Field           Service Sector

Registration of skill standards and review of unit standards for Lifting Equipment

Subfield	Domain	ID
Lifting Equipment	Elementary Scaffolding	19621-19623, 20855-20860, 23223-23228, 23715, 30628
	Intermediate Scaffolding	23716-23722, 26606, 32877
	Rigging and Scaffolding Safety	20861

Construction and Specialist Trades Industry Skills Board has reviewed unit standards in the domains listed above.

Date new versions published                                                                                                          July 2026

Planned review date                                                                                               December 2031

Summary

Waihanga Ara Rau reviewed the above unit standards and developed skill standards to be used in programmes leading to the New Zealand Certificate in Scaffolding (Elementary) (Level 4) [Ref: 3708] and New Zealand Certificate in Scaffolding (Intermediate) (Level 4) [Ref: 3710]. This review was conducted alongside that of the qualifications, which were also updated in alignment.

The review of unit standards and the development of skill standards was overseen by a Technical Advisory Group (TAG) consisting of representatives from the scaffolding industry, the New Zealand Association for Scaffolding, Access and Rigging (SARNZ) and provider representatives, with the appropriate knowledge and skills in scaffolding, programme development, and assessment. The TAG convened in July 2025 with online meetings to develop the skill standards held from August 2025 through to November 2025.

As a result of the review; some existing unit standards in the elementary and intermediate scaffolding domains will be replaced with new skill standards to better meet industry needs and some unit standards in the elementary and intermediate scaffolding domains will be expired without replacement because they are no longer fit for purpose.

The draft skill standards were distributed for wider industry consultation with key stakeholders, including providers and the New Zealand Association for Scaffolding, Access and Rigging (SARNZ). All feedback was considered and actioned where appropriate.

The responsibility for these standards has been transferred from Waihanga Ara Rau WDC to Construction and Specialist Trades ISB to reflect the VET reforms. Construction and Specialist Trades ISB has finalised these standards for approval.

Main Changes

· A total of 23 unit standards (14 in elementary scaffolding and nine in intermediate scaffolding) have been expired and replaced with new skill standards.

· Five unit standards in the elementary scaffolding domain have been expired without replacement as they are no longer fit for purpose.

· 11 new elementary scaffolding skill standards and eight new intermediate scaffolding skill standards have been developed to better support industry requirements and learner progression pathways.

Category C and D unit standards will expire at the end of December 2027

Impact on existing organisations with consent to assess 

Current consent for			Consent extended to
Nature of consent	Classification or ID	Level	Nature of consent	Classification or ID	Level
Subfield	Lifting Equipment	3	Standards	41198, 41199, 41200, 41201, 41202, 41203, 41204, 41205, 41207	4
Domain	Elementary Scaffolding	3	Standards	41198, 41199, 41200, 41201, 41202, 41203, 41204, 41205, 41207	4
Standards	20858, 23223 and 23224	3	Standard	41200	4
Standard	20860	3	Standard	41202	4
Standard	23226	3	Standard	41203	4
Standard	23228	3	Standard	41204	4
Standard	23715	4	Standard	41206	4
Standard	23716	4	Standard	41208	4
Standard	23717	4	Standard	41209	4
Standard	23718	4	Standard	41210	4
Standard	23719	4	Standard	41211	4
Standard	23720	4	Standard	41212	4
Standard	30628	3	Standard	41205	4

Detailed list of unit standards – classification, title, level, and credits

All changes are in bold.

Key to review category
A	Dates changed, but no other changes are made - the new version of the standard carries the same ID and a new version number
B	Changes made, but the overall outcome remains the same - the new version of the standard carries the same ID and a new version number
C	Major changes that necessitate the registration of a replacement standard with a new ID
D	Standard will expire and not be replaced

Service Sector > Lifting Equipment

ID	Domain	Title	Level	Credit	Review Category
20861 41207	Rigging and Scaffolding Safety Elementary Scaffolding	Demonstrate, at height, safety procedures for the erection and dismantling of scaffolding Carry out safety procedures at height during the erection and dismantling of scaffolding	3 4	8 15	C

Service Sector > Lifting Equipment > Elementary Scaffolding

ID	Title	Level	Credit	Review Category
19621	Interpret and apply legislative requirements in the design of scaffolding works	3	3	D
19622	Use and maintain scaffolding hand and portable power tools	3	2	D
19623 41198	Use tube and coupler in standing proprietary scaffolds Use tube and coupler systems in standing proprietary scaffolds	3 4	6 10	C
20855	Handle and maintain basic scaffolding components	2	5	D
20856 20857 41199	Plan and prepare for the erection of scaffolding Prepare a scaffolding site for the basing out of scaffolding Plan and prepare for the basing out and erection of a scaffold	3 3 4	5 5 10	C
20858 23223 23224 41200	Base out tube and coupler scaffolding Base out returns for tube and coupler scaffolding Erect and dismantle standing tube and coupler scaffolding Base out, erect, and dismantle tube and coupler scaffolding	3 3 3 4	10 8 10 20	C
20859 23227 41201	Base out proprietary frame scaffolding Erect and dismantle standing proprietary scaffolding Base out, erect, and dismantle proprietary frame scaffolds	3 3 4	4 6 8	C
20860 41202	Base out individual component proprietary scaffolding Base out, erect, and dismantle individual component proprietary scaffolding	3 4	6 12	C
23225	Erect and dismantle mobile scaffolding	3	4	D
23226 41203	Erect and dismantle proprietary falsework Base out, erect, and dismantle elementary proprietary falsework	3 4	4 10	C
23228 41204	Complete a scaffolding inspection compliance report Inspect elementary scaffolding and complete a scaffolding inspection compliance report	3 4	4 10	C
23715 41206	Design, erect, and dismantle scaffolding ties Design, erect, and dismantle scaffolding ties and repair attachment points	4 4	6 10	C
30628 41205	Demonstrate and apply knowledge of leadership skills and communicate instructions on a scaffolding worksite Lead work activities for elementary scaffolding operations	3 4	3 6	C
41216	Handle, load, and unload scaffolding equipment on a heavy goods vehicle	3	5	NEW

Service Sector > Lifting Equipment > Intermediate Scaffolding

ID	Title	Level	Credit	Review Category
23716  41208	Erect and dismantle vessel scaffolding  Plan, prepare, erect, and dismantle vessel scaffolding	4 4	10  10	C
23717 41209	Erect and dismantle birdcage scaffolding Plan, prepare, erect, and dismantle birdcage scaffolding	4 4	10 10	C
23718 41210	Erect and dismantle catch fans Plan, prepare, erect, and dismantle catch fans	4 4	6 6	C
23719 41211	Erect, operate, and dismantle proprietary winches on scaffolding Plan, prepare, erect, operate, and dismantle proprietary winches on scaffolding	4 4	6 6	C
23720 41212	Erect, operate, and dismantle mast climbers Plan, prepare, erect, operate, and dismantle mast climbers	4 4	6  6	C
23721 41213	Erect and dismantle sloping platforms Plan, prepare, erect, and dismantle sloping platforms	4 4	6 7	C
23722 41214	Supervise the erection and dismantlement of scaffolding Lead work activities for intermediate scaffolding operations	4 4	10 5	C
26606 32877 41215	Erect and dismantle simple cantilevers from an existing scaffold Design, erect, and dismantle proprietary trusses Design, erect, and dismantle proprietary trusses and spurred scaffolding	4 4 4	6 15 18	C