Types of Scaffolding Stair Towers: Choosing the Best Option for Your Site

Safe and efficient access is a must on a construction site and if you’ve ever climbed a ladder with a tool bag over your shoulder, you’ll know how much easier stairs are. They’re faster, safer, and you’re less likely to get halfway up and realise you’ve dropped or forgotten something. Plus, they check the compliance box, which means reducing those awkward conversations with inspectors.

Ladders still get used on plenty of sites, but when you want speed and safety all in one, scaffold stairs are hard to beat.

What Are Scaffold Stairs?

Scaffold stair towers are vertical access systems built into or alongside a scaffold. They stack stair units with guardrails, landings, and non-slip treads to give crews a safe, stable way to move between levels. Unlike ladders, stair towers can handle more foot traffic and make it easier to carry tools and materials.

Scaffold stairs aren’t an afterthought—they’re built with guardrails, non-slip treads, and step spacing all working together so movement feels natural underfoot. All this means that crews can go up and down, focusing on the job at hand without having to worry about safety.

You’ll usually get scaffold stairs in steel or aluminium, as well as in 1-way or 2-way traffic setups depending on the number of crew members on site. Steel is tough and long-lasting, while aluminium is lighter and easier to move when the layout changes.

Common Types of Scaffold Stairs

There are so many different types of scaffolding stairs to choose from, including:

Fame Scaffold Stairs (1-way traffic)

No frills, just simple access, they are narrower than other systems and a fixed stair height, but quick to set up and easier on the budget. Suited to short-term or lighter-traffic work while still falling in line with compliance.

Aluminium Scaffold Stairs

Lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and quick to install. Great for coastal or damp areas and for sites where stairs need to be moved regularly.

System Scaffold Stairs (2-way traffic)

Heavy-duty and durable. Best for long-term or industrial sites where they’ll face constant use and tough weather conditions.  Allow the scaffold to be manipulated to any floor level heights, work around or over any parapets or obstructions and allow for multiple members to go up and down at the same time.

Choosing the Right System for Your Site

When you’re considering all the options picking the correct stairs for your work site, think about:

• Project duration – Steel for long-term durability,  and aluminium for short-term use and flexibility.

• Traffic levels – More daily use means wider treads and higher load capacity.

• Conditions –   Need to hit multiple floor levels, span over obstructions or need a longer grossover and work to miss any existing parapets.

• Compliance – All stair towers are designed to meet OSHA/ANSI standards as well as can be provided for public access.  

Sometimes it makes sense to mix and match, one type for main access routes, another for lighter side access.

Side tip: Crews often prefer two access points if the scaffold is wide. It stops bottlenecks when everyone’s on break or moving between tasks.

Why Stairs Win Over Ladders

• Safer when carrying tools or materials, no awkward balancing.

• Less tiring over long shifts.

• Quicker access between levels.

• Meets modern site safety rules without extra effort.

And once a team has worked with stairs they'll rarely want to go back to ladders for main access.

Why the Right Scaffold Stair Towers Make All the Difference

Choose the wrong scaffold stairs and you’ll feel it in lost time, added risk, and compliance headaches. Choose the right scaffold stair towers and your site runs smoother, safer, and fully in line with safety standards. The right system means crews can move tools and materials efficiently and have a dependable way to access those high-up places on your jobsite.

If you’re sourcing new scaffolding stairs, work with a supplier who knows both the equipment and the safety rules—it’s the simplest way to get it right from the start.