Scaffold Tower Buyer’s Guide: 5 Considerations for Safety and Quality

If you’re here, you’re probably thinking of buying a scaffold tower. It’s a smart investment if you want a safe, reliable, and reusable way to work at height. However, the wrong tower could waste your money, slow down your projects, or worse, put lives at risk.

That’s why we’ve put together this scaffold tower buyer’s guide. By the end, you’ll know exactly what to look for before making a decision.

First, Check the Safety Standards

The number one rule when buying scaffolding or a mobile scaffold tower is to never compromise on safety.

Always check that the tower is marked with EN1004 or BS EN1004. This is the European safety standard for mobile access towers (still fully valid in the UK).

For employers and contractors, it’s a legal requirement under the Work at Height Regulations 2005. Using anything else could result in prosecution, hefty fines, or liability in the event of an accident.

Simply put: if it’s not EN1004, it’s considered not safe.

Here’s a quick checklist for EN1004 compliance:

• Safe trapdoor platforms rather than loose boards
• Integrated ladders or stairways for climbing inside the frame
• Stabilisers supplied in the correct size and number
• Properly spaced guardrails fitted at the proper heights

 

How to Check Before You Buy Scaffold Towers

Our tips:

• Read the product description carefully; it should clearly state BS EN1004 – as all of our scaffold tower products at BPS Depot do.
• Don’t take the seller’s word for it. Look for independent reviews to see if others confirmed compliance.
• If you’re unsure, contact the supplier directly and ask for proof of certification.

 

Never Trade Quality for Price

It’s tempting to shop around for the lowest price, but scaffold towers are one area where the cheapest option rarely works out best.

Beware of scaffold towers for sale at bargain-basement prices. They may bend, corrode, or fail in no time and are usually imported from elsewhere without the proper regulations governing their production and quality.

To ensure you get the best, consider the following:

1. Supplier’s Reputation

How long has the company been trading? Do they have independent reviews? A well-established UK supplier is far more likely to deliver reliable products and ongoing support than an unknown online seller.

BPS Depot has been supplying high-quality height access equipment to UK customers for over 10 years. At the time of writing, we’re approaching 18,000 reviews on Feefo!

2. Warranty Terms

A company should spell out exactly what’s covered and for how long. A proper manufacturer’s warranty of five or ten years on the structure shows confidence in the build.

We stand behind every product we sell, which is why each one comes with a free lifetime guarantee. Yes. Lifetime.

If something goes wrong due to a manufacturing fault, simply return it to us, and we’ll take care of the repair or replacement.

What’s not covered? Everyday wear and tear, physical damage due to neglect or misuse, and issues caused by fire, liquid spills, or immersion.

3. Aftercare and Support

Good suppliers don’t just take your money and vanish. They should be easy to reach for advice before you buy and available afterwards for spares, troubleshooting, or even just a quick question. If you can’t find a phone number or customer service details, that’s a red flag.

We make it simple to reach us. You can get in touch through live chat, phone, or even by visiting our office. All the details are listed on our Contact page.

Match the Scaffold Tower to the Job

Scaffold towers come in all varieties. How do you pick the right one for the job? Let’s take a look at your options:

Width Options

• Single-Width Towers: Narrow, designed for tight spaces like corridors or alleyways
• Double-Width Towers: Wider base, more stable, with extra room for tools and more than one worker

 

Height Limits

• Indoors: Towers can go up to about 12 metres
• Outdoors: The safe limit is usually around 8 metres

 

Popular Tower Types

• 3T (Through the Trap) Towers: One of the safest systems for assembly, as you’re always protected while building
• AGR (Advanced Guardrail) Towers: Guardrails are fitted as you go, minimising exposure during assembly
• Folding Towers: Lightweight and compact, ideal for decorators or quick jobs where space is tight
• Solo Towers: Designed so one person can put them up without help
• Lift Shaft Towers: Specially made for confined areas such as lift wells

 

Tip: Before buying scaffolding, measure up carefully and think about both your current project and the kind of work you’ll use the tower for in the future.

Choose the Right Material

The material you choose will affect weight, durability, cost, and even safety in certain environments. Here are the three main options:

Aluminium Scaffold Towers

Pros:

• Lightweight and easy to transport
• Strong and durable for regular site use
• Corrosion-resistant (suitable indoors and outdoors)
• Quick to assemble and dismantle
• Most commonly available and cost-effective

 

Cons:

• Not as rigid as steel for very heavy-duty use
• Can dent if handled roughly

 

Best for: Most tradespeople, contractors, and DIY scaffolding users who want a versatile, reliable tower for general use indoors and outdoors

Steel Scaffold Towers

Pros:

• Extremely strong and rigid
• Suitable for heavy-duty and industrial applications
• Very stable once erected

 

Cons:

• Heavy to move and assemble
• Can rust if not properly maintained
• Less widely available than aluminium

 

Best for: Permanent or semi-permanent site setups where strength is more important than portability

GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic) Scaffold Towers

Pros:

• Non-conductive (safe for electrical work)
• Resistant to corrosion and many chemicals
• Lightweight but strong
• Performs well in specialist environments

 

Cons:

• More expensive than aluminium or steel
• Not as widely available

 

Best for: Electricians, telecom engineers, and those working in chemical plants or environments where conductivity or corrosion is a concern

Buy British

In your search for scaffold towers for sale, you’ll probably see some very cheap imports online. They may look similar, but there are good reasons to stick with a British-made tower.

• Built to Standard: British suppliers follow BS EN1004 requirements, so you know the tower is compliant.
• Better Materials: British-made towers usually use stronger aluminium, which means they’re light to move but tough enough for daily site use.
• Easier to Maintain: With a British supplier, spare parts are easy to get. With imports, you may struggle to find replacements when something breaks.
• Peace of Mind: Supporting local manufacturers means you’re buying from people who know the regulations, understand the risks, and stand behind their products.

 

Practical Tips Before Buying Scaffolding

To help you make the final decision, here are a few extra pointers:

• Check how much load the tower is designed to carry (workers, tools, and materials combined).
• Do you have space to keep it? Folding models are ideal if storage is limited.
• Look for AGR or 3T systems, which are safer and quicker to put up than older designs.
• If you need it urgently, check how quickly the supplier can ship – at BPS Depot we offer FREE next day delivery on the UK mainland: Unless otherwise stated, all orders received before 3pm (12pm for Industrial Scaffold Towers), will be dispatched the same day, on a next working day delivery service (Mon – Fri excluding Bank Holidays).
• Don’t just buy for today’s task. Think about how versatile the tower will be for the next few years.

 

The Cost of Getting It Wrong

Cutting corners with access equipment can backfire hugely. Employers have been hit with fines running into thousands for supplying unmarked towers, and falls from height can cause life-changing injuries.

It’s simply not worth the risk. So, spend a little more time and money on a tower for your peace of mind and the safety of everyone using it.

 

To Wrap Up

If you only take a few things from BPS Depot’s scaffold tower buyer’s guide, please make it these:

• Look for the BS EN1004 mark.
• Chase quality, not the cheapest price.
• Pick the right width, height, material, and type for your project and site.
• Buy only from a UK supplier you can count on, like BPS Depot.

 

May the scaffold tower you choose serve you well for years!