British Standard

A single copy of this British Standard is licensed to

Licensed Copy: Untung Priyatno, BP Amoco, 12 September 2002, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

Untung Priyatno
12 September 2002

This is an uncontrolled copy. Ensure use of the most

current version of this document by searching British
Standards Online at bsonline.techindex.co.uk
 BRITISH STANDARD BS 1139-1.2:
1990

Metal scaffolding —
Part 1: Tubes —

Section 1.2 Specification for aluminium

tube
Licensed Copy: Untung Priyatno, BP Amoco, 12 September 2002, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI
 BS 1139-1.2:1990

Committees responsible for this

British Standard

The preparation of this British Standard was entrusted by the Civil

Engineering and Building Structures Standards Policy Committee (CSB/-) to
Technical Committee CSB/57, upon which the following bodies were
represented:

Association of Consulting Engineers

Association of Consulting Scientists
British Constructional Steelwork Association Ltd.
British Steel Industry
Building Employers’ Confederation
Concrete Society
Construction Health and Safety Group
Construction Industry Training Board
Department of the Environment (Property Services Agency)
Electricity Supply Industry in England and Wales
Licensed Copy: Untung Priyatno, BP Amoco, 12 September 2002, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

Engineering Equipment and Materials Users’ Association

This British Standard, having
been prepared under the
direction of the Civil
Engineering and Building
Structures Standards Policy
Committee, was published
under the authority of the
Board of BSI and comes
into effect on
31 October 1990
English Net Manufacturers’ Association
Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors
Health and Safety Executive
Institute of Building Control
Institution of Civil Engineers
Institution of Structural Engineers
National Association of Formwork Contractors
National Association of Scaffolding Contractors
National Federation of Master Steeplejacks and Lightning Conductor
Engineers
Prefabricated Aluminium Scaffolding Manufacturers’ Association
Suspended Access Equipment Manufacturers’ Association

© BSI 02-1999

First published as BS 1139

November 1943
Second edition November 1951
Third edition June 1964
Fourth edition as BS 1139-1 Amendments issued since publication
April 1982
Fifth edition as BS 1139-1.2
October 1990
Amd. No. Date of issue Comments

The following BSI references

relate to the work on this
standard:
Committee reference CSB/57
Draft for comment 87/15200 DC

ISBN 0 580 18471 4

 BS 1139-1.2:1990

Contents

Page
Committees responsible Inside front cover
Foreword ii
1 Scope 1
2 Method of manufacture 1
3 Materials 1
4 Dimensions and tolerances 1
5 Workmanship 1
6 Finish 1
7 Identification 1
Appendix A Drift expanding test for extruded aluminium scaffold tubes 2
Figure 1 — Arrangement of drift expanding test 2
Table 1 — Dimensions and tolerances for aluminium tubes 1
Publications referred to Inside back cover
Licensed Copy: Untung Priyatno, BP Amoco, 12 September 2002, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

© BSI 02-1999 i
 BS 1139-1.2:1990

Foreword

This Section of BS 1139 has been prepared under the direction of the Civil
Engineering and Building Structures Standards Policy Committee. Together
with Section 1.1, it supersedes BS 1139-1:1982, which is withdrawn.
This Section of BS 1139 is one of a series specifying requirements for the design,
construction and testing of equipment for use in scaffolding and other temporary
structures. It specifies requirements for aluminium tubing of the type
traditionally used in tube and fitting scaffolding.
The need for this new edition arose because of the advent of European proposals
covering steel scaffold tube, whereas any such action for aluminium tubes is
further away. Steel tubing is now covered in BS 1139-1.1. This Section retains the
style and technical content of the 1982 edition, and is substantially the same as
the 1964 version.
The separate Parts and Sections are as follows.
— Part 1: Tubes;
— Section 1.1: Specification for steel tubes;
— Section 1.2: Specification for aluminium tube;
— Part 2: Couplers;
Licensed Copy: Untung Priyatno, BP Amoco, 12 September 2002, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

— Section 2.1: Specification for steel couplers, loose spigots and base plates for
use in working scaffolds and falsework made of steel tubes
(Identical with EN 74);
— Section 2.21): Specification for aluminium couplers, fittings and accessories
for use in tubular scaffolding;
— Part 3: Specification for prefabricated access and working towers;
— Part 4: Specification for prefabricated steel splitheads and trestles;
— Part 52): Specification for materials, dimensions, design loads and safety
requirements for service and working scaffolds made of prefabricated elements.
(Identical with HD 1000)
A British Standard does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a
contract. Users of British Standards are responsible for their correct application.
Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity
from legal obligations.

