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Construction compliance guide

Temporary Works in Construction: Design, Install, Remove

Temporary works failures cause some of the worst collapses on construction sites. Here is what temporary works are, who manages them, and how to get the process right under BS 5975.

What are temporary works?

Temporary works are any structures or elements built during construction that do not form part of the permanent works. They exist solely to enable, support, or protect the construction process. Once they have served their purpose, they are removed.

The most common types of temporary works include:

  • Formwork. Moulds into which wet concrete is poured. Formwork must be strong enough to contain the concrete and maintain the correct shape until it cures.
  • Falsework. The temporary structure that supports formwork, wet concrete, and construction loads until the permanent structure is strong enough to carry them. Falsework is typically made from proprietary steel or aluminium systems.
  • Propping. Props used to support existing structures during alteration, demolition, or underpinning. Propping also includes temporary supports used during steel or precast erection.
  • Shoring. Temporary support for walls, buildings, or excavations that might otherwise collapse. Shoring is common in refurbishment and basement works.
  • Temporary access. Stairs, ramps, bridges, and platforms built to provide safe access during construction but not forming part of the finished building.
  • Cofferdams and caissons. Temporary enclosures that allow construction work to take place below water level or in waterlogged ground.
  • Temporary hoardings. Site perimeter hoardings that must resist wind loads and protect the public from construction activities.

Because temporary works are, by definition, temporary, there is a common tendency to treat them as less important than the permanent structure. That is a dangerous mistake. Temporary works carry real loads — often very heavy loads — and if they fail, the consequences can be catastrophic: structural collapse, serious injury, and death.

Why temporary works fail

Temporary works failures are not rare events. The HSE investigates multiple incidents every year involving falsework collapses, propping failures, and formwork blowouts. The consequences range from minor damage to complete structural collapse with fatalities.

The most common causes of failure are:

  • No formal design — temporary works erected based on experience alone, without calculations or drawings.
  • Design not checked — the design exists but was never independently verified before construction began.
  • Installation does not match the design — props in the wrong positions, bracing omitted, foundations inadequate.
  • Overloading — more concrete poured than the falsework was designed for, or materials stored on temporary platforms beyond their capacity.
  • Premature removal — temporary works struck before the permanent structure has gained enough strength to support itself.
  • Lack of inspection — no one checked the temporary works after installation or during use, so defects went unnoticed.
  • Poor communication — no Temporary Works Coordinator appointed, so no one was managing the process end to end.

Almost all of these failures are preventable. That is why BS 5975:2019 exists — to provide a clear, step-by-step process for managing temporary works so that nothing gets missed.

BS 5975:2019 and the Temporary Works forum

BS 5975:2019 is the British Standard code of practice for temporary works procedures and the permissible stress design of falsework. It is the definitive reference for managing temporary works in the UK and sets out the procedural framework that projects should follow.

BS 5975 is not a legal requirement in itself, but it is the recognised standard of good practice. The HSE expects contractors to follow it, and if a temporary works failure occurs, compliance with BS 5975 (or a robust equivalent) will be one of the first things investigated.

The Temporary Works forum (TWf) is an industry body that publishes practical guidance to help contractors implement BS 5975 on real projects. TWf guidance documents cover specific topics — such as propping, ground conditions, and the roles of the TWC and TWS — and are written in plain language for site teams. If you find BS 5975 itself heavy going, the TWf guides are an excellent starting point.

The TWC and TWS roles

BS 5975 defines two key roles for managing temporary works on site:

Temporary Works Coordinator (TWC)

The TWC is responsible for coordinating the entire temporary works process on the project. Their duties include maintaining a register of all temporary works on the project, ensuring that each item of temporary works has a design and that the design has been independently checked, issuing design briefs and ensuring the design is adequate for the intended use, confirming that temporary works are installed correctly before loading is permitted, ensuring inspections and monitoring happen during use, and controlling the removal sequence so that temporary works are not struck prematurely. On smaller projects, the site manager or contracts manager can act as TWC provided they have the necessary competence. On larger projects, the TWC is often a dedicated role.

