Terminology

There are four main types of mobile scaffold towers: Inclined ladder access towers, Vertical ladder access towers, Stairladder or Stairway towers and Framed access towers.

These towers comprise the following components:-

Adjustable Leg : Each of the four adjustable legs will often take the form of a screwjack device used for levelling a scaffold tower on an uneven surface.

Brace : Cross members of the scaffold tower used to provide the tower with rigidity and strength.

Castor : Utilised when moving a mobile scaffold tower, the four castors are pivoting wheels each incorporating a brake mechanism.

Coupler : The couplers are mechanisms used for fastening the scaffold tubes together in the construction of the scaffold tower.

Frame : The frames are the main structural elements forming a scaffold tower.

Guardrail : The guardrail systems on a scaffold tower are there to provide a safe working enclosure for personnel working on the elevated platform.

Working Platform : The elevated work area of a scaffold tower encompassing a framework with hooks at each end for seating on the scaffold tower frames.  The surface of the working platform is a slip resistant material.  Single width scaffold towers will have a working platform with trapdoor access.

Stabilisers and Outriggers : Used for increasing the safety and stability of the scaffold tower and effectively increasing the towers base dimension in turn allowing it to be built higher (in accordance with the manufacturers instructions).

Toeboard : The toeboard is a barrier surrounding the working platform preventing materials and tools falling down from the top of the scaffold tower.