Scaffolding in New Zealand - Best Practice Guideline for
SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION - continued
1.4 Scaffolding terminology
Accessory: A fitting that is able to be attached to a structural member of a scaffold, or to join a structural member to something else.
Access platform: A platform that gives access to and from places of work for persons, materials or equipment.
Act: The Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992.
Adjustable baseplate: A baseplate with an adjustable leg.
Adjustable leg: A threaded bar or tube with nut designed to fit inside a standard to support the load from the standard. Used for levelling in conjunction with a baseplate, U-head or castor.
Adjustable wrench: Crescent or shifter.
Anchorage: Components cast or fixed (temporarily or permanently into the building or structure for the purpose of attaching a scaffold tie and/or a harness system.
Also refers to the holding down system for cantilevered beams when referring to suspended scaffolds or cantilevered scaffold.
Barrow ramp: Scaffold designed with a sloping ramp with cleats to prevent slipping. Used to push a wheel-barrow up and down on. A type of sloping platform.
Basejack: Adjustable baseplate.
Baseplate: A plate of steel that is able to distribute the load from a load-bearing member to a supporting structure.
Bay length: The horizontal distance between two longitudinal-adjacent standards or the horizontal distance between support points on a suspended swinging stage.
Bay width: The horizontal distance between any two transversely adjacent standards or the width of a suspended swing stage.
Beam chaffer: A short length of material, sometimes half round used to protect the sharp edge of a beam when using ropes slings or chains.
Beam clamp: A fitting that is able to secure tube, sling or chain to a universal beam (UB) rolled steel joist (RSJ) or tapered flange beam.
Birdcage scaffold: An independent scaffold generally used to access a large area like a ceiling. Scaffold used to fill in a void.
Building Maintenance Unit (BMU): Prefabricated swinging stage permanently fixed on a building.
Boards: Scaffold plank.
Boatswain's chair: A suspended scaffold of which the platform is a chair or similar device suitable for one person. It can be raised or lowered mechanically or by hand haulage.
Box tie: A tie assembly that is positively fixed to every side of a column or beam.
Brace: A member fixed diagonally to two or more members of a scaffold to provide rigidity to the scaffold.
Bracket: Engineer designed bracket that is attached to a structure to support a scaffold.
Brickguard: A meshed panel secured between standards that hangs between the top guardrail to the deck level. It sometimes incorporates a toeboard.
Butt: A short length of tube commonly fixed to a scaffold and butted up against another structure.
Butterfly coupler: Single double flap coupler.
Butt plank: Standard scaffold planks butted end to end as opposed to lapping.
Cantilevered scaffold: A scaffold that is supported on load-bearing members that are extended from the structure and held within the structure by through bolts or propping.
Castor: A swivelling wheel attached to the lower end of a standard, for the purpose of supporting a moving scaffold.
Catch fan: A cantilevered platform or structure attached to a scaffold to contain falling debris and provide protection below the scaffolding. Also used generically for catch platforms & catch screens
Catch platform: A platform attached to a scaffold, to contain falling debris.
Catch screen: A screen attached to a scaffold to, to contain falling debris.
Certificate of Competence: Under New Zealand law a scaffolder requires a current Certificate of Competence to erect, alter and dismantle notifiable scaffolds. Certificates of Competence are issued in Basic, Advanced and Suspended categories and are endorsed for different types of scaffolding.
Chartered Engineer: A Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng) is a statutory quality mark that indicates a professional engineer's current competence to practice in New Zealand. Chartered Professional Engineers are listed publicly on the CPEng register at www.ipenz.org.nz/ipenz/
Check coupler: A right angle coupler or swivel coupler that is fixed hard up against a load bearing coupler to restrict or prevent slippage of the load bearing coupler along the tube.
Chord: A principal longitudinal member of a scaffold beam or truss.
Column tie: Refer box tie.
Competent person: A person who has the knowledge and skills to carry out a particular task. Skills and knowledge may be acquired through training, qualification, or experience, or a combination of these.
