FORTZA knowledge hub
Crane glossary
The terms used in crane listings, offers and on site, explained briefly. Each term has a direct link and, where there is one, leads to the guide that explains it in depth.
21 terms Technical guides
- Anemometer
- The sensor that measures wind speed at the crane. When the limits set by the manufacturer are exceeded, work with the crane stops.
- CNCIR
- The Romanian National Company for the Inspection of Boilers, Lifting Equipment and Pressure Vessels, which carries out the technical inspections of lifting equipment. In depth
- Counterweight
- Heavy blocks, usually concrete, that balance the crane: on the counter-jib, for the load on the jib, and at the base, for the stability of the whole crane.
- Crane operator
- The certified person who operates the crane. The certificate must match the type of crane used.
- Height under hook
- The vertical distance from the ground to the hook in its highest position. It must exceed the highest point of the building by the room needed for the load and slings. In depth
- Hoist winch
- The motor-and-drum mechanism that winds the hoist rope and raises or lowers the hook.
- ISCIR
- The Romanian State Inspection for Boilers, Pressure Vessels and Lifting Equipment: the authority that sets technical requirements and authorises companies working on lifting equipment. In depth
- Jib length
- The length of the crane’s horizontal jib. It sets the area the crane covers and, together with the tip load, which weights can reach the edge of the site.
- Load at jib tip
- The weight the crane can lift at the end of the jib, at the maximum radius. It is one of the most important values when choosing a crane. In depth
- Load chart
- The manufacturer’s table or graph showing the permitted load at each radius, for a given crane configuration. It is the reference document for every lift. In depth
- Load limiter
- A safety device that prevents lifting more than the crane’s maximum load.
- Maximum load
- The heaviest weight the crane can lift, usually close to the tower. As the load moves away from the tower, the capacity drops. In depth
- Mobile crane
- A crane mounted on a wheeled vehicle, also used to erect and dismantle tower cranes or to unload their components. In depth
- Moment limiter
- A safety device that stops movements that would take the crane beyond its permitted capacity at that radius (the product of load and radius).
- Pre-erection documentation
- The technical documents prepared before erection: the crane position, its configuration, the requirements for the base or foundation, and access and power connection conditions. In depth
- Radio remote control
- The wireless remote with which the operator runs the crane from the ground or from the building, with a direct view of the load. In depth
- Self-climbing crane
- A tower crane that is raised step by step as the building goes up. Used for tall buildings, where erecting it straight to the final height is risky. In depth
- Self-erecting crane
- A crane that raises and folds itself, with no other crane needed for erection and no poured foundation. Suited to smaller sites with limited space or short durations. In depth
- Tower crane
- A crane with a vertical tower and a horizontal jib, mounted on a foundation or on a base with counterweights, for tall buildings and large working areas. It is erected with a mobile crane. In depth
- Trolley
- The part that travels along the jib and carries the hook. Its position sets the working radius.
- Working radius
- The horizontal distance between the crane axis and the point where the load is picked up or set down. The greater the radius, the lower the permitted load. In depth