To answer the contentious question-"In a construction project, how are Scaffolding Hours" categorized? Are they Directs or Indirects?"

1. SCAFFOLDING
WHAT IS IT?
DIRECT or INDIRECT
An Overview
AUTHOR : RUFRAN C. FRAGO, P.Eng, PMP®, CCP, PMI-RMP®
REVISION : January 17, 2014

2. AUTHOR
Rufran C. Frago, P. Eng., PMP®, CCP, PMI-RMP®
Rufran has a wide-range of expertise & specialization
while working in the Manufacturing, Petrochemical,
Oleo-chemicals, Oil and Gas, Education & Training Industries
for more than 36 years in various roles and capacities. He has worked
in Asia, Africa, Middle East and North America.
His expertise includes: Primavera Database
Administration, Program and Project Planning & Scheduling,
Qualitative/Quantitative Risk Management, Problem Solving, Project
Management, Cost Engineering, Project Control, Construction
Management/Coordination, Project Review & Implementation Audit,
Estimating, Engineering & Design, Fab/Mod Management, Preventive &
Predictive Reliability-Based Maintenance, Operation, Material Selection,
Warehousing, EH&S, and Training.
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3. PURPOSE
Since scaffolding can easily account for a substantial 5%
to 15% or more of construction hours, it is a very
significant value in terms of progress. Once it becomes a
part of the progressing process, and the resources
quantity uploaded to the schedule, then it will work very
much in favor of the contractor or the execution team.
As such, I would like you and I to try to answer the
contentious question below:
In a construction project, how are Scaffolding Hours"
categorized?
Are they Directs or Indirects?
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4. PROJECT - XYZ
DIRECT HOURS WITHOUT SCAFFOLDING
4

5. PROJECT - XYZ
DIRECT HOURS WITH SCAFFOLDING
5

6. PROJECT - XYZ
PLAN PROGRESS COMPARISON
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7. PROJECT - XYZ
Scaffolding as Direct (Plan) is the plan
progress considering all scaffolding work
as direct hours. In this case, 31518 work
hours were added (see slides 4 & 5)
Scaffolding as Indirect (Plan) is the plan
progress if all scaffolding work remain as
indirect hours. In this case, the total direct
is less by 31,518 hours (see slides 4 & 5)
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8. METHODS OF PROGRESSING
Four known methods of progressing
Scaffolding Work hours regardless of whether it
is considered Direct or Indirect:
1. Equal periodic withdrawal from start to end of
Construction.
2. Equal periodic withdrawal from start of Civil works to
end of Construction.
3. Equal periodic withdrawal from start of Mechanical
or Structural works (which ever start first) to end of
Construction.
4. Scaffolding hours specifically calculated in each
Work Package.
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9. Using equal periodic withdrawal from start of
Civil works to end of Construction
0.6% padding
Scaffolding works hours are usually claimed in a straight line without
respect to earned value. This creates the padding.
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10. Scaffolding hours specifically calculated in
each Work Package
Ishii-iiw.co Domed Tank, 2013
Ishii-iiw.co Domed Tank, 2013
Removal of scaffolding
Unless the scaffoldings remained in place and become part of the
facility constructed, then they are indirectly supporting construction and
the hours expended should be considered indirect hours.
Source: Ishii-iiw.co, 2013.Internet picture.Retrieved from http://www.ishiiiiw.co.jp/seihin/sub/drf02.jpg
10

11. Why should scaffolding work hours be
considered as indirect?
Indirect labors are those whose output is not directly part of the assets
erected, much like camp or construction site snow removal, overhead,
security, transportation, etc. In turn it will align and translate to indirect
costs. Indirect costs are costs that are not directly accountable to a cost
object such as a particular facility, equipment, module, function or product
(Wikipedia, 2013.Indirect Costs).
If scaffolding hours is reflected as direct hours in the estimate and became
part of the schedule resource loading, the resource distribution in place
will be suspect. Calculating/checking labor density, peak resources,
resource leveling, resource planning, resource distribution, scope
completeness, quantitative risk assessment, and measuring/monitoring
bench mark quantities with production rates will not be accurate nor will it
be useful in the future (Frago, R., 2013.Linkedin).
Source:
Wikipedia, (2013).Indirect Costs.Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indirect_costs
Frago, R. (2013).On scaffolding hours.Retrieved from
http://www.linkedin.com/groupItem?view=&gid=6575331&item=5816221500834861059&type=mem
ber&commentID=5816648952941928448&trk=hb_ntf_LIKED_GROUP_DISCUSSION_COMMENT
_YOU_CREATED#commentID_5816648952941928448
11

12. Why should scaffolding work hours be
considered as indirect? (continuation…)
Scaffolding erection does not produce a product or a
deliverable that becomes part of the capital equipment,
or constructed facilities & structures. They are
temporary fixtures that are removed right after direct
works are done to the capital assets such as a tank, a
compressor or a building. Scaffoldings are erected so
one can have access to the upper tank tiers Iike when
welding or painting. After all is completed, the
scaffolding is taken down (Francisco, R., 2013).
Source:
Frago, R. (2013).On scaffolding hours.Retrieved from
http://www.linkedin.com/groupItem?view=&gid=6575331&item=5816221500834861059&type=member
&commentID=5816648952941928448&trk=hb_ntf_LIKED_GROUP_DISCUSSION_COMMENT_YOU_
CREATED#commentID_5816648952941928448
12

13. AACEi DEFINITION OF DIRECTS AND INDIRECTS
Direct costs are those resources that are expected
solely to complete the activity or asset. It can be any
cost that is specifically identified with a particular final
cost objective, but not necessarily limited to items that
are incorporated in the end product as material or labor
(Amos, S., 2007)
Indirect costs are those resources that need to be
expended to support the activity or asset but that are
also associated with other activities and assets. It is
any cost not directly identified with two or more final
cost objectives.
Source:
Amos, S., (2007).Cost ElementsCost Structuring.Skills & Knowledge of Cost Engineering-5th
Edition.page12
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14. CONCLUDING REFLECTION ON SCAFFOLDING?
Was scaffolding used solely to complete the activity or
asset; say a Vessel?
•
Very unlikely, because scaffolding erected on the same
spot will also be used for erection, painting, welding,
piping, insulation, electrical, mixer, float, I&C installation,
and others. As such, scaffolding is an Indirect
because expended resources are also associated
with other activities and assets.
Note that the only catch is how the project defines its
final cost objectives. Any change to that final cost
objectives can change scaffolding to either Direct or
Indirect.
14

15. Bibliography
Frago, R. (2013).On scaffolding hours.Retrieved from
http://www.linkedin.com/groupItem?view=&gid=6575331&item=5816221500834861059
&type=member&commentID=5816648952941928448&trk=hb_ntf_LIKED_GROUP_DIS
CUSSION_COMMENT_YOU_CREATED#commentID_5816648952941928448
Wikipedia, (2013).Indirect Costs.Retrieved from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indirect_costs
Frago, R. (2013).On scaffolding hours.Retrieved from
http://www.linkedin.com/groupItem?view=&gid=6575331&item=5816221500834861059
&type=member&commentID=5816648952941928448&trk=hb_ntf_LIKED_GROUP_DIS
CUSSION_COMMENT_YOU_CREATED#commentID_5816648952941928448
Ishii-iiw.co, 2013.Internet picture.Retrieved from http://www.ishiiiiw.co.jp/seihin/sub/drf02.jpg
Amos, S., (2007).Cost ElementsCost Structuring.Skills & Knowledge of Cost
Engineering-5th Edition.page12
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16. END
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