk | Priority measure |
|---|---|---|
| Scaffold or platform erection | Falls and overturning during erection | Erection plan, trained team, collective protection |
| Surface preparation and removal of old cladding | Falling pieces, dust, suspected asbestos in old buildings | Material check before removal, not throwing material to the ground |
| Bonding and anchoring boards | Dust, vibration and noise from hammer drills | Drilling with dust extraction, hearing protection |
| Cutting boards | Cutting injuries, fumes when cutting with hot wire | Cutting bench, ventilation |
| Mesh, render and paint | Skin and eye irritation from cement-based mortar | Gloves, eye protection, PPE according to the SDS |
| Facade cladding (composite panel, stone, ceramic) | Welding and cutting on the substructure, carrying panels, wind | Hot work permit, lifting equipment |
On old buildings the facade boards to be removed may contain asbestos; if there is any suspicion, work is stopped and the steps in our article on suspected asbestos in old buildings are applied.
Choosing the access method for external facade work
Annex 4 A-2 of the Regulation on OHS in Construction Work requires safety in work at height to be ensured primarily through collective protection such as guardrails and fall-preventing platforms; the safety harness comes into play where collective protection is not enough. The method for external facade work is chosen according to this principle:
| Method | When it is suitable | Critical point on site | Periodic inspection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Facade (building) scaffolding | Long-duration work with more than one team | Tie plan, fully boarded platforms, weekly check | Every 6 months, authorised person registered in EKIPNET (the Ministry's equipment inspector registry) |
| Suspended access equipment (suspended platform) | High facades where scaffolding cannot be erected from the ground | Daily check, an independent vertical lifeline per person | Once a year, accredited inspection body |
| Mast climbing work platform | Rapid progress on medium and high facades | Mast ties, platform load | Once a year; inspection body from 1 January 2027 |
| Boom or scissor platform | Low facades, spot repairs | Ground bearing capacity, wind, harness in the basket | Once a year, authorised person registered in EKIPNET |
The periodic inspection intervals are the maximum intervals that apply under Annex III of the Work Equipment Regulation unless the standard or manufacturer's instructions set a shorter interval. Having the inspections carried out by authorised persons and bodies is the employer's obligation. Bursa Sistemer OSGB does not carry out these inspections; we plan the dates and follow up the closing out of deficiencies in the reports. For the daily use of platforms, see our article on scissor lifts and boom platforms.
Problems specific to insulation work on facade scaffolding
We explained the general rules of scaffold inspection and the tag system in our article on building scaffold inspection. External wall insulation, however, brings three particular problems to the scaffold:
- Tie conflict: The ties connecting the scaffold to the facade are on the surface where the insulation board will be placed. Teams may remove a tie to lay the board and forget to refit it. The rule should be simple: a tie is relocated only with the approval of the authorised person responsible for the scaffold, by fitting a new one nearby; more than one tie in the same area is not removed at the same time. If ties long enough to pass through the insulation thickness are planned from the outset, the problem largely disappears.
- Gap between the platform and the facade: The scaffold is erected allowing for the insulation thickness and working clearance. As a result, a wider gap than in structural work may remain between the platform and the wall. If the gap creates a fall risk, a guardrail or an inside bracket platform is added on the inner side.
- Material stacked on the platform: Board packs and mortar bags are piled onto the platform. The scaffold's load class should be visible on the tag, stacking should be limited accordingly, and no material that could fall should be left at the platform edge.
External facade work with a suspended platform
On tall buildings, external wall insulation and facade cleaning are mostly done with a suspended platform. Annex 4 of the Regulation on OHS in Construction Work has a separate heading for suspended access equipment (section B-II, items 37–46). Its on-site equivalent is as follows:
- Check every day before starting work: Suspension ropes, mechanical installation and motor arrangement, brakes, the working platform and other safety equipment are checked (B-II/37). Link this check to a form.
- Installation certificate: For the machines and hoists providing movement, the authorised technical personnel who carried out the installation issue a document showing fitness for use; the document is kept on site (B-II/38).
- Load and use: The maximum load is stated and not exceeded; ladders are not used on the platform (B-II/40). The platform is secured so that it does not swing during work (B-II/39).
- Brakes and safety devices: There is a service brake, a fall-arrest device and a secondary brake; on powered systems, overload detection, overspeed detection, rope end limit switches and a tilt sensor are required (B-II/41–42).
- Lifeline per person: A separate vertical lifeline is installed for each worker on the platform, with its upper end attached to a secure anchor; workers attach to this line with a full body harness and rope grab (B-II/43).