Containment sheeting: Screening attached to a scaffold to prevent the dislodgment of tools and materials from a working platform or to protect the people using the scaffold from the elements.
Counter weight: A weight or series of weights that counterbalance a scaffold against overturning.
Coupler: A fitting that joins two tubes.
Cradle: The portion of a suspended scaffold that incorporates a suspended platform.
Crane: A mechanical lifting machine (tower crane or mobile crane).
Direct supervision: In this context direct supervision means within reach, or within visual contact to ensure immediate assistance can be provided in the event of an emergency.
Dismantle: To disassemble a scaffold.
Dog leg brace: A transverse brace.
DOL: The Department of Labour
Double coupler: A right angle coupler.
Double rope suspension system: A method of suspending a swinging stage or boatswains chair using two ropes per suspension point.
Drop scaffold or Dropper: A hanging scaffold or hung scaffold.
Dunnage: Packing used under a load to allow forklift access or to allow slinging devices to be passed under the load. Can be used to distribute the load or to support part of the load.
Duty scaffold: Live loads permitted on a scaffold bay, (light, medium, heavy or special) people, plant and materials.
Edge protection: A barrier or system to prevent a fall from height.
Egress: Exit an area or work platform. (Opposite to access).
Electrical conductor wires: Power lines.
End to end coupler: A coupler used to join two tubes end to end (joiner, internal or external).
Erection: To assemble a scaffold.
External joiner: A coupler used to join two tubes end to end that fit over the outside of the tubes (must have a separation plate between the tubes).
Eye bolt: A component that attaches to a structure with an eye to enable something to be secured.
Face brace: A longitudinal brace.
Factor of safety: The ratio between the ultimate and permissible stress.
False standard: A puncheon.
Falsework: Any temporary structure used to support a permanent structure while the permanent structure is not self supporting.
Fibre rope: A natural fibre rope used for hand haulage.
Flange clamp: A load-bearing clamp for connecting tube to a flange of a structural steel member.
Footwear: Safety shoes or boots used on construction sites.
Forkhead: U-Head jack used for supporting and locating a standard over a bearer or a bearer over a standard.
Foundations: The support beneath a scaffold or structure that distributes the imposed loads (ground).
Frame scaffold: A scaffold assembled from prefabricated frames, braces and accessories.
Freestanding scaffold: A scaffold that is not attached to any other structure and is stable against overturning on its own account or if necessary assisted by stabilisers, outriggers, or raker or bolster bays.
Fulcrum point: The point of pivot nearest the outside edge of a suspension rig and about which the balancing moments of a suspension rig are calculated.
Gantry: A structure that is primarily intended to support a protection deck or portable building. A gantry can be constructed from scaffolding, structural steel or timber.
Girder clip: A flange clip or beam clamp.
Girder trolley: An assembly that locks over a steel flange but can be rolled along the flange.
Gin wheel: A wheel hung from a scaffold that a rope runs through to raise and lower materials.
Guardrail: A horizontal structural member to prevent persons from falling off any platform, walkway, stairs or landing.
H Frame: A prefabricated frame in the shape of an H.
Hammer: Scaffolders' podger hammer.
Hand balling: Passing equipment from one level of a scaffold to another.
Hand over certificate: A certificate certifying a scaffold safe and giving its individual specifications that the client signs and returns.
Hand rail: A rail to provide handhold on a platform or stairway. It may form part of a guardrail.
Hanging scaffold: A working platform hung by tubes, bolts, fixed rope slings or other methods and not intended for raising or lowering while in use. Also known as hung scaffold.
Height: The distance a person can fall from a scaffold.
Height of scaffold: The vertical distance from the supporting structure to the highest working platform.
Heavy duty: The duty loading of a scaffold to 675kg per bay (men, materials and plant).
Hemping: The process of joining additional standards to the top of existing standards. Also referred to as topping up.
Hoardings: Panels used to partition areas like walkways and perimeter fences - used to contain and protect.
Hoist: Mechanical assembly for raising and lowering personnel or materials (swinging stage motor).
