Determine whether a temporary structure should be classified and permitted as 'scaffolding' or 'shoring' before selecting the applicable design standard.

Steps

1. Pull SSFI's free technical bulletin 'The Difference Between Shoring and Scaffolding' (hosted at saia.org) for the industry's own working definitions.
2. Apply the core distinction: scaffolding is a temporary elevated work platform supporting workers/materials; shoring is a temporary structure supporting formwork, an excavation face, or a structural load during construction (vertical/lateral load support, not a work platform per se).
3. Note that some equipment is dual-purpose or convertible (e.g., certain frame systems used as both shoring towers and scaffold towers) — the applicable design/testing standard depends on the LOADING CONDITION and USE, not just the hardware.
4. Route scaffolding-classified structures to ANSI/SAIA A11.1 (testing/rating scaffold assemblies) and OSHA 1926 Subpart L; route shoring-classified structures to ANSI/SAIA A11.2 (testing/rating shoring equipment) and the project's excavation/formwork engineering requirements instead.
5. When in doubt on a hybrid use case, flag it for the project's engineer of record rather than self-classifying — misclassification changes which OSHA subpart and which ANSI standard governs.