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Characteristics like fatigue resistance and resistance to abrasion
are directly affected by the design of strands. In most strands
with two or more layers of wires, inner layers support outer layers
in such a manner that all wires may slide and adjust freely when
the rope bends. As a general rule, a rope that has strands made
up of a few large wires will be more abrasion resistant and less
fatigue resistant than a rope of the same size made up of strands
with many smaller wires.

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Single Layer. The most common example of the single layer
construction is a 7-wire strand. It has a single-wire center with six
wires of the same diameter around it.
Seale. This construction has two layers of wires around a
center wire with the same number of wires in each layer. All
wires in each layer are the same diameter. The strand is
designed so that the large outer wires rest in the valleys
between the small inner wires.

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Filler Wire. This construction has two layers of uniform-size wire
around a center wire with the inner layer having half the number of
wires as the outer layer. Small filler wires, equal in number to the
inner layer, are laid in the valleys of the inner layer.

Warrington. This construction has two layers with one diameter

of wire in the inner layer, and two diameters of wire alternating
large and small in the outer layer. The larger outer-layer wires
rest in the valleys, and the smaller ones on the crowns, of the
inner layer.

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Combined patterns. When a strand is formed in a single
operation using two or more of the above constructions, it is
referred to as a "combined pattern."

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Standard Rope Classifications
All rope of the same size, grade, and core in each classification
have the same minimum breaking force and weight per
meter. Different constructions within each classification differ in
working characteristics. These characteristics must be
considered whenever you're selecting a rope for a specific
application.
Classification

Wires per strand

6x7

7 through 15

6x19

16 through 26

6x36

27 through 49

6x61

50 through 74

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Special Rope Constructions
Unusual operating conditions often require ropes of special design to
better withstand stresses or environments that would seriously impair
performance of more conventional designs. Ropes that may meet these
needs include the following:
Flex-X. A special process that creates more strand surface
area on each strand to help spread contact, decrease wear,
reduce corrugation and extend service life. With greater surface
area and more steel per diameter than conventional
ropes, Flex.
X provides higher strength and better wear resistance. Its highdensity strands are compacted for extra strength and resistance
to abrasion, crushing, and bending fatigue.

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Special Rope Constructions
TUF-KOTE/PFV. A plastic impregnated wire rope proven to
provide longer service life and a cleaner operation. On the
inside, top-of-the-line wire rope effectively withstands the
demanding pressures of your job. The polymer is applied at
high pressure to force the material into the rope, serving to
cushion the strands, distribute internal stresses, keep in wire
rope lubricant and keep out dirt and debris. On the outside, the
engineered polymer plastic is designed to provide a cleaner
operation and reduces wear on sheaves and drums.

TUF-MAX These shovel ropes are manufactured with an

enhanced coating process that makes them more resistant to
external rope wear and helps extend drum and sheave life.

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Special Rope Constructions
7-Flex. A rope construction that offers improved resistance
to bending fatigue compared to a 6 strand rope of the same
diameter due to a combination of the outer wire size and the
seventh strand. The use of a 26 Warrington Seale (WS) strand
construction provides a good balance of operating
characteristics.
8 strand wire ropes. In general, 8 strand wire ropes are
designed for specialized applications that can take advantage
of their special traits. An 8 strand rope will have smaller
strands and a larger core than a 6 strand rope of the same
diameter. So, it can be expected to display greater
bendability, but lower minimum breaking force due to the
reduction in metallic area of strand cross-sections. A
standard 8 strand rope will be less stable, as a general rule,
than a 6 strand rope and will be more subject to crushing,
especially when it has a fiber core.
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Special Rope Constructions
Flattened (triangular) strand. These ropes feature
"shaped" strands formed so they will close together to
achieve greater metallic area in the rope's cross-section
and greater bearing surface for contact with sheaves and
drums.

Swaged ropes. These ropes offer higher strength than

standard ropes of the same diameter while providing
greater resistance to drum crushing, scrubbing, and
similar surface wear. During manufacture, the rope is
swaged to produce a compact cross-section with
minimum voids and greater surface area.

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Basic Types of Wire Ropes
Bright Wire. Most ropes are made with an uncoated (bright)

wire that is manufactured from high-carbon steel. The

chemistry of the steel used and the practice involved in
drawing the wire are varied to supply the ultimate combination
of tensile strength, fatigue resistance, and wear resistance in
the finished rope.
Stainless steel wire. This is a special alloy containing
approximately 18% chromium and 8% nickel. It has high
resistance to many corrosive conditions.