Inboard: The portion of a suspension rig that is on the inside of the fulcrum (tail length) of an outrigger or needle.
Inside Diameter (ID): The distance across the inside of a circular object, pipe or similar.
Internal joiner: An internal end to end coupler for joining two tubes.
Joiner: A coupler for joining two tubes end to end (external and internal).
Joint pin: Same as internal joiner.
Keeper clip: A check coupler.
Key: Scaffold spanner.
Kickboard: A toeboard.
Ladder: An appliance on which a person may ascend or descend, consisting of two stiles joined at regular intervals by cross pieces (cleats, rungs steps or treads).
Ladder access tower: An independent scaffold bay attached to a scaffold with internal ladder access provided.
Ladder beam: A scaffold beam with chord stiffeners at right angles to the chords (a beam in the basic shape as a ladder on its side).
Ladder bracket: A bracket scaffold consisting of two or more ladders that support planks by means of brackets, to provide a working platform.
Ladder clamp: A fitting incorporating a bolt and a nut used to secure a ladder to a scaffold tube.
Landing: A level area providing access to a stairway or ladder, or located at an intermediate level in a system of stairways and landings.
Lanyard: An assembly designed to connect a harness to an anchor point.
Ledger: A horizontal structural member that longitudinally spans between adjacent standards.
Level: A device used to find the vertical, horizontal and sometimes 45 degrees of a scaffolding member.
Lever arm: The distance between the fulcrum point and the centre of gravity of a suspension rig.
Lift: The vertical distance from the supporting surface to the lowest ledger of a scaffold or level at which a platform can be constructed.
Also, the vertical distance between adjacent ledgers of a scaffold at which a platform can be constructed (average lift 2.0m).
Light duty: The duty loading of a scaffold to 225kg per bay (men, materials and plant).
Load limiting device: A device that limits the lifting capacity of a scaffold hoist - usually to a load lighter than the stalling load of the hoist.
Loading bay: A platform on a scaffold for the storage of materials and plant. Also known as a loading platform.
Longitudinal brace: A brace in the vertical plane on the face of a scaffold to stop longitudinal movement of the scaffold.
Mast climber: A mast climbing work platform. A work platform used for temporary purposes to raise personnel and materials to a working position, or to a working floor level by means such as a rack and pinion drive mounted on an extendable mast, which can be tied to a building.
Medium duty: The duty loading of a scaffold to 450kg per bay (men, materials and plant).
Member: Anything that forms part of the scaffold assembly.
Mesh: Screening used on a scaffold to prevent dislodgment of plant and materials and to protect workers from environmental conditions.
Mesh panels: Same as a Brickguard.
Mid rail: A member fixed parallel to and above a platform, between the guardrail and the platform.
Mobile scaffold: An independent freestanding scaffold that is mounted on castors.
Modular scaffold: A prefabricated scaffold assembly with individual components, braces and accessories of set sizes.
Needle: A cantilevered structural member that supports a scaffold.
Ninety degree coupler: A right angle coupler.
Node point: A fixed junction between a ledger or transom and a standard.
Nominal Bore (NB): The inside diameter of a tube (40mm NB).
Notifiable work: Particular hazardous work, as listed in the Health and Safety in Employment Regulations, that must be notified to DOL by way of a written notification form.
Outboard: The portion of a suspension rig that is on the outside of the fulcrum point (overhang).
Outrigger: The member of a suspension rig that acts as a needle or a component that increases the effective base dimension of a tower and is attached to a vertical load bearing member.
Outside Diameter (OD): The distance across the outside of a circular object.
Parallel coupler: A load bearing coupler for making a lap or splice joint between tubes.
Parapet: A vertical element usually located at the edge of a balcony, roof, bridge or similar.
Parapet hook: A clamp or bracket placed over a parapet from which to suspend a scaffold.
Personnel hoist: A mechanical hoist designed to carry people.
Pintle: A projection at the top of a castor that is used to locate the vertical member of a mobile scaffold (150mm minimum stem).
