The document provides instructions for shrink wrapping a temporary roof in 5 parts. It begins by explaining the benefits of shrink wrap like reduced repairs from wind damage. Key steps include setting up scaffolding, hanging shrink wrap sheets on the sides first before overlapping the roof sheet, and using a propane heat gun to carefully weld and shrink the sheets tight. Safety measures like edge protection and harnesses are also outlined. Training options are discussed at the end.

1. How to Shrink Wrap a Temporary Roof

2. Why use shrink wrap for a temporary roof?
SHRINKS ‘DRUM TIGHT’
= less site visits to repair wind damage
HEAT WELDED JOINTS BETWEEN
SHEETS
= better weather proofing
OVERALL IMPROVED APPEARANCE
= happier customers & more repeat work

3. Shrink wrapping a temporary roof:
Part 1 - Materials & Equipment Required

4. Propane Gas Hot Air Gun
A propane gas hot air gun is the key piece of equipment for shrink wrapping scaffolding.
The hand held hot air gun is used to create joins or ‘welds’ between separate sheets of
shrink wrap and is used to shrink the film ‘drum tight’.
Our teams use & recommend the ‘Raptor’
heat gun by Express because it is light,
powerful and supplied with everything you
need including a 10 metre hose, regulator
and protective carry case. We find a 13Kg
propane gas cylinder is easiest to handle.

5. Shrink Wrap Film
For shrink wrapping scaffolding, including
temporary roofs, we recommend a 300 micron
thick shrink wrap film. Always ensure you use a
flame retardant shrink wrap (to EN13501 or
LPS1207 / LPS1215 standard). Supplied as a
7 metre wide x 15 metre long roll or a 12 m
wide x 15m long roll.

6. Patch Tape
Shrink wrap patch tape is used to reinforce welds/joins between temporary roof
sheets. Patch tape is also used to repair small holes in the shrink wrap sheeting and
tape zipped access doors into position. Typical roll size is 100mm wide x 33 metre
long. It is important to use a tape with a high tack adhesive that will stick to the shrink
wrap at low temperatures. A ‘pinked’ edge (serrated edge) to the patch tape helps
installers tear the tape ‘cleanly’.

7. Shrink Wrap Clips
Shrink wrap clips are used to temporarily hold the shrink wrap sheeting in position
before heat welding. The clips are then removed and re-used.

8. Zipped Polythene Access Doors
A zipped access door is not
essential for every shrink wrap
project but is commonly used
where a scaffolding is to be
sheeted to provide full
‘environmental containment’ –
such as during shot blasting
and painting operations.
Much larger access can be
also created to allow machinery
& equipment through the
sheeted area.

9. Shrink wrapping a temporary roof:
Part 2 – Structure Set up & Safety

10. Setting up a scaffolding structure for wrapping
Scaffold boards fixed to roof surface provide an anchor point to which the shrink
wrap will be battened. The shrink wrap installation team will also use roof boards to
safely access the roof for welding and shrinking the shrink wrap sheeting.
The minimum requirement for roof boards is a ‘run’ of boards, three boards wide,
every 2 metres with a run three boards wide around the perimeter of the roof.

11. Safety
Edge Protection – Before shrink wrapping
a roof, always install a hand rail around
the perimeter of the roof.
Safety Lines – These can be tensioned
between hand rails and allow operatives
wearing harnesses and lanyards to move
along the length of the safety line. A
rescue kit such as the ‘Gotcha’ from
Spanset UK is essential in the event of a
fall.

12. Shrink wrapping a temporary roof:
Part 3 – Shrink Wrapping Temporary Roof Sides

13. Why shrink wrap scaffold sides first?
Before installing the shrink wrap sheeting
over the temporary roof you should hang,
weld and shrink wrap the sides of the
scaffolding structure first.
The roof sheet can then overlap the side
sheets which helps to prevent any
rainwater ingress. The maximum untied
drop for a single sheet of shrink wrap film
is usually around 3 scaffold lifts (approx. 6
metres).

14. Hang and clip the shrink wrap sheet (sides)
Although small holes are quickly repaired
using patch tape, take care not to drop
rolls or snag the shrink wrap sheet during
installation.
The sheet is
temporarily clipped to
hold it into position

15. Heat weld shrink wrap around tube
Overlap shrink wrap around scaffolding
tube by 30-40cm and heat weld to fasten
shrink wrap securely to scaffolding.
The propane gas hot air gun bonds
overlapped areas of shrink wrap together.
If the shrink wrap film is of a good quality
this join should not need to be taped.

16. ……Or batten shrink wrap sheet at toe board
As an alternative to wrapping the shrink
wrap sheeting around a scaffold tube and
heat welding it back on to itself, some
scaffold shrink wrap installers like to
batten the shrink wrap film to the toe
board. This can look better as there is no
weld visible from the outside and can be
quicker than welding.

17. Batten side sheet around roof perimeter
The top edge of the shrink wrap side
sheet is battened to the roof edge
perimeter board. When the roof sheet is
installed it will then be battened and heat
welded to this sheet to prevent rainwater
ingress.

18. Heat shrink side sheeting
The heat gun is used to shrink the
scaffold wrap film ‘drum tight’.
Hold the gun 30-40cm from the shrink
wrap and work the heat over the shrink
wrap – like spray painting. To see the
technique search YouTube for ‘Rhino
Shrink Wrap’ and watch a video of the
heat gun in action.

19. Protrusions through the shrink wrap film
For best results, scaffold structure should be flush. Shrink wrap can be cut and resealed
around protrusions such as beams but it can be difficult to create a 100% perfect
weatherproof seal where there are protrusions.

