25 February 2025 – Revisions to two temporary works standards designed to provide the most up-to-date recommendations and guidance on carrying out construction projects safely and efficiently have been announced by BSI.
The revised BS 5975:2019 standard, published by BSI in its capacity as the UK National Standards Body, has now been divided into two parts.
BS 5975-1:2024 Part 1, Temporary works - Management procedures for the control of temporary works. Code of practice, provides guidance on the procedural controls that should be applied when conducting temporary works in construction. It makes recommendations in relation to training and education, and for procedures to ensure that temporary works are conceived, designed, specified, constructed, used and dismantled in a safe and controlled manner suitable for all construction projects.
Part 2, Temporary works - Falsework: Design and implementation. Code of practice, offers recommendations on design, specification, construction and on the use and dismantling of falsework (temporary structures used in construction to support a permanent structure, until the construction is sufficiently advanced to support itself). The updated standard also includes guidance on acceptable stress and limit state design of falsework to ensure the safety of a structure and its users by limiting the stress that materials experience.
To ensure construction projects are carried out safely and efficiently, the key updates to the technical aspects of the standard include maximum wind force calculation, guidance on permissible stress, limit state design of all falsework, and the extent of control measures required on projects of various sizes.
Anthony Burd, Director of Built Environment, Knowledge Solutions at BSI, said "These updated standards mark a significant step forward in ensuring the safety and efficiency of temporary works within construction, which can deliver positive impact across the industry. By providing clearer guidance on management procedures and the design and implementation of falsework, both standards will help professionals mitigate risks, support people’s safety, and ensure that temporary structures are safely integrated into construction projects.
“The revisions incorporate the latest technical advancements and best practices, reinforcing the importance of rigorous control measures, training, and design specifications to deliver high-quality, safe outcomes on site."
Further information can be found BS 5975-1:2024 and BS 5975-2:2024.
