Most suspended scaffold jobs run on a standard two-point rig — two anchor points, one platform, straightforward engineering. But some buildings and some scopes of work need more anchor points than that. Here's how to know which situation you're in.
What a Two-Point Rig Handles Well
A standard suspended scaffold two-point rig — two roof anchors, one platform suspended between them — covers the large majority of facade work in NYC: window washing, pointing and caulking, EIFS repair, and most curtain wall installation on buildings with a reasonably regular footprint. It's simpler to engineer, faster to rig, and less expensive than adding anchor points that aren't structurally necessary.
When Multipoint Becomes Necessary
A multipoint scaffold configuration adds anchor points beyond the standard two, and it's the right call under a few specific conditions:
- Wide or curved facades — a run long enough that a two-point rig can't safely span it without excessive platform length or sag
- Irregular building footprints — setbacks, notches, or non-rectangular floor plates that don't offer a clean two-anchor line
- Heavier load requirements — material-handling scopes (stone, glass units, heavy curtain wall panels) that exceed what two anchors can safely carry
- Limited or uneven roof anchor availability — mechanical equipment, parapet conditions, or structural constraints that rule out a standard two-point layout
The Engineering Difference
Adding anchor points isn't just a rigging decision — it changes the engineering package. Each additional anchor point needs its own load calculation, its own connection to the building structure, and its own sign-off as part of the DOB permit filing. This is the same category of work covered under rigging consultant and technical consulting services — a rigging engineer reviews the building's actual geometry and load requirements before recommending anchor count, rather than defaulting to whatever configuration is fastest to set up.
Cost Implications
More anchor points mean more engineering hours, more hardware, and more rigging labor — so multipoint configurations generally cost more than a comparable two-point job. That added cost is worth it when the building genuinely requires it. It isn't worth it when a two-point rig would have done the job just as safely for less. Getting this call right at the proposal stage avoids both under-engineering a job that needs more support and over-specifying one that doesn't.
Getting the Right Recommendation
The building's footprint, the scope of work, and the available anchor points on the roof all factor into whether a job needs a two-point or multipoint rig. Send us your building details and scope — or upload plans directly — and we'll tell you which configuration the job actually calls for, not which one is easiest to quote.