Temporary Works Supervisor (TWS)

The TWS works on the ground, supervising the installation of temporary works and checking that they match the design. The TWS reports to the TWC and is the person who physically confirms that the temporary works have been erected correctly before the ‘permit to load’ is granted. On many projects, the site foreman or a competent trades supervisor takes on the TWS role. The TWS must understand the design drawings, know what to check, and be able to identify deviations from the design.

The temporary works sequence

BS 5975 sets out a clear sequence for managing each item of temporary works. Following this sequence is the single most important thing you can do to prevent failures:

  • Design. A competent designer produces a design for the temporary works, including drawings, calculations, and specifications. The design must account for all loads the temporary works will carry, the ground conditions, wind loading, and the method of erection and removal.
  • Check. An independent design checker reviews the design. The checker must be competent and must not be the same person who produced the design. The purpose is to catch errors before they reach site.
  • Install. The temporary works are erected on site in accordance with the design. The TWS supervises the installation and confirms it matches the drawings.
  • Permit to load. Before any load is applied — for example, before concrete is poured onto falsework — the TWS carries out a formal check and the TWC issues a permit to load. This is a critical hold point.
  • Monitor during use. Throughout the working life of the temporary works, they are inspected and monitored. Daily visual checks are standard for significant temporary works, with more detailed inspections at specified intervals.
  • Permit to remove. Before the temporary works are struck, the TWC confirms that the permanent works have gained sufficient strength. For concrete, this means checking cube test results. The TWC issues a permit to remove.
  • Remove. The temporary works are dismantled in a controlled sequence, following the method statement. Props and falsework must be removed in the correct order to avoid overloading the permanent structure.

Skipping any step in this sequence increases the risk of failure. The most dangerous shortcuts are installing without a design, loading without a permit, and removing before the permanent structure is ready.

Propping and falsework basics

Propping and falsework are the most common forms of temporary works on building sites, and they are involved in the majority of temporary works failures. Getting them right is fundamental.

Propping typically involves adjustable steel props (Acrow props) used to support slabs, beams, lintels, or walls during construction or alteration. The key points are: props must be the right size and capacity for the load, they must be set plumb and on firm foundations, the base plates must be properly seated, and the pins must be correctly inserted. Props must not be extended beyond their safe working range, and back-propping of lower floors must be considered when casting concrete on upper floors.

Falsework is the broader temporary structure that supports formwork and wet concrete. Modern falsework typically uses proprietary systems with standards, ledgers, and bracing — similar in concept to scaffolding but designed for much heavier vertical loads. Falsework design must account for the weight of the wet concrete, the formwork, construction traffic and personnel, and any dynamic loads from concrete pouring. Ground conditions are critical: the base of the falsework must be on ground capable of supporting the loads without settlement.

How The Site Book handles temporary works

When you describe your project to The Site Book, it identifies where temporary works are likely to be needed and includes the relevant risks and control measures in your RAMS automatically. That means propping sequences, falsework requirements, formwork considerations, and the BS 5975 management process are all captured in your project documentation from the start.

The Site Book flags the need for a Temporary Works Coordinator, prompts you to ensure designs are produced and checked before installation begins, and includes the permit-to-load and permit-to-remove hold points in your method statements. It also covers inspection and monitoring requirements so your site team knows what to check and when.

The result is a set of RAMS that already account for temporary works obligations, so you are not trying to work it out from scratch on every project. You review the output, adjust anything specific to your situation, and download professional documentation that demonstrates you have a proper temporary works management process in place.

Frequently asked questions

Common questions builders ask about temporary works.

What counts as temporary works in construction?

Temporary works are any structures or elements that are needed during construction but do not form part of the finished building or asset. The most common examples include formwork for casting concrete, falsework to support formwork and wet concrete until it gains strength, propping to support existing structures during alterations or demolition, temporary access platforms and stairs, shoring to stabilise excavations or adjacent buildings, cofferdams for working below water level, and temporary hoardings around the site perimeter. What catches many builders out is that the definition is broader than most people expect. A trench support system is temporary works. A temporary access road with a load-bearing requirement is temporary works. Even a simple propping arrangement to hold up a lintel while a wall is rebuilt counts as temporary works. The key characteristic is that these elements carry loads or provide stability during the construction process, and their failure could cause collapse, injury, or damage. Because they are temporary, there is a natural temptation to treat them as less important than the permanent structure — but that is exactly where the danger lies. Temporary works failures have caused some of the worst structural collapses in UK construction history.

