The Pod Tower’s Journey
My Problem: Why I designed the Pod Tower
Let me introduce myself. My name is Rob, and I am a Ceiling Fixer / Dryliner who has worked on mobile scaffolds for many years on construction sites.
Over the last 15 years, I have mostly specialised in installing Suspended Ceilings on Commercial builds and find that most of the buildings I work in have similar height requirements.
To carry out my work, I need to be able to reach up to the soffit (roof) to install my anchors and then reduce my working height to install the suspended ceiling. My job entails working at two or three different heights.
Other trades like Electricians, Air Con, and Ventilation will also need to install their anchors into the concrete. When the ceiling is installed, they then need to get up and through the ceiling to reach their installations and then finally they need access to the ceiling tiles from below.
As you can see, there are many people who have similar tasks and height requirements as I do.
One thing we all struggle with is finding suitable access equipment to fit our tasks.
I have talked to many people who work at height and find they often struggle to find a suitable low level access system. Most systems are suited for medium / high-level work, but this makes them less than ideal for low / medium level work.
I agree that this has always been a particular struggle for tradesman as I witness it on site all the time. There is nothing out there that quite solves all the problems we encounter.
One scenario that always comes up is the issue of finding a piece of equipment that is suitable for Interior works. They need something that is portable, lightweight, easy to assemble, easy to access, has a large working area and will offer a selection of heights that cover the equivalent of a hop up to being able to reach the concrete soffit.
Current Solutions for Working at Height
The current safest solution is either a Scaffold Tower or a Podium.
Scaffold Towers are the staple diet of the Construction Industry. They are found everywhere and anywhere on a Construction site. Good they maybe but a common safety issue raised is one where they cannot access if safely at low levels because the trap door is too low to get under. To get around this the user must remove the knee rail and clamber onto to the platform. This is not good for the user as it may cause the tower to topple over whilst also putting strain on their knees and lower back.
Podiums on the other hand are a fairly new addition and address some of the issues associated with Scaffold Towers. Mainly the problem of accessing the equipment safely. Thing is they have a very small constrictive area to work in. Not ideal when using tools and handling materials. Other disadvantages are the narrow selection of heights offered and the big stick out stabilisers that won’t fit through a doorway.
A familiar situation for anyone whose work involves Working at Height.
So, this is the problem. There is nothing that quite solves all my problems. I thought that there was probably something out there somewhere so I began searching the internet.
After months of searching for a more suitable piece of access equipment I found nothing that quite did it. This led me to seeing if I could design one myself. What I need is something that has safe, quick and easy low-level access but has the facility to go higher if needed.
Maybe this is the solution!
The Pod Tower
I started off with simple sketches and spent months developing my idea until I came up with the final version. After the design stage I applied for a Patent which was granted five years later.
I went on to name it the Pod Tower. The name was chosen as it has the benefits of a Podium combined with the strengths of a Scaffold Tower.
The Pod Tower I have designed is a lightweight aluminium scaffold tower that offers nine platform heights that will enable a working height ranging from 2.2m to 4.35m. The lowest five levels are accessed like a Podium via the steps.
The Tower provides a large platform area, a height adjustable telescopic handrail system that is connected to safe inward opening gates and removable external steps that ensure easy access to the working area.
A great advantage of the Pod Tower is that nothing protrudes above the waist rail, this gives you the ability to handle long lengths of material with ease.
The Designing and Testing Period
After designing it, I paid to have one built. This was Prototype 1. Four years of product development and on-site testing followed (and many bills). Prototype 2 was then born.
Over the past few months, I have been testing the Pod Tower (2) on Site at Nottingham College. It has been well received by both the Main Contractor and the tradespeople working there. It has developed great interest with all parties seeing the benefits it brings.
The Health and Safety Rep for the Site showed great interest. I had a chat whilst he took some photos and commented ‘What a great piece of kit’.
Easy to Use, Easy to Set Up
The Podium set up has only four major parts to carry. A base section, 1700mm Platform, and two handrail sections.
The Podium has five levels with the top level standing at 1350mm Platform height.
Compare the difference between a traditional tower scaffold and the new Pod Tower
So much quicker to set up. Less poles to worry about. Fits through a doorway. So much easier to work on.
By adding the Extension kit, you can have a Platform height of up to 2.35m with this giving you a working height of 4.35m.
I designed it to try and make mine and other people’s lives safer, easier, and quicker by using steps, gates, and a large platform area.
The Pod Tower scaffold can be used by anyone working at height such as:
- Dryliners
- HVAC specialists
- Electrical Contractors
- Painters
- Plumbers
- Pipe Fitters
- Ceiling Fixers
- DIY enthusiasts
I hope you find the Pod Tower a refreshing change to what is currently available on the market!
Many Thanks
Rob Cox