Plan brace: A brace in the horizontal plane that is attached to standards on opposite sides of a scaffold.
Plank: A component used to form a working platform or deck.
Platform: An elevated surface.
Platform bracket: A bracket attached to a scaffold that allows a platform to be placed between the scaffold and the building or structure.
Podger hammer: A steel tool used for the locking and releasing of typical modular scaffolding fixing devices. May have a tapered locating end for centring holes in two objects placed together.
Prefabricated platform: A framed assembly of one bay length, incorporating a walking surface, that is capable of connecting to its support structure (deck or hatch deck).
Prefabricated scaffold: A scaffold assembly from prefabricated components and manufactured so that the components of the scaffold are predetermined.
Producer statement: A suite of documents (PS1-PS4) to provide Building Consent Authorities (BCAs) with reasonable grounds for the issue of a Building Consent or a Code Compliance Certificate.
Prop: A scaffold assembly used to support a load that is adjustable.
Puncheon: A vertical supporting member supported from another structural member of a scaffold.
Putlog: A horizontal structural member spanning between ledgers or standards (tube transom) that is intended to support a platform.
Putlog coupler: A coupler for fixing a putlog to a ledger (single coupler).
Rafter clip: A fitting that is able to fix a timber bearer to a scaffold (e.g. butterfly coupler).
Raker: A component that increases the effective base dimension of a scaffold.
Reduction coupler: A right angle coupler or swivel that is able to join two tubes of different outside diameters (3x2 coupler). It should be marked and clearly identifiable. .
Return: A part of a scaffold set up around a corner of a building or structure.
Return transom: A transom used in modular scaffolding that is able to fix a scaffold return at right angles to the run of scaffold by being secured to or being part of a ledger.
Reveal: Internal side surface of an opening or recess.
Reveal tie: A scaffolding assembly used in compression within a reveal to secure a scaffold to a structure.
Right Angle Coupler (RA): A non swivel load bearing coupler, other than a putlog coupler, for connecting two tubes at right angles.
Roof edge protection: A barrier or system to prevent workers falling from the roof.
Safety harness: Fall arrest device for arresting a fall, consisting of harness, lanyard, shock absorber and scaffold hook.
Safety helmet: Protective headwear.
Safety policy: Statement of intent and commitment to provide a safe place of work and is normally signed by senior management.
Safety rope: A secondary rope.
Safe Working Load (SWL): The maximum load placed upon an item or assembly that is deemed safe, which is well below the breaking load, failure load or maximum load permitted on the item or assembly.
Scaffold: Refer to section 1.1 above.
Scaffolder: A person engaged in erecting, altering or dismantling scaffolding.
Scaffolding equipment: Any component, assembly or machine used for the construction of scaffolding.
Scaffolding hoist: A lifting appliance (manually operated or power operated) through which the suspension rope passes.
Screening: Mesh used on a scaffold to prevent dislodgement of plant and materials and to protect workers from environmental conditions.
Secondary rope: A rope not normally carrying the weight of a cradle, suspended work platform or imposed load but rigged for use as a secondary protective device.
Shackle: A rated component with a removable pin designed to connect a "cable" to a supporting structure (e.g. D shackle or Bow shackle).
Shutter bracket scaffold: A bracket scaffold where the brackets are attached to formwork shutters.
Side rail: A stile on a ladder.
Single coupler: A putlog coupler either single blade or double bladed.
Sleeve coupler: An external end to end coupler.
Sling: A lifting device (e.g. web sling, chains, wire ropes and ropes).
Soleboard or soleplate: A member used to distribute a load through a baseplate to the supporting surface or supporting structure.
Sloping platform: Platforms formed when scaffolding is erected at an angle up or down on or from a conventional level scaffold.
Span: The distance measured along a member between the centre lines of support points (e.g., bearers supporting a scaffold plank).
Spanner: A scaffolding tool for adjusting nuts.
Spirit level: A device used to find the vertical, horizontal and sometimes 45 degrees of a scaffolding member.