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Basic Types of Wire Ropes
Galvanized Wire: These are often used to improve corrosion
resistance of wire ropes and are used in wet or corrosive conditions.
Galvanized to finished size wire. This is first drawn as a bright wire to
a predetermined size that's smaller than the required finished wire size. This
wire is then run through the galvanizing line, and the resultant coating of
zinc increases the wire diameter to the finished size. Galvanized to finished
size wire has a strength 10% lower than the same size and type of bright
wire. Ropes made from this wire therefore have a minimum breaking force
that's 10% lower than the equivalent size and grade of bright rope.

Drawn galvanized wire: This is galvanized before the final drawing to

finished size. Since the galvanized coating also goes through the drawing
process, it is much thinner than the coating on galvanized to finished size
wire. Drawn galvanized wires are equal in strength to the same size and
type of bright wire and drawn galvanized rope is equal in strength to the
same size and grade of bright rope.
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Basic Types of Wire Ropes
"Lay" and Rope Design
"Lay" has three meanings in rope design. The first two meanings
are descriptive of the wire and strand positions in the rope. The
third meaning is a length measurement used in manufacturing
and inspection.
Left-hand or Right-hand Lay
Ordinary (Regular) or Lang Lang
Length Measurement

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Basic Types of Wire Ropes
"Lay" and Rope Design
The direction strands lay in the rope -- right or left. In a standard
rope the strands twist around the core like a screw thread. If the
strands twists in the same direction as the right-hand thread then the
rope is in right-hand lay. If the strands twist in the opposite direction
it is in left-hand lay.
The relationship between the direction strands lay in the rope and
the direction wires lay in the strands. If the wires twists in the same
direction as the strands, then the the rope is in Langs lay. If the
wires twist in the opposite direction to that of the strands, then the
rope in ordinary (regular) lay.

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Basic Types of Wire Ropes
Identification of Langs Lay or Ordinary lay

The lay of a rope affects its operational characteristics.

Lang lay is more fatigue resistant and abrasion resistant.
While Regular (Ordinary) lay is more stable and more resistant to
crushing than lang lay.
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Basic Types of Wire Ropes
"Lay" and Rope Design
Lang right-hand

Ordinary right-hand

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Basic Types of Wire Ropes
"Lay" and Rope Design

Lang Left Hand

Ordinary Left Hand

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"Lay" and Rope Design
The length of lay (pitch) of a standard rope is the distance, measured along
the rope, between the crown (highest point) of a strand and the next crown of
that strand along the rope.
This is a measurement frequently used in wire rope inspection. Standards
and regulations require removal when a certain number of broken wires per
rope lay are found.

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Wire Rope Grades
Ropes are available in 3 grades, Improved Plow Steel (IPS), Extra
Improved Plow Steel (XIP) and Extra Extra Improved Plow Steel (XXIP).
The most common grade of rope today is called Extra Improved Plow
Steel Grade (XlP). For most ropes, this will be the grade supplied. XIP
IWRC ropes have a 15% higher minimum breaking force than Improved
Plow Steel Grade (IPS), the former standard strength.
Other grades of wire rope are also available, including Extra Extra
Improved Plow Steel Grade (XXIP). Many equipment designers are
specifying XXIP grade wire rope for the operating ropes on modern
higher-rated equipment. They're taking advantage of its higher
minimum breaking force to help reduce total system weight. New
machines can be designed with higher ratings using smaller diameter
rope due to XXIP's higher strength. Minimum breaking force of XXIP
grade wire rope is 10% higher than XIP grade.
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Preforming
Preforming preshapes strands before the rope is completed.
This process helically shapes the wires and strands into the
shape they will assume in the finished rope. It improves
.
handling and resistance to kinking by conforming the strands
to the position they take in the rope.
The preforming minimizes internal stresses within the rope.
Today, preforming is virtually standard in rope manufacture,
and non-preformed rope is made only on special order.

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Choosing the Right Wire Rope
All wire ropes feature design characteristics. In most cases, a wire
rope cannot increase both fatigue resistance and abrasion
resistance. For example, when we increase fatigue resistance by
selecting a rope with more wires, the rope will have less abrasion
resistance because of its greater number of smaller outer wires.

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Choosing the Right Wire Rope
When you need wire rope with greater abrasion resistance, one
choice is a rope with fewer (and larger) outer wires to reduce the
effects of surface wear. But that means the rope's fatigue
resistance will decrease. That's why you need to choose your wire
rope like you would any other machine, very carefully. You must
consider all operating conditions and rope characteristics.

