Technically, homeowners in New Zealand can hire and erect a proprietary mobile scaffold tower for chimney repointing — it is not legally restricted work in the same way electrical or plumbing is. However, working at height is one of the leading causes of serious injury and death in NZ, and there are real legal duties, manufacturer requirements, and practical risks you need to understand before you decide to go it alone.
What the Law Says About Working at Height
Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, anyone who controls a workplace — including a homeowner doing DIY — has a duty to manage risks so far as is reasonably practicable. WorkSafe NZ publishes specific guidance on working at height, and their position is clear: falls from height are preventable, and the hierarchy of controls must be followed (eliminate the risk first, then minimise it).
For work above 3 metres, the risks increase significantly. A chimney on a typical NZ single-storey house sits roughly 4–6 metres above ground level, and on a two-storey home it can be 7 metres or more. At those heights, a fall is likely to be fatal or cause life-changing injury.
Types of Scaffold Tower Available for Hire
Most hire companies (and stores like Bunnings or Mitre 10) stock proprietary aluminium mobile scaffold towers — sometimes called "Youngman" style towers. These are designed for assembly by non-tradespeople, provided you follow the manufacturer's instructions exactly.
Key things to understand:
- Single-width towers are narrower and less stable than double-width towers — this matters a lot at chimney height.
- Each tower system has a maximum working height specified by the manufacturer. Never exceed it.
- The safe working load (typically 225 kg per platform) must not be exceeded — that includes you, your tools, and your materials.
- Towers must be erected on firm, level ground. Sloped or soft ground requires base plates, screw jacks, or outriggers.
- Most manufacturers require outriggers to be fitted once the tower exceeds a certain height-to-base ratio (commonly 3:1 for outdoor use).
Step-by-Step: Erecting a Hired Tower Safely
1. Read the manufacturer's instructions in full
Every proprietary tower system is different. Do not assume you know how it goes together. The hire company should supply full assembly instructions — ask if they don't.
2. Check the ground conditions
The base must be solid and level. Use base plates on all four legs. On soft ground, use timber sole boards (at least 225 mm wide) under the base plates to spread the load.
3. Fit outriggers before climbing
For outdoor chimney work, fit outriggers as soon as the manufacturer's height-to-base ratio requires them — typically before the platform reaches 3–4 metres. Do not skip this step.
4. Use the stairway access frame or internal ladder
Never climb up the outside of the tower frame. Use the built-in access system.
5. Fit guardrails and toe boards on all open sides
This is non-negotiable. Guardrails must be at least 900 mm high, with a mid-rail and toe board to prevent tools falling.
6. Never move the tower while anyone is on it
Mobile towers must be empty before being repositioned.
7. Tie or brace against the chimney or roof structure if required
At greater heights, the manufacturer may require the tower to be tied to a fixed structure. Check the instructions.
NZ Building Code and Consent Considerations
Chimney repointing (raking out and replacing mortar joints) is generally maintenance work and does not require a building consent. However, if you are doing more than repointing — for example, rebuilding sections of the chimney stack — you may need a consent. Always confirm with your local council. The MBIE Building Performance website has useful guidance on what work requires consent and what falls under Schedule 1 exemptions.
Practical Limitations of a Single-Width Tower for Chimney Work
- A single-width platform gives you very limited working space. Repointing requires you to move along all four faces of the chimney, which may mean repositioning the tower multiple times.
- Reaching over the edge of a narrow platform to work on the far side of a chimney is dangerous and should be avoided.
- On a two-storey home, the height involved almost certainly warrants a double-width tower or a purpose-built scaffold erected by a professional.
- Roof pitch and proximity to the eaves can make positioning a tower difficult or impossible without specialist knowledge.
When to Call a Professional
For many chimney repointing jobs — especially on two-storey homes, steeply pitched roofs, or chimneys set back from the eaves — hiring a licensed scaffolder is the safest and most practical option. A professional scaffolder will:
- Assess the site and select the right scaffold system
- Erect and dismantle the scaffold safely and efficiently
- Ensure compliance with WorkSafe requirements
- Often provide a safer, more comfortable working platform than a hired tower
You can find qualified local scaffolders on tradedirectory.co.nz. It's also worth getting a quote — professional scaffold hire and erection for a chimney job is often more affordable than people expect, and it removes the risk entirely.
If you are also planning any electrical work near the roofline (such as TV aerials or solar), remember that work on or near electrical installations is restricted work under the Electricity Act and must be carried out by a registered electrician. Check the Electrical Workers Registration Board for more information.
Safety Checklist Before You Climb
| Check | Done? |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer instructions read in full | ☐ |
| Ground firm, level, and base plates fitted | ☐ |
| Outriggers fitted per instructions | ☐ |
| Guardrails and toe boards on all open sides | ☐ |
| Working height within manufacturer's limit | ☐ |
| Load within safe working load | ☐ |
| Someone else on site who knows where you are | ☐ |
| Mobile phone within reach | ☐ |
