Scaffold Encapsulation at Windsor Castle, Berkshire

EcoShrink delivered scaffold encapsulation at Windsor Castle in Windsor, Berkshire. Flame-retardant, UV-stable shrink wrap formed a sealed enclosure around elevated heritage façades during live conservation works. The system controlled dust and overspray next to visitor routes, reduced wind and rain ingress at height and kept the castle’s presentation tidy while trades worked.

Windsor Castle North Terrace

Windsor Castle Shrink Wrap Scaffolding Installation

Summary (At a Glance)

�️ Client/site: Windsor Castle – North Terrace

📍 Location: Windsor, Berkshire

🗓️ Programme: Live-site heritage works

🏙️ Exposure: Elevated façades • Public/visitor interface

📏 Area wrapped: ~6,000 m²

🔥 FR grade: Flame-retardant (certified)

Project Overview

Windsor Castle required scaffold encapsulation to protect heritage masonry during conservation works on the North Terrace. The brief called for a sealed, tidy enclosure that would control debris and overspray, limit wind and rain ingress, and maintain safe routes for visitors and staff around a high-profile heritage site.

EcoShrink specified 300 µm FR, UV-stable shrink wrap, heatwelded into a continuous skin over the scaffold, with labelled re-entry doors and clear panels to support inspections and checks. The method balanced heritage sensitivities, security and programme certainty so trades could remain productive without compromising safety, presentation or castle protocols.

Challenges on site

• Elevated façades exposed to wind and weather

• Live public/visitor interface around a busy heritage attraction

• Need to control debris, dust and overspray adjacent to sensitive façades

• Requirement to maintain a tidy, unobtrusive appearance on a landmark site

• Strict no-fix heritage zones and security requirements to respect

• Clear wayfinding needed for visitors and castle staff through and around worksents

Our solution

EcoShrink applied its heritage scaffold encapsulation approach using FR, UVstable shrink wrap welded into a sealed skin. The method followed the same structured sequence used on other complex sites: scope and prep, wrap and weld, fire safety, and monitoring.

Scope & Prep

• Heritage survey carried out, including agreement of no-fix zones and protection to delicate features RAMS issued and agreed with the castle team

• Delivery windows and quiet hours coordinated to respect visitor flows and operations

• Exclusion and pedestrian lines set, with wayfinding planned for visitors and staff

• Inspection points mapped so clear panels and access doors could be located correctly

Wrap & Weld

• Installed EcoShrink 300 µm, FR, UV-stable film over the scaffold structure

• Heat-welded seams to form a continuous, sealed enclosure around the work areas

• Finished with tidy welds and shrinking to deliver a clean, ordered elevation to the terrace and wider site

Fire Safety

• Hot-work permits issued for welding operations

• Fire extinguishers placed at stair towers, hoist points and door locations

• FR grade confirmed with certificates, with no storage or obstruction near exits and routes kept clear and signed

Monitoring & service life

• Service life expectations recorded for the encapsulation during the programme

• Practical inspection windows and re-entry doors provided via clear and labelled panels

• Reseal and minor-repair approach agreed so the enclosure could be maintained without affecting heritage surfaces

Results

• Sealed scaffold encapsulation created safer, cleaner work zones around elevated heritage façades

• Better control of dust, debris and overspray next to public and visitor routes

• Reduced wind and rain ingress at height, helping trades maintain more consistent progress

• Tidy, low-visual-impact appearance maintained around a high-profile heritage setting

• Clear routes and defined edges for visitors and staff improved wayfinding and separation from the works

FAQ

Why was scaffold encapsulation needed at Windsor Castle?

The conservation works took place on elevated heritage façades alongside busy visitor routes. Scaffold encapsulation was chosen to control debris and overspray, reduce wind and rain ingress at height and maintain a tidy presentation around a landmark setting while works were underway.

How were heritage sensitivities managed during the wrap installation?

No-fix zones and delicate features were identified in a heritage survey and agreed with the castle team before works began. The scaffold and wrap detailing respected these zones, and protection measures were planned so the encapsulation could be installed and maintained without fixing into or marking sensitive masonry.

How did the scaffold wrap affect visitor routes and safety?

Visitor and staff wayfinding was mapped as part of the planning phase, with exclusion lines and pedestrian routes set around the works. Labelled re-entry doors and clear panels enabled inspections without opening up large areas, while the sealed enclosure helped separate work zones from public paths and viewing areas.

 Similar projects & next steps

EcoShrink applies the same scaffold encapsulation methods on heritage buildings, castles, stately homes and other sensitive façades across the UK and Ireland. For more examples, visit our Scaffold Wrap Case Studies hub, or see our Scaffold Shrink Wrap service page for methods, options and FAQs.

If you’re planning heritage or live-site façade works, share your elevations, constraints and key dates and we’ll return a costed scaffold wrap method, FR specification and earliest start dates.  Calculator →          Contact →