The short answer is: yes…and no.
AdjustaStairs can work as a complete, standalone access system where you’d normally opt for a scaffold stair tower.
They’re commonly used for basement excavations, batters and headstocks, canal or rail access, container and truck access and more.
The self-levelling treads, fast setup, and ability to join flights deliver a safe, multi-user staircase without the need to build a full tower.
When AdjustaStairs Replace a Scaffold Tower
- Fast, code-compliant access:
- One-piece flights unfold and handrails lock in place.
- Self-leveling between about 32–48° means you’re ready to use in minutes – no extra certification tag needed.
- Adaptable to changing levels:
- As excavations deepen or fill, the stairs reset instantly.
- Multiple flights can join for long batters, keeping pace with site changes.
- High throughput, minimal footprint:
- Available in 600mm and 1200mm widths for one-way or two-way traffic.
- Folds flat for quick relocation in tight spaces.
- Versatile accessories:
- Options include hanging or mid-landings, extended guardrails, scaffold-mount hooks, and step extensions, ensuring a perfect fit for pits, shafts, screens, trucks, and more.
We’ve worked with many companies that have successfully used complete AdjustaStairs systems to replace towers:
- A cost comparison between scaffold tower and AdjustaStairs was undertaken for this basement project – saving upwards of $10k.
- Southern Program Alliance successfully used the system to scale out of the railway trench and across a bridge. Their project allowed them to remain compliant while rapidly adapting to changing site conditions.
- A bridge’s falsework construction saved two-weeks of installation time with AdjustaStairs used to go from the completed bridge to the headstocks above the water
When AdjustaStairs Complement a Scaffold Tower
Scaffold towers still have their place. AdjustaStairs work brilliantly as the dynamic, code-compliant staircase inside or alongside scaffolds when you need to:
- Provide adjustable, two-way access within jump-form towers to formwork.
- Serve as a “last stair” into shafts or tunnel applications where a full tower is bulky or the ground is uneven.
- Interface seamlessly with existing scaffold systems using a scaffold-mount hook that replaces the top step.
Equally, AdjustaStairs and scaffolding work together great.
- Silverstrand’s water treatment construction project used AdjustaStairs to integrate into their scaffold and to adapt to the concrete structure.
- Sydney Metro’s Western Tunnell Package used a combination of Proscaf scaffolding and AdjustaStairs to move between levels of the tunnel excavation.
- Sydney Metro’s Tunnelling package was utilised for a box-stair system from the ground level to the bottom of the excavation.
Safety & Compliance
Adjustastairs goes above and beyond for safety and compliance.
- Designed for safe, multi-user access with anti-slip treads and locking handrails.
- Offered in heavy-duty aluminium or fibreglass options to suit various environments.
- Compliant with AS 1657:2018 (platforms, walkways and stairways) and relevant parts of AS/NZS 1576.1 when integrated with scaffold systems.
- Always check your site setup against requirements for geometry, handrail heights, fixings, and load paths.
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Cost & Time Efficiency
AdjustaStairs can offer dramatic time savings and lower labour costs on projects that require frequent access changes. Consider these comparisons:
- Setup time is measured in minutes (about 5 minutes per flight) compared to scaffold towers that need 1.5–3.0 crew-hours per lift.
- Quick adjustments and relocations mean you’re not waiting hours for re-configuration.
- Reduced certification and tagging complexities add to overall operational efficiency.
Moreover, scaffolding hire rates, labour costs, and scaffold yarding increase the costs for access over the lifetime of the project. This is often the make-or-break for whether or not to use a tower or Adjustastairs.
Choosing the Right Configuration
With AdjustaStairs, you’re choosing a safer, faster, and smarter method to access heights. Find a better way to keep your team safe and productive on every job.
Talk to us about how we can integrate Adjustastairs with your scaffolding or as a standalone system.
