N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 12 § 23-5.6
The foot end of any pole used in a pole scaffold shall rest on firm footing and shall be secured against lateral movement by nailing, the use of cleats or by any other effective means. Where wood poles are spliced, the ends shall be square and the upper sections shall rest squarely on the lower sections. Wood splicing pieces shall be provided on at least two adjacent sides and shall be not less than three feet in length. They shall overlap the abutting ends by an equal distance and shall have a combined cross-sectional area of not less than 50 percent of the cross-sectional area of the pole.
Every wood putlog shall be reinforced with a substantial steel strip secured to the lower edge of the putlog throughout the entire length of such putlog.
Every pole scaffold shall be braced or attached to the building or other structure to prevent movement of the scaffold away from such building or other structure. Diagonal bracing shall be provided to prevent the poles from moving in a direction parallel to the wall of the building or other structure. Diagonal bracing shall be so installed that every spliced section of every pole is connected with the adjacent poles.
Where planking is lapped on a pole scaffold, each plank shall lap its end supports at least 12 inches. Where the ends of planks on a pole scaffold abut each other to form a flush floor the butt joints shall be at the center lines of the poles. The abutted ends shall rest on separate bearers. Intermediate beams shall be provided where necessary to prevent the dislodgment of planks because of deflection and the ends of the planks shall be secured to prevent their dislodgment.
When a new working level is desired, the existing platform shall be left undisturbed until the new working level is framed. As the scaffold is abandoned with the progress of the work, all supporting members shall be left intact. When a pole scaffold is dismantled the sequence of the removal of members shall be in reverse of that used in the erection of such scaffold.
Any wood pole scaffold over 80 feet in height above the ground, grade or equivalent surface shall be designed by a professional engineer licensed to practice in the State of New York and shall be constructed and maintained in accordance with such design. A copy of the drawings and specifications for such scaffold shall be kept at the job site available for examination by the commissioner. The wood of any such scaffold shall be treated to make it incombustible as defined in Industrial Code Part (rule) 7. Wood pole scaffolds 80 feet or less in height above the ground, grade or equivalent surface shall be constructed in conformity with Tables V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, and X of this Subpart.
TABLE V
LIGHT DUTY SINGLE POLE SCAFFOLDS
Minimum Nominal Sizes in Inches and Maximum Spacing of Members
| Type of use | Light duty | |
| Uniformly distributed load | Not to exceed 25 pounds per sq. ft. | |
| Maximum height of scaffold | 20 ft. | 80 ft. |
| Poles or uprights | 2 * 4 | 4 * 4 |
| Pole spacing (longitudinal) | 6 ft. | 10 ft. |
| Maximum width of scaffold | 5 ft. | |
| Bearers or putlogs (min.) | ||
| To 3 ft. width | 2 * 4 on edge | |
| To 5 ft. width | 3 * 4 or 2 * 6 on edge | |
| Ledgers | ||
| With 6 ft. pole spacing | 11/4 * 4 on edge | |
| With 10 ft. pole spacing | 11/4 * 9 on edge | |
| Vertical spacing of horizontal members | 7 ft. | |
| Bracing (horizontal and diagonal) | 1 * 4 | |
| Tie-ins | 1 * 4 | |
| Planking | ||
| Not more than 6 ft. span | 11/4 * 9 | |
| Not more than 10 ft. span | 2 * 9 | |
TABLE VI