Do I need a Temporary Works Coordinator on my project?

BS 5975:2019, the code of practice for temporary works, recommends that every project involving temporary works should appoint a Temporary Works Coordinator (TWC). While BS 5975 is not itself a legal requirement, it is the recognised standard of good practice, and the HSE will reference it when assessing whether you have met your duties under the CDM Regulations 2015 and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. In practical terms, if your project involves anything more than the simplest temporary works — for example, significant propping, falsework for in-situ concrete, or shoring to support adjacent structures — you should appoint a TWC. The TWC does not have to be a separate person hired specifically for the role. On smaller projects, the site manager or project manager can act as the TWC provided they have the competence to do so. The TWC’s role is to manage the temporary works process: ensuring designs are produced and checked, that the works are installed correctly, that they are inspected and monitored during use, and that they are removed safely when no longer needed. Without a TWC, there is no one coordinating the process, and that is when things get missed.

What is BS 5975 and do I have to follow it?

BS 5975:2019 is the British Standard code of practice for temporary works procedures and the permissible stress design of falsework. It is published by BSI and is now in its fourth edition. BS 5975 sets out a procedural framework for managing temporary works safely, from initial design through to removal. It covers the appointment of key roles (TWC and TWS), the design and checking process, installation procedures, inspection and monitoring, loading and use, and the controlled removal of temporary works. Strictly speaking, BS 5975 is not a legal requirement — British Standards are guidance, not law. However, it is the recognised standard of good practice for temporary works in the UK, and the HSE treats it as the benchmark. If a temporary works failure occurs and you have not followed BS 5975, you will be asked to explain what alternative procedures you had in place. In practice, following BS 5975 is the simplest and most defensible way to demonstrate that you have managed temporary works competently. The Temporary Works forum (TWf), an industry body, also publishes practical guidance that complements BS 5975 and makes it easier to apply on site.

Who is responsible for temporary works on site?

Responsibility for temporary works is shared across several parties, but the key roles are defined in BS 5975. The Temporary Works Coordinator (TWC) has overall responsibility for managing the temporary works process on the project. They ensure that designs are produced, checked, and approved before work starts, that the works are installed in accordance with the design, and that inspections and monitoring happen as required. The Temporary Works Supervisor (TWS) is responsible on the ground for supervising the installation of temporary works, checking that they match the design, and reporting any issues to the TWC. The designer of the temporary works is responsible for producing a design that is adequate for the loads and conditions, and the design checker (who must be independent of the designer) is responsible for verifying it. Beyond these BS 5975 roles, the principal contractor under CDM 2015 has a general duty to plan, manage, and monitor the construction phase, which includes temporary works. The contractor actually carrying out the temporary works has duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. In short, everyone in the chain has a role to play — but the TWC is the person who pulls it all together.

When should temporary works be inspected?

Temporary works should be inspected at several key stages. First, before loading — once the temporary works have been installed but before any load is applied (such as pouring concrete onto falsework), the TWS should carry out a formal inspection to confirm the installation matches the design. This inspection is sometimes called the ‘permit to load’ check. Second, during use — temporary works should be monitored throughout their working life. The frequency depends on the type and risk, but for significant temporary works like falsework, daily visual checks are standard practice, with more detailed inspections at intervals specified in the design or method statement. Third, after any event that could affect stability — high winds, heavy rain, accidental impact, nearby excavation, or changes in loading should all trigger an inspection. Fourth, before removal — the TWC must confirm that the permanent works have gained sufficient strength before temporary works are struck. For concrete, this typically means cube test results confirming the design strength has been reached. Removing temporary works too early, before the permanent structure can support itself, is one of the most common causes of structural collapse during construction. Every inspection should be recorded, and the records kept as part of the project documentation.

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