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The basic characteristics of wire rope
How do you choose the wire rope thats best suited for your
job? The following are the most common characteristics to be
considered when selecting a rope for your application.
Strength.
Fatigue Resistance.
Crushing Resistance.
Resistance to metal loss and deformation.
Resistance to rotation.

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Strength. Wire rope strength is usually measured in tonnes. In
published material, wire rope strength is shown as "nominal"
strength, catalog strength or minimum breaking force. They all
refer to the calculated strength figures that have been accepted
by the wire rope industry.
When placed under tension on a test device, a new rope should
break at a figure equal to or higher than the minimum breaking force
shown for that rope.
The minimum breaking force applies to new, unused rope. A rope
should never operate at or near the minimum breaking force. During
its useful life, a rope loses strength gradually due to natural causes
such as surface wear and metal fatigue.

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Fatigue resistance. Fatigue resistance involves metal fatigue of the wires
that make up a rope. To have high fatigue resistance, wires must be capable
of bending repeatedly under stress - for example, a rope passing over a
sheave.
Increased fatigue resistance is achieved in a rope design by using a large
number of wires. In general, a rope made of many wires will have greater
fatigue resistance than a same-size rope made of fewer, larger wires
because smaller wires have greater ability to bend as the rope passes
over sheaves or around drums. To overcome the effects of fatigue, ropes
must never bend over sheaves or drums with a diameter so small as to
bend wires excessively. There are precise recommendations for sheave
and drum sizes to properly accommodate all sizes and types of ropes.
Every rope is subject to metal fatigue from bending stress while in
operation, and therefore the rope's strength gradually diminishes as the
rope is used.
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Crushing resistance. Crushing is the effect of external pressure
on a rope, which damages it by distorting the cross-section shape
of the rope, its strands or core - or all three.
Crushing resistance therefore is a rope's ability to withstand or resist
external forces, and is a term generally used to express comparison
between ropes.
When a rope is damaged by crushing, the wires, strands and core
are prevented from moving and adjusting normally during operation.
In general, IWRC ropes are more crush resistant than fiber core
ropes. Regular lay ropes are more crush resistant than lang lay
ropes. 6 strand ropes have greater crush resistance than 8 strand
ropes or 19 strand ropes.

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Resistance to metal loss and deformation. Metal loss refers to the
actual wearing away of metal from the outer wires of a rope, and metal
deformation is the changing of the shape of outer wires of a rope.
In general, resistance to metal loss by abrasion (abrasion resistance) refers
to a rope's ability to withstand metal being worn away along its exterior. This
reduces strength of a rope.
The most common form of metal deformation is generally called "peening" since outside wires of a peened rope appear to have been "hammered"
along their exposed surface. Peening usually occurs on drums, caused by
rope-to-rope contact during spooling of the rope on the drum. It may also
occur on sheaves.
Peening causes metal fatigue, which in turn may cause wire failure. The
hammering - which causes the metal of the wire to flow into a new shape realigns the grain structure of the metal, thereby affecting its fatigue
resistance. The out-of-round shape also impairs wire movement when the
rope bends.
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Inspection
All wire ropes will wear out eventually and gradually lose work
capability throughout their service life. That's why periodic
inspections are critical.
Regular inspection of wire rope and equipment should be
performed for three good reasons:
It reveals the rope's condition and indicates the need for
replacement.
It can indicate if you're using the most suitable type of rope.
It makes possible the discovery and correction of faults in equipment
or operation that can cause costly accelerated rope wear.

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Inspection
All wire ropes should be thoroughly inspected at regular
intervals. The longer it has been in service or the more severe
the service, the more thoroughly and frequently it should be
inspected. Be sure to maintain records of each inspection.
Inspections should be carried out by a person who has learned
through special training or practical experience what to look for
and who knows how to judge the importance of any abnormal
conditions they may discover. It is the inspector's responsibility
to obtain and follow the proper inspection criteria.

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What to Look for
Here's what happens when a wire breaks
under tensile load exceeding its strength. It's
typically recognized by the "cup and cone"
appearance at the point of failure. The
necking down of the wire at the point of failure
to form the cup and cone indicates failure has
occurred while the wire retained its ductility.
This is a wire with a distinct fatigue break.
It's recognized by the square end
perpendicular to the wire. This break was
produced by a torsion machine that's used
to measure the ductility. This break is
similar to wire failures in the field caused by
fatigue.
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What to Look For
A wire rope that has been subjected to repeated
bending over sheaves under normal loads. This
results in fatigue breaks in individual wires -these breaks are square and usually in the
crown of the strands.
An example of fatigue failure of a wire rope
subjected to heavy loads over small sheaves.
The breaks in the valleys of the strands are
caused by "strand nicking." There may be
crown breaks, too.