Summary of pages
This document comprises a front cover, an inside front cover, pages i and ii,
pages 1 and 2, an inside back cover and a back cover.
This standard has been updated (see copyright date) and may have had
amendments incorporated. This will be indicated in the amendment table on
the inside front cover.

1) Inpreparation: it will cover fittings not included in Section 2.1. Additional couplers have not
yet been harmonized.
2)
In preparation.

ii © BSI 02-1999
 BS 1139-1.2:1990

1 Scope 4 Dimensions and tolerances

This Section of BS 1139 specifies requirements for The dimensions and tolerances for aluminium tubes
the material, dimensions and method of shall be as given in Table 1.
manufacture of extruded aluminium tubes for use in Table 1 — Dimensions and tolerances for
scaffolding. It specifies one grade of material and aluminium tubes
one range of dimensions. Appendix A describes a
Dimensions and mass Tolerance
drift expanding test for extruded aluminium
scaffold tubes. Outside diameter 48.30 mm ± 0.5 mm
NOTE The titles of the publications referred to in this standard Thickness 4.47 mm ± 0.56 mm
are listed on the inside back cover.
Nominal mass per unit Single tube max.
2 Method of manufacture length 1.667 kg/m reduction 7.5 %
Aluminium scaffold tubes shall be produced by (48.30 mm × 4.47 mm) Quantities of 150 m
extrusion, e.g. by means of a process using a and over ± 5 %
mandrel, a bridge die or a porthole. When tested in Length if specified exact ± 6.0 mm
accordance with Appendix A, a tube in its finished
NOTE The following nominal values for the properties of
state shall show no sign of an unsound weld. aluminium scaffolding tubes of the dimensions in Table 1 are
NOTE A tube with faulty welding will tend to exhibit a straight given for information purposes only. Details of maximum
Licensed Copy: Untung Priyatno, BP Amoco, 12 September 2002, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

line, rather than jagged, fracture at the position of the weld. permissible stresses are given in BS 5973.
This test procedure should be considered as being a part of a
quality control programme and the frequency of testing should be Symbol Value
such as to ensure adequate quality control. Cross-sectional area A 6.15 cm2
Second moment of area I 14.9 cm4
3 Materials
Elastic modulus Z 6.18 cm3
3.1 General Radius of gyration r 1.56 cm
The tube shall be manufactured from aluminium
complying with the requirements of 3.2 and 3.3. 5 Workmanship
3.2 Chemical composition A tube shall not deviate from a straight line by more
Tubes shall be extruded aluminium tubes than 1/600 of its length, measured at the centre of
complying with the requirements for alloy 6082-TF the length.
(formerly HE30-TF) as specified in BS 1474. Tubes shall be clean and free from detrimental
NOTE As these tubes are heat-treated, heat should not be defects. The ends shall be cut cleanly and square
applied to them by welding, flame cutting, etc., unless this is with the axis of the tube.
carried out under the controlled conditions recommended in
CP 118.
6 Finish
3.3 Mechanical properties
Tubes shall be mill finished, i.e. without any surface
The mechanical properties of the tubes shall be as treatment.
follows:
NOTE For all normal purposes no painting or other surface
treatment is required. Tubes likely to remain in contact with wet
tensile strength (Rm) 295 N/mm2 min. acid or alkaline materials, e.g. damp cement or lime renderings,
need protection. Advice on suitable coatings can be obtained from
yield strength (Re) the Aluminium Federation3).
(0.2 % proof stress) 255 N/mm2 min.
7 Identification
elongation (A) on a gauge
length, Lo, of 50 mm 7 % min. The method of identification used shall not impair
the performance of the tube.

3)
Aluminium Federation Ltd., Broadway House, Calthorpe Road, Five Ways, Birmingham, B15 1TN.

