V-tie (triangulated tie)

A pair of tie tubes set in a V to two eye bolts, so that forces both across and along the facade are taken into the wall.

Also called: triangulated tie, V-anchor, raking tie pair, triangle tie

An ordinary tie keeps the scaffold at a distance from the wall and pulls it back when wind presses from the other side. What it cannot do is stop the scaffold travelling along the facade or twisting. Such longitudinal forces come from wind striking at an angle, from nets and sheeting, from hoists or from material set down at one point.

The V-tie solves this with simple geometry. Two ties run at a slope to the wall and form a triangle with the facade. A triangle does not shift, so forces in both directions – perpendicular and parallel to the facade – are carried safely into the anchor substrate.

What it consists of

A V-tie is not a special part but a pair of standard hook ties. They are arranged in a V, roughly at right angles to each other and so about 45 degrees to the wall. Each one hooks into its own eye bolt.

Both on the upright: each tie gets its own right-angle coupler on the inner upright.
Second on the first: alternatively only the first tie goes to the upright and the second is clamped to the first. Which version is allowed is set by the instructions.
Lengths: mostly short to medium ties, depending on wall distance. With inside brackets or thick insulation they become correspondingly longer.

Where V-ties are required follows from the tie pattern. Typical places are every so many anchor points, building corners, scaffolds clad with net or sheeting, and points where loads enter sideways.

Fitting

Fix two eye bolts side by side at the same height in sound substrate. Rule of thumb: offset each to the left and right of the upright by about the distance between upright and wall – the 45-degree angle then follows almost by itself.
Hook the first tie into its eye and clamp it to the inner upright close to the node, just below the deck.
Hook the second tie into the second eye and clamp it to the upright or to the first tie as the instructions say.
Check the angle and tighten all couplers to the specified torque.
Make sure both hooks sit fully in their eyes and are not loaded in bending.

Like every tie, the V-tie is released only after the scaffold above has been dismantled.

Common faults

Wrong angle: a V that is too flat or too steep loses much of its longitudinal effect.
One eye for both: hanging both ties in the same bolt forms no triangle and no V-tie.
Insulated facades: long eye bolts through thick insulation can hardly take longitudinal forces; special anchors for external wall insulation systems are needed there. See scaffolding for external wall insulation.
Substrate: only concrete or load-bearing masonry, never downpipes or window frames.
Used: straight tubes, intact hooks, clean welds – and always pairs of matching length.

Used tie tubes in several lengths are listed under wall tie.

Frequently asked questions

When is a V-tie needed?

Wherever the tie pattern calls for forces parallel to the facade to be taken, for instance at certain anchor levels, at building corners or on scaffolds with nets and sheeting. The exact arrangement is in the manufacturer's instructions.

At what angle is a V-tie fitted?

The two ties stand roughly at right angles to each other, so each is at about 45 degrees to the wall.

Can a single tie take longitudinal forces?

No. A single tie at right angles to the wall only takes tension and compression perpendicular to the facade. Longitudinal forces need V-ties or other suitable anchors.