Spur: An inclined load-bearing member that transmits a load to another structural member of the scaffold or to a supporting structure.
Spurred scaffold: A scaffold that is partially supported by inclined load-bearing members.
Stability: Security of a scaffold against movement and overturning.
Stabiliser: A component that increases the effective base dimensions of a tower and is attached to a vertical load-bearing member.
Stair tread bracket or fitting A fitting used to fix a stringer in order to support a stair tread to make part of a stair unit.
Stair unit: An assembly of stringers, treads, guardrails and landings used on a scaffold to transport men, material and plant from one level to another.
Stanchion: A vertical member used to support a guardrail, mesh panel or similar.
Standard: A vertical structural member that transmits a load to a supporting surface or structure
Stile: A member in a ladder that supports rungs, steps or treads.
Stillage: A scaffold basket or framework designed to hold scaffolding components.
Stop: An attachment that will limit traversing of a suspended work platform.
Stop end: Guardrails fitted to a scaffold between standards at the end of a bay.
Stringer: An inclined member used to support stair treads.
Strut: A scaffolding member that supports a compressive force.
Stud bracket scaffold: A bracket scaffold of which the brackets are attached to studs of a timber frame building.
Supporting structure: A structure, structural member or foundation that supports a scaffold.
Suspension point: A point at which a suspension rope is connected to a suspension rig.
Suspension rig: A portion of a structure (including a trolley track) that is mounted at a higher level than that of a cradle and supports and positions the cradle.
Suspension rope: A rope carrying the weight of a cradle and supporting the imposed loads.
Swinging stage: A suspended scaffold platform that can be raised or lowered mechanically or by hand haulage.
Swivel coupler: A coupler for connecting two tubes at any angle.
Tank bracket scaffold: A bracket scaffold of which the brackets are able to be attached to the face of a metal tank, duct, boiler, structural beam or similar.
Three by two: A right angle coupler or swivel that is able to join two tubes of different outside diameters (3x2 coupler).
Through tie: A tie assembly that is positively fixed to both sides of an opening through a building or structure.
Tie: A member or assembly of members used to tie a scaffold to a supporting structure.
Tie bar: A member able to be fixed to the cantilevered end of a pair of platform brackets (hop up brackets) to prevent the brackets from spreading and the planks from becoming dislodged.
Toeboard: A scaffold plank, kickboard or purpose designed component fixed on edge at the edge of the platform to prevent materials falling from the platform.
Toeboard clip: A fitting used to secure a toeboard to a standard or stanchion.
Trainee: A trainee scaffolder.
Transom: A horizontal structural member transversely spanning an independent scaffold between standards.
Transverse brace: A brace in a plane that is vertical and at right angles to the building or structure (e.g. dogleg or parallel brace).
Trap door: A hatch or opening platform.
Traversing suspension rig: A suspension rig mounted on wheels or castors supporting a cradle.
Trestle scaffold: A scaffold consisting of trestles and planks.
Trolley: A wheeled mechanism that is able to support an aerial hoist and is capable of travelling along a suspended track.
Trolley track: A suspension rail that supports and guides trolleys in traversing.
Tube and fitting covered way: An independent tube and fitting scaffold that is primarily intended to provide overhead protection.
Uhead jack: A fork head jack.
Uniformly Distributed Load (UDL): A load distributed evenly along the length of a member.
Unit beam: A scaffold beam that incorporates diagonal chord stiffeners.
Vessel scaffolding: Scaffolding that is erected around a structure with a curved profile (e.g. a tank or chimney). It generally encompasses the entire face of the vessel.
Webbing slings: A sling or sling device made of webbing.
Whipping: The wrapping or tying of an end of cut rope to stop fraying or unravelling.
Winch: Mechanical assembly for raising and lowering materials.
Wire rope grips: Bull dog clips.
Working load limit: The maximum working load that may be applied to any component or system, under general conditions of use.
Working platform: A platform that is intended to support persons, materials and equipment.
