Service Life & Inspections

“Service Life & Inspections” 

Inspection, Maintenance, and Service Life Policy 

Purpose 

The safe performance of a WallWalker® Aluminum Hanging Scaffold depends upon proper use, inspection, maintenance, and storage throughout its service life. All WallWalker® components shall be inspected before each use and periodically by a qualified person to ensure they remain in safe operating condition. 

Failure to inspect and maintain scaffold components may result in equipment failure, serious injury, or death. 

User Responsibilities 

The owner, employer, and user are responsible for: 

  • Inspecting all WallWalker® components before each use. 
  • Removing damaged components from service immediately. 
  • Conducting periodic, documented inspections. 
  • Ensuring employees are trained in proper use and inspection procedures. 
  • Storing equipment in a manner that minimizes damage and deterioration. 
  • Maintaining inspection and maintenance records. 

Required Inspection Frequency 

1. Pre-Use Inspection 

A visual inspection shall be performed by the user before each use. 

Inspect all components for: 

  • Cracks 
  • Bent or deformed aluminum members 
  • Damaged welds 
  • Excessive wear 
  • Corrosion 
  • Elongated holes 
  • Missing hardware 
  • Damaged pins or locking devices 
  • Evidence of unauthorized modifications 
  • Damage caused by impact or dropping 

    Do not use any component if defects are identified. 

2. Periodic Qualified Inspection 

A documented inspection shall be conducted: 

  • At least annually 
  • After any known impact event 
  • After equipment has been dropped from elevation 
  • Following exposure to unusual loading 
  • After long-term storage 
  • Whenever structural integrity is in question 

    The inspection should be conducted by a qualified person familiar with scaffold systems, welds, and aluminum structural components. 

Removal From Service Criteria 

Immediately remove any component from service if: 

  • A crack is identified. 
  • A weld shows evidence of cracking or separation. 
  • A component is bent, twisted, or deformed. 
  • Significant impact damage is suspected. 
  • Corrosion has reduced structural integrity. 
  • A component has been modified or repaired without written authorization from WallWalker®. 
  • Any condition exists that causes uncertainty regarding the component’s structural integrity. 

When in doubt, remove the component from service until it has been evaluated by a qualified person. 

Prohibited Repairs 

The following repairs are prohibited unless specifically authorized by WallWalker®: 

  • Field welding 
  • Drilling additional holes 
  • Grinding structural members 
  • Heating or straightening bent components 
  • Altering load-bearing members 

Unauthorized repairs or modifications may significantly reduce product strength and void warranties and certifications. 

Service Life Guidance 

WallWalker® aluminum scaffold components do not have a fixed expiration date. Actual service life depends on: 

  • Frequency of use 
  • Loading history 
  • Impact exposure 
  • Environmental conditions 
  • Storage practices 
  • Inspection and maintenance history 

Because aluminum components may accumulate damage over time that is not immediately visible, WallWalker® recommends heightened scrutiny of components that have been in service for ten (10) years or more. 

WallWalker® further recommends evaluation by a qualified person for components that have been in service for fifteen (15) years or more. 

Any component with an unknown history or unknown manufacturing date should be carefully evaluated prior to continued use. 

Equipment Subjected to Impact 

Any WallWalker® component that has: 

  • Been struck by equipment, 
  • Been dropped from height,
  • Been involved in a fall, 
  • Been overloaded, 
  • Been involved in an incident, 

shall be removed from service and inspected by a qualified person before being returned to use. 

Impact events can create structural damage that may not be immediately visible during routine inspections. 

Inspection Records 

WallWalker® recommends maintaining documentation including: 

  • Equipment specific identifier 
  • Date of inspection 
  • Inspector’s name 
  • Findings 
  • Corrective actions taken 
  • Date returned to service 

Inspection records should be retained for the life of the equipment. 

Inspection Checklist 

WallWalker® provides a generic Inspection Checklist that may be downloaded from our website and used to document periodic inspections.