ISO 4306-3:2016 as a whole establishes a vocabulary of the most commonly used terms in the field of cranes.

This part of ISO 4306 gives the general definition of a tower crane and illustrates the terminology used with each type of tower crane by the use of figures with referenced term numbers.

It is applicable to

- tower cranes that can be assembled and dismantled (by element or self-erecting cranes),

- permanently erected tower cranes, and

- mobile self-erecting tower cranes.

It is not applicable to

- mobile cranes, or

- erection masts, with or without jibs.