The crane operator's rulebook is the complementary technical instruction MIE-AEM-2 of the Lifting and Handling Equipment Regulations, approved by Royal Decree 836/2003. It applies to all tower cranes with a rated moment of more than 15 kN·m, mechanically driven, on building sites and in other applications (article 3). The definitions used in the exam are in article 2.
Types of crane (article 2)
- Crane: a discontinuously operating lifting appliance that lifts and moves in space loads suspended from a hook or other gripping accessory (2.1).
- Tower crane: a slewing jib crane whose rotating jib support is mounted on top of a vertical tower, joined at the bottom to the base (2.3).
- Dismountable tower crane: designed for building sites or other applications and built to withstand frequent assembly, dismantling and moves (2.4).
- Self-erecting tower crane: fitted with the accessories needed to fold and unfold tower and jib quickly (2.5); it is monobloc when the tower is a single block and needs no additional structural elements (2.6).
- Travelling in service (base moving on rails), fixed or stationary (no usable means of travel, or on a foundation) and climbing (installed on the structure of the building and rising by its own means as the construction goes up) (2.7 to 2.9).
The words that appear on the load chart
- Rated load: the one the manufacturer states on the chart (2.31). Maximum load: the maximum mass the crane can lift (2.32). Tip load: the maximum at maximum reach (2.33).
- Load and reach chart: the relationship between loads and reaches for each jib length and each accessory (2.34). Rated moment: the maximum load moment the crane allows at its free-standing height (2.35).
- Height under hook, erection height, free-standing height (the greatest height under hook that is stable in service and out of service without anchors) and maximum height (with tying-in) (2.36 to 2.39).
- Tying-in (arriostramiento): the compulsory anchoring when the crane exceeds the manufacturer's free-standing height (2.28).
- In service and out of service: the crane working, or stable and not working (2.11 and 2.12). Commissioning: the checks and manoeuvres so that an installed crane can start work (2.14).
Who is who (article 2)
- User: whoever uses the crane as owner or lessee, responsible for its use, custody and maintenance (2.19).
- Installing company: the one that erects and dismantles (2.20). Maintenance company: the one that does the periodic maintenance and the repairs other than those that fall to the crane operator (2.21).
- Crane operator (gruista) or tower crane operator: the natural person who has knowledge and authorisation to handle and operate the crane directly (2.22).
- Site manager (jefe de obra): appointed by the user as the person in charge of the site where the crane is installed (2.24).
- Authorised inspection body (OCA): an accredited entity that inspects the crane (2.27).
The general rule for any lifting machine is set by Royal Decree 1215/1997: it must carry a clearly visible indication of its rated load and, if necessary, a plate with the rated load for each configuration (annex I, point 2.b).
Source: Real Decreto 836/2003, ITC MIE-AEM-2 del Reglamento de aparatos de elevación y manutención, grúas torre (tower cranes, consolidated text, in Spanish), articles 2 and 3 · Real Decreto 1215/1997, disposiciones mínimas de seguridad y salud para la utilización de los equipos de trabajo (work equipment, consolidated text, in Spanish), annex I, point 2