Scaffold glossary

A

Adjustable base jackرافعة القاعدة القابلة للضبط

A screw jack at the foot of a standard, used to level the scaffold on uneven ground.

Anchor pointنقطة التثبيت

A point strong enough to hold a falling person, to which a lanyard or lifeline is connected.

B

Base plateلوح القاعدة

A steel plate under each standard that spreads its load. It sits on a sole board, not straight on soft ground.

Bayالباكية (الباي)

The space between two neighbouring pairs of standards along the scaffold.

Birdcage scaffoldسقالة القفص

A grid of standards in both directions carrying one deck, often for work on soffits and ceilings.See also: Inspection checklists

Braceالشدّاد المائل

A diagonal tube that stops the scaffold from swaying or distorting: facade braces along the face, ledger braces across the width and plan braces in the horizontal plane.

C

Cantilever scaffoldالسقالة الكابولية

A scaffold carried on beams that project from the structure, used where the ground below cannot take it.See also: Inspection checklists

Competent personالشخص المختص

Someone with the training, knowledge and experience to do a task, such as inspecting a scaffold, and to recognise its hazards.

Coupler (fitting)الكلبس (الوصلة)

A fitting that joins two tubes. Right-angle (double) couplers join tubes at 90°, swivel couplers at any angle and sleeve couplers end to end.

Cuplokكب لوك (Cuplok)

A system scaffold whose ledgers lock into cups fixed on the standards.

D

Debris netting and sheetingشبك الحماية والأغطية

Net or sheet fixed to the face of the scaffold to catch debris. It adds wind load, so the scaffold must be designed for it.

F

Full-body harnessحزام الأمان الكامل

A harness worn around the body and legs that holds a person in a fall when connected to an anchor.

G

Gin wheelبكرة الرفع

A pulley fixed to the scaffold for lifting light materials by rope.See also: Scaffold calculators

Guardrailالدرابزين

The top rail along the open edge of a platform that stops people falling. Its height follows your client's rules.See also: Guardrail height compared

H

Handoverالتسليم

The point where the scaffold contractor passes a complete, inspected scaffold to the user, usually with a signed handover certificate.

Hanging (suspended) scaffoldالسقالة المعلقة

A scaffold hung from the structure above, for example under a pipe rack or a bridge.See also: Inspection checklists

Hop-up bracketكتيفة الامتداد

A bracket fixed to the standards that carries a narrow extra platform on the inside, closer to the wall.

I

Independent tied scaffoldالسقالة المستقلة المربوطة

Two rows of standards joined by ledgers and transoms, standing on its own base and tied to the structure.See also: Inspection checklists

Inspectionالفحص

A check by a competent person before first use, at set intervals (often every 7 days) and after any change, storm or incident. Your client's rule sets the interval.See also: Inspection frequency compared

J

Joint pinالمسمار الداخلي للوصل

A fitting inside the tube that joins two tubes end to end. It does not hold the tubes against pulling apart, so a sleeve coupler is used where the joint may be pulled.

K

Kicker liftالمنسوب السفلي

A low first lift of ledgers and transoms near the base that helps keep the standards in position.

Kwikstageكويك ستيج (Kwikstage)

A system scaffold with V-pressings on the standards that take wedge-ended ledgers and transoms.

L

Ladder accessالوصول بالسلم

A ladder fixed to the scaffold to reach a platform, tied at the top, rising above the landing for a handhold, with a self-closing gate at the top.

Ledger (runner)المدّاد (الرانر)

A horizontal tube along the length of the scaffold that joins the standards at each lift. Also called a runner.

Liftالمنسوب

The vertical distance between two levels of ledgers; also one boarded level of the scaffold.

Load class (duty)فئة الحمل

The working load a platform is designed for, such as light, medium or heavy duty. Never load beyond the class written on the tag.See also: Load classes compared

Loading bayمنصة التحميل

A bay built to land and store materials on the scaffold, designed for the heavier load.See also: Inspection checklists

M

Mid railالدرابزين الأوسط

A second rail between the guardrail and the toe board that closes the gap below the top rail.

Mobile towerالبرج المتحرك

A free-standing tower on castors that is moved between jobs. The castors are locked before anyone climbs.See also: Inspection checklists

O

Outriggerالذراع الخارجي

An arm fixed at the base of a tower that widens its base and makes it more stable.

P

Permit to workتصريح العمل

A written permit from the plant or site owner that lets a job start in a set area under set controls.

Plumbالشاقول

Truly vertical. Standards are set plumb and checked with a level.

Putlog couplerكلبس البوتلوج

A single coupler that fixes a transom or a putlog to a ledger.

Putlog scaffoldسقالة البوتلوج

A single row of standards with putlogs whose flattened ends rest in the wall being built.

R

Rakerالدعامة المائلة الخارجية (الرايكر)

An inclined tube from the ground to the scaffold that props it where ties cannot be fixed.

Ringlockرنغ لوك (Ringlock)

A system scaffold whose standards carry rosettes at set distances; ledgers and braces wedge into the rosettes.

S

Safe working load (SWL)حمل العمل الآمن

The most a part or a piece of lifting equipment may carry in normal use, as given by its maker or design.

Scaffold boardلوح السقالة

A timber or steel board that makes up the platform. Boards are checked for splits, rot and bends before use.

Scaffold designتصميم السقالة

Calculations and drawings for a scaffold outside the standard configurations, prepared by a competent designer.

Scaffold inspectorمفتش السقالات

The person who inspects scaffolds and records the result on the tag and in the register.

Scaffold supervisorمشرف السقالات

The person who directs the crew that erects, alters and dismantles scaffolds, and checks their work.

Scaffold tagبطاقة السقالة

The card at each access point that says whether the scaffold may be used: green safe for use, yellow use with the restriction written on it, red do not use.See also: Tag colours

Self-retracting lifeline (SRL)حبل النجاة ذاتي الارتداد

A fall arrester whose line pulls out and rewinds as you move, and locks in a fall to limit the free fall.

Sole boardلوح الارتكاز

A timber board or plate under the base plates that spreads the load over the ground.

Stair towerبرج السلالم

A tower with flights of stairs and landings that gives safer access than ladders, with handrails on each flight.

Standardالقائم

A vertical tube that carries the scaffold's load down to the base.

System scaffoldالسقالة النظامية

A scaffold built from factory-made parts that lock together instead of loose tubes and couplers. It is built to the maker's instructions.

T

Tag holderحامل البطاقة

The holder fixed at each access point that carries the tag. An empty holder means the scaffold is not ready for use.See also: Tag colours

Temporary worksالأعمال المؤقتة

Structures used to build the permanent works, such as scaffolds, falsework and propping, managed so each is designed, checked and signed before use.

Tieربطة التثبيت

A fixing that holds the scaffold to the building or structure so it cannot move towards or away from it: through, box, lip, reveal and anchor ties.See also: Tie spacing compared

Toe boardلوح القدم

A board on edge along the open edge of a platform that stops tools and materials falling off.

Transom (bearer)العارضة (البيرر)

A short horizontal tube across the width of the scaffold that carries the boards. Also called a bearer.

Tube and coupler (tube and fitting)الأنابيب والكلبسات

A scaffold built from loose steel tubes, 48.3 mm outside diameter, joined with couplers.See also: Scaffold calculators

W

Working platformمنصة العمل

The boarded level people work from, with guardrails and toe boards on every open side.See also: Load classes compared