Kireon's 18 ft rolling scaffold tower is a MetalTech Baker-style tower: 6 ft Baker scaffold units stacked on locking casters, with outriggers and a top guardrail. It is a movable work platform for firm, flat and level surfaces, rented as equipment only. The 18 ft describes the stacked frame, not the height you stand at, and the load rating drops as the tower gets taller.
What is in an 18 ft Baker-style tower?
It is a stack of 6 ft Baker scaffold units with a guardrail on top and outriggers at the base. Kireon's 18 ft rolling tower is a MetalTech Baker-style tower, shown on the rental page with three units stacked, platforms at each level, a top guardrail, four outriggers and locking casters.
Each Baker unit has two ladder-style end frames, side braces, a plywood platform and four casters. You climb the end frames like a ladder and set each platform at the height you need.
Manufacturer specs for one 6 ft Baker unit
These figures are MetalTech's published specs for its Jobsite Series 6 ft Baker, model I-CISC, taken from the product page and the operating manual. Ask Kireon to confirm the exact model of the tower you rent before you plan around a number.
| Spec | MetalTech Jobsite Series 6 ft Baker (I-CISC) |
|---|---|
| Assembled size (W x D x H) | 74.75 x 29.75 x 75 in |
| Weight | 110 lb |
| Platform height, single unit | 27 to 73 in, adjustable in 2 in steps |
| Frame | 1.5 in square tube, 16-gauge steel, powder coated |
| Platform | Plywood deck with steel edge banding |
| Casters | 5 in, double locking |
| Standards listed | ANSI, CSA and OSHA |
| Reach, single unit | 12 ft |
| Stacking | Up to 3 units high, 24 ft reach |
How much weight can it hold?
Less as it gets taller. MetalTech's manual rates the unit by how many are stacked, counting the combined weight of people, tools and materials:
- One unit high: 1,100 lb
- Two units high with guardrails: 948 lb
- Three units high with guardrails: 851 lb
At three high, two 200 lb workers already use almost half of the 851 lb. Add up people, tools and material before you load the platform, and keep heavy material like stacked block off it.
How high does an 18 ft tower really reach?
The "18 ft" describes the stacked frames, not the platform you stand on. Three units at 75 in each come to 225 in, about 18 ft 9 in of frame. Your top platform sits inside the top unit, so you stand lower than that. MetalTech rates three units high for a 24 ft reach, which counts the person standing on the platform.
Ask Kireon for the deck height of the configuration you rent and compare it with what you need to reach. A gutter on a one-story house or a 14 ft ceiling is comfortable. The peak of a two-story gable usually is not.
Outriggers and base: why they are not optional
A stacked Baker tower needs outriggers. MetalTech's manual says to always use outriggers and guardrails when stacking units. Its product page lists 14 in outriggers for two units high and 46 in outriggers for three units high.
California's rule explains why. Cal/OSHA Title 8, Section 1646 says the minimum base dimension of a free-standing tower must be at least 1/3 of its height unless it is guyed or tied. For a tower about 18 ft tall, that is a base of about 6 ft. The frame alone is under 30 in deep, so the outriggers make up the difference.
Where the 18 ft tower fits, and where it does not
It fits indoor and flat-surface work you reach one spot at a time:
- High ceilings, drywall, paint and light fixtures
- Garage, shop and warehouse work on a slab floor
- Eaves, soffits, gutters and fascia above a flat concrete driveway or patio, on a calm, dry day
It does not fit:
- Slopes, stairs, lawn, gravel, soft soil or any uneven ground. Kireon rents this tower for firm, flat and level surfaces only.
- Long walls you want to walk along. Frame scaffold is the better tool. See rolling tower vs frame scaffold.
- Anywhere near power lines. The manual warns that metal conducts electricity.
- Windy or wet weather. The manual says not to use it in inclement weather or high winds, and notes the product is designed to be used and stored indoors.
If your job is lower, the 15 ft rolling tower built from frame-scaffold parts is another option to ask about.
Rules for using it safely
These come from the MetalTech manual and Section 1646:
- Set it up plumb on a firm, level surface. Never put blocks or boards under a caster to level it.
- Install all four outriggers and the top guardrail. Section 1646 requires railings on any platform 7 1/2 ft or more above grade.
- Lock every caster before anyone climbs.
- Climb the end frame facing the ladder, body centered between the uprights, with three points of contact.
- Do not put a ladder, bucket or anything else on the platform to gain height.
- Clear tools and material before moving it, and never move it with anyone on it.
Kireon rents the tower as equipment only and does not set it up or inspect it. The renter assembles and uses it following the manufacturer's instructions. For the full rule set, read the Cal/OSHA scaffold rules guide. Current rental rates and terms are on the 18 ft tower page, and you can check dates with a quote request.
Frequently asked questions
How much weight can an 18 ft Baker-style tower hold?
MetalTech rates its Jobsite Series 6 ft Baker at 1,100 lb for one unit, 948 lb for two units high with guardrails and 851 lb for three units high with guardrails. The rating covers people, tools and materials combined.
How tall is the platform on an 18 ft rolling tower?
Lower than 18 ft. The 18 ft is the stacked frame height, and the top platform sits inside the top unit. MetalTech rates three units for a 24 ft reach, counting the person. Ask Kireon for the deck height of the tower you rent.
Does a stacked Baker scaffold need outriggers?
Yes. MetalTech's manual says to always use outriggers and guardrails when stacking units, with 14 in outriggers at two units high and 46 in outriggers at three. Cal/OSHA also requires a tower base of at least 1/3 of its height unless it is tied.
Can I use the 18 ft tower outdoors or on grass?
Not on grass, gravel, soft soil or slopes: it is for firm, flat and level surfaces only. MetalTech also says the unit is designed to be used and stored indoors and should not be used in bad weather or high winds. Ask Kireon before planning outdoor work.
Does Kireon assemble the tower?
No. Kireon rents and sells scaffold equipment only. The renter assembles, inspects and uses the tower according to the manufacturer's instructions and the rules that apply to the job.
Sources
Next step: see 18 ft rolling tower rental, then request a quote with your dates and ZIP code.
Kireon provides scaffold equipment rental and sales only. Kireon does not erect, assemble, dismantle, engineer, design, inspect or supervise scaffolding and does not provide competent-person or jobsite safety-management services.