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What to Look For
Here you see a single strand removed from a
wire rope subjected to "strand nicking." This
condition is a result of adjacent strands
rubbing against one another. While this is
normal in a rope's operation, the nicking can
be accentuated by high loads, small sheaves
or loss of core support. The ultimate result
will be individual wire breaks in the valleys of
the strands.

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Typical evidence of Wear and Abuse
A "birdcage" is caused by sudden release of tension
and the resulting rebound of rope. These strands and
wires will not be returned to their original positions.
The rope should be replaced immediately.

A typical failure of a rotary drill line with a poor

cutoff practice. These wires have been subjected to
continued peening, causing fatigue type failures. A
predetermined, regularly scheduled cutoff practice
can help eliminate this type of problem.

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Typical evidence of Wear and Abuse
This is localized wear over an equalized sheave. The
danger here is that it's invisible during the rope's
operation, and that's why you need to inspect this
portion of an operating rope regularly. The rope should
be pulled off the sheave during inspection and bent to
check for broken wires.
This is a wire rope with a high strand -- a condition in
which one or more strands are worn before adjoining
strands. This is caused by improper socketing or
seizing, kinks or dog-legs. It recurs every sixth strand
in a 6 strand rope.
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Typical evidence of Wear and Abuse
A kinked wire rope is shown here. It's caused by
pulling down a loop in a slack line during handling,
installation or operation. Note the distortion of the
strands and individual wires. This rope must be
replaced.
Here's a wire rope that has jumped a sheave. The
rope "curled"as it went over the edge of the
sheave. When you study the wires, you'll see two
types of breaks here: tensile "cup and cone"
breaks and shear breaks that appear to have
been cut on an angle.
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Typical evidence of Wear and Abuse
Drum crushing is caused by small drums, high
loads and multiple winding conditions.

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When to Discard a Rope: To decide when a rope should
be discarded it is necessary to take into account the state of
the rope and the conditions under which it works. As a
general rule ropes should be discarded when any one of
following occurs:
The factor of safety has become too low (when the reserve of strength is
no longer sufficient to ensure that the rope can safely withstand the
repeated shock loads, bends, etc.)
The loss in rope strength due to wear, corrosion, or both is approaching
one-sixth (or 16%) of the original strength.
The outer wires have lost about one-third (or 33%) of their depth as a
result of any form of deterioration.
The rope has become kinked or otherwise deformed, distorted, or
damaged, and the affected part cannot be cut out.
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When to Discard a Rope
The rope has been subjected to a severe overwind or overload, or to
severe shock loading, as a result of an accident.
An examination or NDT of the rope leaves any doubt as to its safety on
any grounds.
A rope, which is still in good condition, reaches its maximum statutory
life or the maximum life specified by a competent person.
The loss in rope strength due to fatigue, corrosion-fatigue, surface
embrittlement, cracked or broken wires of any kind, is approaching onetenth (or 10%) of the original strength. The loss in strength may be
estimated by regarding all broken or cracked wires within a length of two
rope lays as no longer contributing any strength to that part of the rope.

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Removal Criteria
A major portion of any wire rope inspection is the detection of broken
wires. The number and type of broken wires are an indication of the
rope's general condition and a benchmark for its replacement.
Frequent inspections and written records help determine the rate at
which wires are breaking. Replace the rope when the values given in the
table are reached.
Valley wire breaks -- where the wire fractures between strands or a
broken wire protrudes between strands -- are treated differently than
those that occur on the outer surface of the rope. When there is more
than one valley break, replace the rope.
Broken wire removal criteria cited in many standards and specifications,
apply to wire ropes operating on steel sheaves and drums. For wire
ropes operating on sheaves and drums made with material other than
steel, please contact the sheave, drum or equipment manufacturer or a
qualified person for proper broken wire removal criteria.
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Table - Removal Criteria

NO OFBROKEN WIRES IN
RUNNING ROPE

NO OF BROKEN WIRES
IN STANDING ROPES

Standard

Equipment

In one
rope lay

In one
strand

At end
connection

In one rope
lay

ASME/B30.2

Overhead and gantry

cranes

12**

Not
specified

Not specified

ASME/B30.4

Portal, tower & pillar

cranes

6**

ASME/B30.5

Mobile
cranes

Running ropes

6**

Rotation
resistant ropes

2 randomly distributed broken wires in 6 rope diameter or 4

randomly distributed broken wires in 30 rope diameter.**

At end
connection

ASME/B30.6

Derricks

6**

ASME/B30.7

Base-mount drum hoists

6**

ASME/B30.8

Floating cranes &

derricks

6**

ASME/B30.16

Overhead hoists

12**

N/S

Not Specified

ANSI/A10.4

Personnel hoists

6**

2**

6**

Not Specified

ANSI/A10.5
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Also remove for one (1) valley break

