When managing complex construction or industrial projects, it’s common to focus on the permanent works. However, in reality, the structures that are only on site temporarily – your temporary works – often pose the most significant risk.
At King Site Services, we treat temporary works design as a core engineering discipline, not an afterthought. Well-designed temporary works protect people, plant and programme. Poor or rushed design can lead to delays, unexpected costs and serious safety incidents.
What Is Temporary Works Design and Why Does It Matter?
Temporary works refer to the short-term structures and systems that enable the safe and efficient construction of permanent works. The Health and Safety Executive’s temporary works guidance explains that temporary works include shoring, propping, falsework, access systems, haul roads and working platforms that support or protect the works, plant or people on site.
British Standard BS 5975 – the code of practice for temporary works describes temporary works as an engineered solution used to support or protect an existing structure, the permanent works during construction, or to provide access.
Typical temporary works engineered solutions include:
- Excavation support and shoring
- Propping, falsework and formwork for concrete works
- Temporary steel frames and bracing for stability
- Working platforms, piling mats and crane pads
- Access platforms, towers and temporary bridges
Good temporary works design makes these systems:
- Safe: with clearly defined load paths and acceptable deflections
- Practical: so your site team can install, inspect and remove them efficiently
- Integrated: aligned with your construction sequence, other trades and logistics
That’s why our temporary works engineering team puts as much thought into temporary conditions as into the finished structure.
What Is a Temporary Works Engineered Solution?
A temporary works engineering solution is a purpose-designed, calculated, and checked arrangement that takes into account real loads such as self-weight, construction loads, wind, and ground conditions. It fits within the site’s constraints, access routes, and other structures, and can be installed, adjusted, and removed without introducing new risks.
Our engineers create these schemes as part of our wider temporary works design and engineering services. We typically gather information through drawings, surveys, ground data, and construction sequences, propose concept options for the engineered temporary works solution, develop detailed calculations, drawings, and models, and support your Temporary Works Coordinator with clear documentation and advice.
This approach turns temporary works from a “best guess on site” into a controlled, engineered part of your project.
The Role of Temporary Works Engineering in Safety and Compliance
In the UK, temporary works are regulated by a clear legal and standards framework. The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 require clients, designers, and contractors to plan, manage, and monitor health and safety on construction projects – including temporary conditions.
Key duties include:
- Clients and designers must consider how the permanent works will be built and reduce risks “so far as reasonably practicable”.
- Principal contractors must plan and coordinate temporary works engineering as part of the construction phase.
- Those designing, checking and installing temporary works must be competent and appropriately trained.
The core standard is BS 5975-1:2024, which sets out recognised procedures for managing temporary works, supported by tools and templates in the CITB Temporary Works companion content.
Industry bodies, such as the Temporary Works Forum (TWf), provide additional guidance, case studies, and resources, helping to drive best practice across the sector.
Our temporary works design and engineering services are aligned with these expectations, so you can demonstrate that your systems are not just practical – they’re built on current standards and guidance.
How Temporary Works Design and Engineering Services Protect Programme and Budget
Temporary works are sometimes seen as something to “sort out later”. In reality, well-planned temporary works design and engineering services are one of the best ways to protect your programme and budget.
Guidance from organisations like Network Rail’s Health and Safety by Design group shows that late or inadequate consideration of temporary works can lead to incidents, re-work and last-minute redesigns that import extra risk and delay.
By investing in engineered temporary design works, you can reduce delays, minimise rework and waste, and manage risk.
Our team supports this with:
- Detailed site surveys and, where appropriate, 3D scanning
- 3D modelling so temporary works sit correctly within your project model
- Analysis tools to test how frames, props and temporary steelwork will behave under load
When Do You Need a Temporary Works Design?
As a guide, you should involve a temporary works design company whenever:
- There is a risk of instability or collapse (e.g. deep excavations, façade retention, major propping).
- Loads are unusual, heavy or difficult to predict (e.g. crane bases, piling mats, complex falsework).
- Temporary conditions are critical to the programme (e.g. staged construction, bridge launches, plant change-overs).
- The work is complex, constrained, or safety-critical, and you need traceable calculations and checks.
Bringing us in early allows our temporary works engineering specialists to:
- Support tenders and pre-construction planning
Coordinate with permanent works designers. - Provide buildable, checked solutions before you reach critical stages on site.
Where projects need wider coordination, our engineering project management services can help align temporary works, programme and quality targets.
Temporary works may only be on site for a short time, but their impact on safety, programme and cost is long-lasting. Regulations such as CDM 2015 and standards like BS 5975 make it clear that temporary works must be appropriately designed, checked, and managed.
At King Site Services, we offer comprehensive temporary works design and engineering, drawing on decades of practical experience. Our services include custom-engineered temporary solutions specific to your site, in-house fabrication, on-site welding, and installation.
Whether you’re planning excavation support, propping, falsework, temporary steelwork or specialist access, we’ll work with you to deliver an engineered solution that’s safe, efficient and aligned with your programme.
Get a Quote for your upcoming project that needs expert temporary works design. For more tips and insights, check out our blog.