MEDIUM DUTY SINGLE POLE SCAFFOLDS
Minimum Nominal Sizes in Inches and Maximum Spacing of Members
| Type of use | Medium duty | ||
| Uniformly distributed load | Not to exceed 50 pounds per sq. ft. | ||
| Maximum height of scaffold | 60 ft. | 80 ft. | |
| Top 60 ft. | Lower sect. | ||
| Poles or uprights | 4 * 4 | 4 * 4 | 4 * 6 |
| Maximum width of scaffold | 5 ft. | 8 ft. | |
| Pole spacing (longitudinal) | 8 ft. | ||
| Bearers or putlogs | 3 x 4 on edge | 3 * 5 or 2 * 9 on edge | |
| Spacing of bearers or putlogs | 3 ft.-4 in. | 6 ft. | |
| Ledgers | 2 * 9 on edge | ||
| Vertical spacing of horizontal members | 9 ft. | ||
| Bracing (horizontal) | 1 * 6 or 11/4 * 4 | ||
| Bracing (diagonal) | 1 * 4 | ||
| Tie-ins | 1 * 4 | ||
| Planking | 2 * 9 | ||
TABLE VII
HEAVY DUTY SINGLE POLE SCAFFOLDS
Minimum Nominal Sizes in Inches and Maximum Spacing of Members
| Type of use | Heavy duty | ||
| Uniformly distributed load | Not to exceed 75 pounds per sq. ft. | ||
| Maximum height of scaffold | 60 ft. | 80 ft. | |
| Top 60 ft. | Lower sect. | ||
| Poles or uprights | 4 * 4 | 4 * 4 | 4 * 6 |
| Pole spacing (longitudinal) | 6 ft. | ||
| Maximum width of scaffold | 5 ft. | 8 ft. | |
| Bearers or putlogs | 3 * 5 or | 3 * 6 or | |
| 2 * 9 on edge | 2 * 9 on edge | ||
| Spacing of bearers or putlogs | 6 ft. | ||
| Ledgers | 2 * 9 on edge | ||
| Vertical spacing of horizontal members | 6 ft.-6 in. | ||
| Bracing (horizontal and diagonal) | 2 * 4 | ||
| Tie-ins | 1 * 4 | ||
| Planking | 2 * 9 | ||
TABLE VIII
LIGHT DUTY INDEPENDENT POLE SCAFFOLDS
Minimum Nominal Sizes in Inches and Maximum Spacing of Members
| Type of use | Light duty | |
| Uniformly distributed load | Not to exceed 25 pounds per sq. ft. | |
| Maximum height of scaffold | 20 ft. | 80 ft. |
| Poles or uprights | 2 * 4 | 4 * 4 |
| Pole spacing (longitudinal) | 6 ft. | 10 ft. |
| Pole spacing (transverse) | 6 ft. | 10 ft. |
| Ledgers | 11/4 * 4 on edge | 11/4 * 9 on edge |
| Vertical spacing of horizontal members | 7 ft. | |
| Bearers-to 3 ft. span | 2 * 4 on edge | |
| to 10 ft. span | 11/4 * 9 on edge | |
| Bracing (horizontal and diagonal) | 1 * 4 | |
| Tie-ins | 1 * 4 | |
| Planking | ||
| Not more than 6 ft. span | 11/4 * 9 | |
| Not more than 10 ft. span | 2 * 9 | |
TABLE IX
MEDIUM DUTY INDEPENDENT POLE SCAFFOLDS
Minimum Nominal Sizes in Inches and Maximum Spacing of Members
| Type of use | Medium duty | ||
| Uniformly distributed load | Not to exceed 50 pounds per sq. ft. | ||
| Maximum height of scaffold | 60 ft. | 80 ft. | |
| Top 60 ft. | Lower sect. | ||
| Poles or uprights | 4 * 4 | 4 * 4 | 4 * 6 |
| Pole spacing (longitudinal) | 8 ft. | ||
| Pole spacing (transverse) | 10 ft. | ||
| Ledgers | 2 * 9 on edge | ||
| Vertical spacing of horizontal members | 6 ft. | ||
| Spacing of bearers | 6 ft. | ||
| Bearers | 2 * 9 on edge | ||
| Bracing (horizontal) | 1 * 6 or 11/4 * 4 | ||
| Bracing (diagonal) | 1 * 4 | ||
| Tie-ins | 1 * 4 | ||
| Planking | 2 * 9 | ||
TABLE X
HEAVY DUTY INDEPENDENT POLE SCAFFOLDS
Minimum Nominal Sizes in Inches and Maximum Spacing of Members
| Type of use | Heavy duty | ||
| Uniformly distributed load | Not to exceed 75 pounds per sq. ft. | ||
| Maximum height of scaffold | 60 ft. | 80 ft. | |
| Top 60 ft. | Lower sect. | ||
| Poles or uprights | 4 * 4 | 4 * 4 | 4 * 6 |
| Pole spacing (longitudinal) | 6 ft. | ||
| Pole spacing (transverse) | 10 ft. | ||
| Ledgers | 2 * 9 on edge | ||
| Vertical spacing of horizontal members | 4 ft. -6 in | ||
| Bearers | 2 * 9 on edge | ||
| Bracing (horizontal and diagonal) | 2 * 4 | ||
| Tie-ins | 1 * 4 | ||
| Planking | 2 * 9 | ||
N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 12 § 23-5.6