IPAF Categories

January 2008 heralds sweeping changes in the IPAF category system, IPAF has revised the categories in its training programme and is moving to align with the British and International standards BSEN 280 and ISO DIS 16368, standards that regulate the design and manufacture of access platforms worldwide.

From the 1st January 2008 all our IPAF training courses including the open IPAF open courses will reflect these changes.

The category changes do not affect the training received and existing PAL Cards (Powered Access Licences) remain valid as specified. Existing PAL Card holders do not need to get their cards changed.

The new IPAF categories, with abbreviations and brief explanations, are:

Static Vertical (1a): Vertical personnel platforms (static)

Static Boom (1b): Self-propelled booms (outriggers), trailers/push-arounds, vehicle-mounted platforms

Mobile Vertical (3a): Scissor lifts, vertical personnel platforms (mobile)

Mobile Boom (3b): Self-propelled booms

Special (SPECIAL): Airport equipment

The following courses continue unchanged:

• Mast Climbing Work Platforms (MC)
• Insulated Aerial Devices (IAD)
• Telehandler Platforms – Integrated (TPI)
• Harness Use and Inspection (H)
• Loading and Unloading (LOAD)
• MEWPs for Managers (MM)

Current PAL Card holders who need to replace lost cards will be issued duplicate cards with the original categories they have been trained in. This is because the categories listed on the PAL Card reflect the training received. Those who re-train or do upgrades from 1 January 2008 onwards will be issued with the new categories.

Any of our customers unsure of which category of machine they are entitled to operate may contact the office number in their IPAF Log books for clarification.

Static Vertical (1a) (cannot be moved when elevated)

Picture of IPAF static vertical lift