- Suspension system: Roof outrigger beams and connection points are capable of withstanding the most unfavourable loading conditions (B-II/46). No sandbags or materials are used as counterweight other than the weights specified by the manufacturer.
Insulation fire risk: on site and in design
Insulation fire risk is addressed in two separate questions. The first is fire during the construction period. Insulation board packs, cut-offs and packaging accumulate along the scaffold and on the ground. When welding, cutting metal on the substructure or using a torch for waterproofing, a spark can start a fire that spreads rapidly upwards along the scaffold. Measures:
- Carry out welding, grinding and torch work under a hot work permit; watch the area for some time after the work.
- Keep only the day's requirement of boards on site; keep stock away from the building and scaffold.
- Collect cut-offs and packaging every day; do not let waste accumulate on the scaffold.
- Place fire extinguishers at scaffold access points and the stock area; prohibit smoking on the scaffold.
- Keep temporary electrical equipment such as floodlights and heaters away from the boards.
The second is the design rule. Art. 27 of the Regulation on the Fire Protection of Buildings requires the external facade of buildings over 28.50 m in height to be of low-combustibility material, and that of lower buildings to be of at least flame-retardant material. On buildings with flame-retardant facades lower than 28.50 m, non-combustible material is used up to a height of 1.5 m from ground level; if the building height exceeds 6.50 m, non-combustible fire barriers at least 15 cm wide at the side edges and at least 30 cm wide at the upper edge of windows and similar openings are installed. The thermal insulation system, together with its components, must be certified in an accredited laboratory. These rules are for the permanent safety of the building; but skipping the barrier on site "to save time" can be prevented by instructions given to the site team.
Protecting pedestrians below and building occupants
In facade work the person injured in an accident is often not a worker but someone passing below. Annex 4 of the Regulation on OHS in Construction Work contains clear provisions on this: hand tools and materials used at height are prevented from falling (A-8); collective protection against falling objects is provided first (A-9); entry to areas where objects may fall is prevented, and if it cannot be prevented, a covered walkway is built (A-10); materials are not thrown directly to the ground from any height (A-12); the perimeter of the construction site is fenced so that it can be easily seen (A-68).
Reflect these on site as follows:
- Cover the outer face of the scaffold with netting or sheeting and fit all toe boards.
- Build a protective canopy over building entrances and shop fronts; if possible route pedestrian traffic outside the scaffold along a path separated by barriers.
- Bring demolition waste down by rubbish chute or crane; no one should be under a load being lifted.
- In occupied buildings, announce working hours and which facade is being worked on to occupants; restrict use of balconies and placing items at windows on that facade.
- Check every day that combi boiler and water heater flue outlets are not covered by sheeting, netting or insulation boards.
Subcontractors, training and health requirements
The insulation team is often a subcontractor; the principal employer checks the team's training certificates before work starts. We explained the health and safety plan and coordinator obligations in construction work in our article on the Regulation on OHS in Construction Work. For the training content for people who will work at height, see our article on work at height training, and for health requirements, our article on the health report for work at height. The general list to use at site opening, our construction site OHS checklist, makes your job easier.
On external wall insulation and facade projects in Bursa and the surrounding provinces, Bursa Sistemer OSGB plans the choice of access method, site walks and subcontractor coordination through its OHS specialist services. For other construction topics, see our construction sector page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a safety harness enough for external wall insulation work?
No. The regulation first requires collective protection such as guardrails and fall-preventing platforms. The harness is used as an additional measure where collective protection cannot fully eliminate the fall risk; on suspended platforms a separate vertical lifeline for each worker is mandatory.
Who carries out the periodic inspection of a suspended platform?
The annual periodic inspection of suspended access equipment is carried out by accredited inspection bodies. In addition, suspension ropes, brakes and the platform should be checked every day before starting work.
Can a scaffold tie be removed during insulation work?
It can be relocated only with the approval of the authorised person responsible for the scaffold and by fitting a new tie nearby. A tie removed without planning can cause the scaffold to collapse.
How are pedestrians protected during facade work?
Entry to the fall zone is prevented with barriers; if it cannot be prevented, a covered walkway and protective canopies over entrances are built. The scaffold is covered with netting or sheeting, and material is not thrown down from above.
A certified specialist matched to your hazard class: site inspections, approved logbook, training plan, annual plan and report follow-up.
Bursa SİSTEMER OSGB Technical Team — written from the field experience of our OHS specialists and workplace physicians. Legal information is valid as of the publication/update date; contact us for an assessment specific to your business.