Scaffold types
What is a mobile tower?
A mobile tower is a scaffold tower on castors, able to be moved without being dismantled. It is normally a prefabricated aluminium system rather than tube and fitting.
Use this diagram+
Free to use on your own site, in training material or in a course handout, as long as the credit link stays on it. Paste this where you want the diagram to appear.
<figure>
<img src="https://scaffoldoptix.co.uk/glossary/mobile-tower/diagram.svg" alt="mobile tower — scaffold diagram from ScaffoldOptix" width="880" height="620" loading="lazy">
<figcaption>
<a href="https://scaffoldoptix.co.uk/glossary/mobile-tower">What is a mobile tower?</a> — diagram by
<a href="https://scaffoldoptix.co.uk">ScaffoldOptix</a>
</figcaption>
</figure>The castors are the whole point and the whole problem. A tower that can be moved will be moved, including while somebody is on it, which is the single most common misuse.
Mobile access towers sit outside BS EN 12811, which explicitly excludes horizontally movable platforms, and are covered by their own standard and by the manufacturer's instructions.
Because they are prefabricated systems, the manufacturer's assembly instructions are part of the safe system of work rather than a suggestion.
What goes wrong on site
- Moved with a person or materials on the platform.
- Castors not locked before use.
- Assembled from mixed components of different systems.