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Mixing tube and coupler scaffold components

Summary A requester asked whether a tube and coupler scaffold could use components made by two companies. OSHA said mixing manufacturers was not prohibited if the scaffold complied with all applicable safety rules when employees used it. OSHA now archives the letter as potentially outdated.
Document
Federal opinion letter
Agency
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Document number
1986-09-05-1
Date issued
September 5, 1986
Status
Archived by the agency
OSHA archives this letter and says it may no longer represent OSHA policy.
Status last verified October 10, 2026
Topics
Workplace Safety OSHA 1926 Scaffolds
Source
View the official document

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The current status of this document is unclear
OSHA archives this letter and says it may no longer represent OSHA policy. It may no longer reflect the agency's current position. Treat this page as historical context, not current guidance, and verify current law before relying on anything here.
About this page: The full text below is the official document from Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Ezel adds the plain-English summary and tracks the document's status. The official source linked on this page is authoritative for any reliance.

NOTICE: This is an OSHA Archive Document, and may no longer represent OSHA Policy. It is presented here as historical content, for research and review purposes only.

September 5, 1986

Mr. Loren G. Helmreich
Norvell & Associates
[Recipient address omitted]
Dear Mr. Helmreich:

This is in response to your letter of July 30, requesting a clarification of 29 CFR 1926.451(c) concerning the intermingling of tube and coupler scaffold components. Your letter addressed to our Houston Area Office was forwarded to this office for response.

The occupational safety and health standard for scaffolds do not prohibit the utilization of scaffolding components manufactured by two different companies provided the scaffold complies with all of the applicable regulations in 29 CFR 1926.541 when used by employees.

If we can be of further assistance, please let us know.

Sincerely,
John B. Miles, Jr., Director
Directorate of Field Operations

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