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Mixing scaffold components from different manufacturers

Summary A requester asked whether scaffold components from different manufacturers could be combined. OSHA said its scaffold rules did not prohibit mixing manufacturers’ components, but the assembled scaffold still had to meet all applicable general and type-specific requirements. OSHA now archives the letter as potentially outdated.
Document
Federal opinion letter
Agency
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Document number
1986-10-24
Date issued
October 24, 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OSHA archives this letter and says it may no longer represent OSHA policy.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OSHA archives this letter and says it may no longer represent OSHA policy.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 Treat this page as historical context, not current guidance, and verify current law before relying on anything here.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NOTICE: This is an OSHA Archive Document, and may no longer represent OSHA Policy. It is presented here as historical content, for research and review purposes only.

October 24, 1986

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

This is in response to your letter of September 25, requesting a clarification of 29 CFR 1926.451 concerning the intermingling of scaffolding components.

This further confirms that the Occupational Safety and Health standards for scaffolds do not prohibit the intermingling of scaffolding components manufactured by two different companies. However, the resulting scaffold must comply with all of the applicable regulations when used by employers, including those of subsections (a) general provisions, (c) - tube and coupler scaffolds, and subsection (d) - tubular welded frame scaffolds.

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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