© BSI 02-1999 1
 BS 1139-1.2:1990
Appendix A Drift expanding test for
extruded aluminium scaffold tubes
A.1 Principle
The end of a tube or test piece is expanded using a
conical mandrel until it tears or splits.
The test is carried out at ambient temperature
unless otherwise specified.
A.2 Apparatus
A.2.1 Polished steel conical mandrel, of adequate
hardness and having a conical included angle
of 30°, 45° or 60°.
Licensed Copy: Untung Priyatno, BP Amoco, 12 September 2002, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI
Figure 1 — Arrangement of drift
expanding test
2 © BSI 02-1999
A.3 Test piece
The test piece shall consist of a piece of tube having
a length equal to at least twice the external
diameter of the tube. Both ends of the test piece
shall be plane and perpendicular to the axis of the
tube. The test piece shall be cleaned to remove any
loose chips or dirt from the inside surface.
NOTE The end to be tested is normally rounded by filing.
However, a test piece with edges that have not been rounded is
acceptable provided that the test result is satisfactory.
A.4 Procedure
Lubricate the mandrel so that it does not rotate in
relation to the tube during the test. Force the conical
mandrel under pressure into the open end of the test
piece, so that the axis of the cone coincides with the
axis of the test piece. Continue applying pressure
until the tube tears or splits.
 BS 1139-1.2:1990

Publications referred to

BS 1474, Specification for wrought aluminium and aluminium alloys for general engineering
purposes: bars, extruded round tubes and sections.
BS 5973, Code of practice for access and working scaffolds and special scaffold structures in steel.
CP 118, The structural use of aluminium.
Licensed Copy: Untung Priyatno, BP Amoco, 12 September 2002, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

© BSI 02-1999
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BSI Ð British Standards Institution
|
|
|
|
|
|
| BSI is the independent national body responsible for preparing British Standards. It
|
| presents the UK view on standards in Europe and at the international level. It is
| incorporated by Royal Charter.
|
|
| Revisions
|
|
| British Standards are updated by amendment or revision. Users of British Standards
|
| should make sure that they possess the latest amendments or editions.
|
|
| It is the constant aim of BSI to improve the quality of our products and services. We
|
| would be grateful if anyone finding an inaccuracy or ambiguity while using this
| British Standard would inform the Secretary of the technical committee responsible,
|
| the identity of which can be found on the inside front cover. Tel: 020 8996 9000.
|
| Fax: 020 8996 7400.
|
|
| BSI offers members an individual updating service called PLUS which ensures that
|
| subscribers automatically receive the latest editions of standards.
|
|
| Buying standards
|
| Orders for all BSI, international and foreign standards publications should be
|
| addressed to Customer Services. Tel: 020 8996 9001. Fax: 020 8996 7001.
|
Licensed Copy: Untung Priyatno, BP Amoco, 12 September 2002, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

|
| In response to orders for international standards, it is BSI policy to supply the BSI
|
| implementation of those that have been published as British Standards, unless
|
| otherwise requested.
|
|
| Information on standards
|
| BSI provides a wide range of information on national, European and international
|
| standards through its Library and its Technical Help to Exporters Service. Various
|
| BSI electronic information services are also available which give details on all its
|
| products and services. Contact the Information Centre. Tel: 020 8996 7111.
|
| Fax: 020 8996 7048.
|
|
| Subscribing members of BSI are kept up to date with standards developments and
| receive substantial discounts on the purchase price of standards. For details of
|
| these and other benefits contact Membership Administration. Tel: 020 8996 7002.
|
| Fax: 020 8996 7001.
|
|
| Copyright
|
|
| Copyright subsists in all BSI publications. BSI also holds the copyright, in the UK, of
|
| the publications of the international standardization bodies. Except as permitted
| under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 no extract may be reproduced,
|
| stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means ± electronic,
|
| photocopying, recording or otherwise ± without prior written permission from BSI.
|
|
| This does not preclude the free use, in the course of implementing the standard, of
|
| necessary details such as symbols, and size, type or grade designations. If these
|
| details are to be used for any other purpose than implementation then the prior
| written permission of BSI must be obtained.
|
|
| If permission is granted, the terms may include royalty payments or a licensing
|
| agreement. Details and advice can be obtained from the Copyright Manager.
|
| Tel: 020 8996 7070.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BSI |
|
389 Chiswick High Road |
|
London |
|
W4 4AL |
|
|
|
|
|
|