What Are Maxi Props Used For?

If you’re in the construction industry, maxi props – also known as jack posts, post shores, and several other names – are an indispensable part of your supplies when building any large structures. But if you haven’t used them before, you may be wondering what exactly they are – and if they are the right choice for your next project. Do they provide enough vertical support? Are they load-bearing? How are they sized?

In this article, we’ll answer all of these questions – and more. We’ll give you the details about what maxi props are used for, a brief overview of their history, specifics about usage and industry best practices, and more.

So read on, and have all of your maxi prop questions answered by Australian Scaffold!

Uses of Maxi props

Maxi props are used to support overhead loads. They are basically a vertical support system that replaced wooden props.

Maxi props were first developed by Swiss-born William de Vigier in the UK, as he came to London in 1935. Maxi props were developed to replace traditional timber props, which had to be cut to size for each job.

In contrast, the original Maxi props were a type of temporary support that was load-bearing, had adjustable vertical support, and could be used to support structures of most heights.

This was achieved by using an adjustable design, which uses a heavy-duty screw thread and locking pins. A series of holes in the inner tube allows for a rough height to be set, and the large diameter screw thread, formed on the outside of the tube for maximum strength, can be adjusted to fine-tune the height of an maxi prop.

A forged steel plate is on the bottom of a prop, which helps provide balance and stability. On the top is a larger plate, which is used to prop up the material that needs to be supported.

The standard load that a single Maxi prop can take depends on its size, but most props max out at around 3,300-3,500 kg. Smaller props have a correspondingly lower maximum load and can be strengthened with lacing for additional horizontal and vertical stability.

What Are Maxi Props Used For?

Props are ideal for shoring up supports during construction projects and are primarily intended to be used to support heavy vertical loads.

Their design lends them to this application perfectly. They are extremely strong when it comes to vertical loads, and their slim design makes it easy to fit them into tight spaces that require extra support.

However, they are not ideal for horizontal loads and mitigating sideways force – at least on their own. The base and the top of an Maxi prop are quite small, so they are at risk of toppling if they are unsupported, and there is a significant sideways force.

The most common way to mitigate this is by “lacing” – that is, using scaffolding poles to connect Maxi props together. This helps strengthen them both vertically and horizontally.

Mostly, maxi props are used as temporary supports during the repair or alteration of buildings. They are not as ideal as scaffolding, as it’s harder to build access platforms for workers.

A great example of the use of an maxi prop would be to support a horizontal, load-bearing beam while masonry supports are repaired or removed. Maxi props are placed underneath each end while the masonry is repaired.

Understanding Common Maxi Prop Sizes

Maxi props have gone through quite a few different iterations over time, since they were first invented by William de Vigier. But today, they’ve been standardized worldwide by British Standard BS4074, which defines their sizes as follows:

• Size 0 – 1.1 metres to 1.8 metres
• Size 1 – 1.75 metres to 3.12 metres
• Size 2 – 2.0 metres to 3.4 metres
• Size 3 – 2.4 metres to 4.0 metres
• Size 4 – 2 metres to 4.9 metres

The weight that each one of these Maxi props can support decreases with their length. While a short, Size 0 prop can hold approximately 3,300 kgs, most Size 4 props can only support around 1,300 kgs.

Are Maxi Props The Right Choice For My Support And Scaffolding Needs?

Furthermore, the adjustability of Maxi props makes them a useful tool for construction and building companies which often work on structures that require vertical support. Companies who regularly take on repair and renovations of historic structures, for example, will find Maxi props to be indispensable for supporting load-bearing beams while surrounding structural components are repaired.

They’re also ideal for supporting temporary structures, and shoring up damaged structures. However, they’re not always the best choice for general-purpose scaffolding, as it’s harder to build multi-story scaffolds with easy access and platforms for workers.

Contact Us

Need Maxi props for your next construction project? We supply our customers with the very best props. Call us now at 1300 919 905 to learn more, or contact us online. We supply high-quality Maxi props that meet all Australian standards and requirements, and we’d be happy to answer any questions you have about our adjustable Maxi props.