Acrow prop

Acrow prop

An Acrow prop or BS prop is a piece of construction equipment. It is a telescopic tubular steel prop, used as a temporary support. A jackscrew is similar but not as long and not telescopic.

Outside of the UK an acrow prop maybe known as a jack post, adjustable post, telescoping prop or ... post, screw jack, adjustable steel column, adjustable steel prop or ... post, adjustable metal prop or ... post, as well as an adjustable shoring post or ... shore post. Mistakingly the term lally column is sometimes used as well.

Trench struts are of similar design but are meant to be used horizontally and have upturned corners on the end plates to facilitate installation by giving a claw grip to timber walings.^[1]

Acrow props are adjustable for height by a large diameter screw thread, formed on the outside of the tube itself. The screw thread provides a fine adjustment over a short range. A loose pin through a series of holes in the inner tube gives a wider range of coarse adjustment. Use of a screw thread also allows the props to be tightened when already in place, to adjust the load that each one bears.

Props are made in a range of five BS standard sizes:^[1]

• size 0 from 3.5 feet (1.1 m) to 6 feet (1.8 m),
• size 1 from 5.75 feet (1.75 m) to 10.25 feet (3.12 m),
• size 2 from 6.5 feet (2.0 m) to 11 feet (3.4 m),
• size 3 from 8 feet (2.4 m) to 13 feet (4.0 m),
• size 4 from 10.5 feet (3.2 m) to 16 feet (4.9 m).

The safe load for a given prop varies according to the distance between its ends and the eccentricity of the load relative to the longitudinal axis of the prop.

The safe load for a BS standard prop is a maximum of 35 kilonewtons (7,900 lb_f) at a length of 2 metres (without using any attachment and when not supported by horizontal lacing). This allows 1.5° out of plumb (out of a vertical position) when loaded concentrically. Safe load is reduced when props are further extended, or by up to half when the load is not concentrical.^[1]

Acrow props are mostly used for shoring: temporary supports during building repair or alteration work, rather than scaffolding: access platforms for workers. A typical use is to support an existing horizontal beam whilst its original masonry supports are removed or repaired. When masonry itself is to be supported, holes are first knocked through the brickwork and a strong 'needle' or 'strongboy' is placed through the hole. A pair of Acrow props are then used, one under each end. Existing windows or doorways may also be supported directly, or via needles.

The base and top plate of Acrow props are quite small, so they are suitable for supporting a vertical load but are at risk of toppling if there is any sideways force. In such cases, props should be strutted or 'laced' with scaffolding poles. A recent improvement to Acrow props was to shape this baseplate with notches, allowing pallet loads of horizontal props to be stacked neatly, rather than randomly piled.

Although the original Acrow prop was only intended for vertical support, the range has since been extended. Shoring 'push and pull' props with swivelling footplates are available and are used to support concrete formwork. Horizontal strutting props are used for shoring trenchwork. These are similar, but have a 'claw' form to their baseplates.

Acrow props, their size, strength and construction, are now described by a British Standard BS4074: 1982.^[2] A similar lightweight European prop design exists, these have a maximum capacity of 5 kilonewtons (1,100 lb_f).^[1]

History

The props were invented by Swiss-born William de Vigier, who came to London in 1935.^[3] At first traditionalism amongst builders preferred the established timber props, cut to fit for each job. The break for Vigier's adjustable props came when they were adopted by a few large builders, including Sir Robert McAlpine. By 1939, over 40,000 Acrow props were in use.^[3]

Vigier's company was named the Acrow Group, after his solicitor Mr A Crowe. He adopted this name as, like Kodak, it was an easily pronouncable neologism, with the additional advantage of appearing early in alphabetical lists.^[3]

References