What is Temporary Works Design and Why Does Every Contractor Need It?

Temporary works are any structures or structural elements that are used during the construction process but do not form part of the permanent finished structure. They are temporary by nature but their structural integrity is just as critical as the permanent works they support.

Common examples of temporary works include propping and shoring systems supporting existing structures during alteration works, falsework supporting in-situ concrete during casting, formwork systems used to form concrete elements, excavation support systems including trench supports and sheet piling, scaffolding and access structures, cofferdams and temporary retaining structures, and lifting arrangements and crane bases.

Temporary works design is the process of engineering these structures to ensure they are safe, stable and fit for purpose throughout the construction programme.

BS 5975 is the British Standard that governs the management and design of temporary works in the UK. It sets out the responsibilities of everyone involved in temporary works, from the client and principal contractor through to the temporary works designer and temporary works coordinator.

Under BS 5975, every temporary works scheme must be designed by a competent engineer, checked independently before installation, inspected on site before loading, monitored throughout use, and safely dismantled and removed at the appropriate stage.

Compliance with BS 5975 is not just best practice. It is the industry standard expected by principal contractors, clients and the Health and Safety Executive.

A temporary works coordinator is the person responsible for managing the temporary works process on a construction project. Under BS 5975 every project involving temporary works must appoint a temporary works coordinator.

The temporary works coordinator is responsible for establishing the temporary works brief, appointing the temporary works designer, ensuring designs are checked and approved, overseeing site installation and inspections, maintaining the temporary works register, and managing the permit to load and permit to strike process.

At PV Consulting, our engineers can act as both temporary works designer and temporary works coordinator, providing a complete end-to-end service for contractors across the UK.

Many contractors underestimate the complexity of temporary works until something goes wrong. Temporary works failures are one of the leading causes of serious accidents on UK construction sites, and the consequences of getting it wrong are severe including project delays, financial penalties, legal liability and most critically risk to life.

A structural engineer who specializes in temporary works design will assess the specific loads and constraints of your site, design a safe, practical and buildable temporary works scheme, produce fully calculated design drawings and documents, provide independent design checks where required, and support your team through site installation and inspection.

At PV Consulting we provide a complete temporary works design service for main contractors, specialist subcontractors and design and build teams across London, West London, Uxbridge, the Home Counties, Birmingham and nationwide.

Our services include temporary works design covering propping, shoring, falsework, formwork and excavation support, temporary works coordination under BS 5975, method statements and risk assessments, independent design checks, and site inspections and engineering sign off.

With over 30 years of experience delivering complex temporary works solutions on projects of all sizes, we understand the pressures of live construction programmes and we deliver fast, practical and fully compliant engineering solutions every time.