20. Shrink wrapping a temporary roof:
Part 4 – Roof Sheeting

21. Unroll shrink wrap film
The shrink wrap sheeting is unrolled to 15
metres (or shorter) and the core is
discarded. Joints in the shrink wrap are
minimised and where necessary are
overlapped like roof tiles to minimise the
chance of water ingress.

22. Unfold shrink wrap sheet
The shrink wrap
sheeting is cut from the
roll and then unfolded to
7 metres or 12 metres
width according to the
shrink wrap roll size
being used.
Avoid installing shrink wrap sheeting in
winds over 20 mph or wet conditions.

23. Fix battens
Battens are used to make a shrink
wrapped temporary roof stronger as
they provide intermediate fixing points
for the shrink wrap film and spread
wind loading force. Battening the film
also makes covering a temporary roof
more manageable (especially in breezy
conditions) as the installer can work
(welding and heat shrinking) a section
of the temporary roof at a time if
necessary.

24. Cut exit hatch (if needed)
When shrink wrap sheeting a temporary roof you may need to plan where you will
safely exit the roof area after the shrink wrap cover is completed. This hatch area will
be taped and / or heat welded shut from underneath and so should be weather proof
but you should try and cut the exit in an area of the roof where some slight water
ingress would not cause a problem (or plan an alternative method of exit.)

25. Weld joints in the roof sheets
Creating strong joins & overlaps
between sections of shrink wrap
sheeting is a vital part of the shrink
wrap process. The shrink film should be
overlapped by 30-40cm and heated
sufficiently to ensure a good bond. The
welded area should be as smooth as
possible with as few creases and air
bubbles as possible.
It is important that the joint between the
sheets is dry and clean before heat
welding.

26. Weld the roof sheets – (view from underneath)
This is the view from underneath the temporary roof showing two sections of shrink
wrap that are being heat welded together. The sheets have been overlapped by 30-
40cm (like roof tiles) and the installer will try and get the hot air between the two
sheets of shrink wrap film to get a strong bond / join as possible.

27. Tape the edge of the welded joints
A good quality shrink
wrap will not need to be
taped after heat welding
but we do recommend
taping along the edge of
all joins / welds in roofs.

28. Heat shrink roof sheet
The shrink wrap sheeting
over the roof is heat
shrunk in the same way as
the sides - hold the gun
30-40cm from the shrink
wrap and work the heat
over the shrink wrap – like
spray painting.
The roof sheet can be heat
shrunk from above or
underneath depending on
access.

29. Final things….
Shrinking the film ‘drum tight’ may cause an occasional small hole where the batten is
screwed through the shrink wrap into the scaffold board underneath. To stop any
rainwater ingress there are two ‘tried and tested’ techniques.
Option 1 – ‘Skirt’ the batten
with a strip of shrink wrap film
and tape around perimeter
Option 2 – Install a strip of
5-7mm thick self adhesive
film beneath the batten. This
acts like a gasket.

30. Shrink wrapping a temporary roof:
Part 5 – Further Information & Training

31. Where? We can provide training on a temporary structure at your yard / premises or on a ‘live’
job. No classroom is required as the course is based mainly on assessment of practical skills.
How many? We find a ratio of 4 trainees to one trainer is ideal but up to 6 is possible.
What equipment will I need? We can provide a ‘start up kit’ consisting of heat gun(s), shrink
wrap film, patch tape and clips which can then be used going forward on your first shrink wrap
project.
How long? An initial training session on a small scaffolding structure at your site for a team of
4 will typically last 4-6 hours. ‘Live job’ training generally lasts longer and may be 2-3 days
depending on your requirements.
Is a certificate issued? Certification is based on a practical assessment of shrink wrapping
skills by our trainer and a short multiple choice test. This practical assessment and scoring is
the same system we use for training our own installation teams. We provide copies of these
records and certificates so that you can provide evidence of the competencies of your team to
your customers.
Shrink Wrap Training – FAQ’s

32. Scaffold Wrap Training – Topics covered
Theory
• Equipment (Heat gun) familiarisation – Pre start checks. Connecting and disconnecting the
gun, hose and regulator. Safe use of propane gas and handling of gas cylinders. Materials
familiarisation – shrink wrap, patch tape, clips etc.
• Personal safety – PPE, safe use of heat gun and fire prevention.
• Shrink wrapping scaffold structures – weather conditions, setting up the scaffold structure
for best results, wrapping side elevations, wrapping temporary roofs.
Practical Skills
• Welding & shrinking scaffolding wrap.
• Repairing holes by patching / welding.
• In the practical session our trainer demonstrates each skill and then each trainee
practices. The training structure is wrapped and then stripped. Finally, working in two
teams, the operatives are assessed as they shrink wrap the training structure.

33. MEETTHETRAINERS Steve Irlam
Steve has been shrink wrapping
scaffolding since 2009. He
started out ‘on the tools’ and
has helped customers
worldwide get the results they
want from their scaffold shrink
wrap projects.
Kris Martin
Kris has been shrink
wrapping scaffolding since
2010. He supervises one of
the Rhino installation teams
and spends the majority of
his time on site carrying out
scaffold shrink wrapping.
Adam joined Rhino Shrink
Wrap in 2011. He is a full
time shrink wrap installer
which means he has an in
depth knowledge of scaffold
shrink wrapping and how to
overcome any obstacle!
Adam Newcombe

34. Thank you.
For assistance - +44 (0)1477 532222 / info@rhinoshrinkwrap.com
www.rhinoshrinkwrap.com
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Flickr - https://www.flickr.com/photos/rhino_wrap/
YouTube -
www.youtube.com/channel/UCl3kHHLjekAtExZqvtJ8Vww