Not Specified

Extending Rope Service Life

How long will your rope last?
There is not a simple answer but, rather, there are
several factors involved, including:
The manner in which you install and "break in " your new
rope.
The operating technique and work habits of the machine
operators.
Physical maintenance of the rope throughout its service life.
Physical maintenance of the system in which your rope
operates.

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Extending Rope Service Life

Rope Installation
Install your rope correctly. The primary concern when installing
a new rope is to not trap any twist in the rope system. Proper
handling of the rope from the reel or coil to your equipment will
help avoid this situation. Another important step on smooth faced
drums is to spool with wraps tight and close together on the first
layer. This layer forms the foundation for succeeding layers.
Finally, spool the remaining rope on the drum with tension
approximating 1% to 2% of the rope's minimum breaking force.
Break in your new rope properly. When you install a new
operating rope, you should first run it for a brief period of time with
no load. Then, for best results, run it under controlled loads and
speeds to enable the wires and strands in the rope to adjust to
themselves.
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Extending Rope Service Life

Rope Installation
"Constructional" stretch. When first put into service, new
ropes normally elongate while strands go through a process of
seating with one another and with the rope core. This is called
"constructional" stretch because it is inherent in the construction
of the rope, and the amount of elongation may vary from one
rope to another. For standard ropes, this stretch will be about
1/4% to 1% of the rope's length. When constructional stretch
needs to be minimized, ropes may be factory prestretched.
Please specify when placing your order.

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Extending Rope Service Life

Cut off ends to move wear points.
If you observe wear developing in a localized area, it may be beneficial to cut off
short lengths of rope. This may require an original length slightly longer than you
normally use. When severe abrasion or numerous fatigue breaks occur near one
end or at any one concentrated area -- such as drag ropes on draglines or closing
lines in clamshell buckets, for example -- the movement of this worn section can
prolong rope life.
Wire breaks from vibration fatigue occur at end terminations, so short lengths cut
off there with reattachment of the socket may prolong the rope's life. When broken
wires are found, you should cut off sections of rope. In the case of a socket, you
should cut off at least five or six feet. In the case of clips or clamps, you should cut
off the entire length covered by them.
Where there is an equalizing sheave, such as that found in many overhead cranes,
fatigue is localized at rope tangency points to the equalizing sheave. Rope life will
be increased if you shift this point by cutting off a short length at the end of one of
the drums. Be sure to make this cutoff before significant wear occurs at the
equalizing sheave, and always do so at the same drum.
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Extending Rope Service Life

Extending Rope Service
Reversing ends.
Frequently, the most severe deterioration occurs at a point too
far from the end or is too long to allow the worn section to be cut
off. In such cases, you may turn the rope end for end to bring a
less worn section into the area where conditions are most
damaging. This practice is beneficial for incline rope and
draglines. The change must be made well before the wear
reaches the removal criteria. When changing ends, be careful to
avoid kinking or otherwise damaging the rope.

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Extending Rope Service Life

Extending Rope Service
Lubrication.
Wire ropes are lubricated during manufacture so that the
strands -- as well as the individual wires in the strands -- may
move and adjust as the rope moves and bends. But no wire
rope can be lubricated sufficiently during manufacture to last its
entire life. That's why it's important to lubricate periodically
throughout the life of the rope.
The surface of some ropes may become covered with dirt, rock
dust or other material during their operation. This can prevent
field-applied lubricants from properly penetrating into the rope,
so it's a good practice to clean these ropes before you lubricate
them.
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Extending Rope Service Life

Extending Rope Service
Lubrication
The lubricant you apply should be light-bodied enough to
penetrate to the rope's core. You can normally apply lubricant
by using one of three methods: drip it on rope, spray it on or
brush it on. In all cases, you should apply it at a place where
the rope is bending such as around a sheave. Apply
lubrication at the top of the bend because that's where the
rope's strands are spread by bending and more easily
penetrated. In addition, there are pressure lubricators
available commercially. Your rope's service life will be directly
proportional to the effectiveness of the method you use and
the amount of lubricant that reaches the rope's working parts.

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Extending Rope Service Life

Lubrication

A proper lubricant must reduce friction, protect against corrosion and

adhere to every wire. It should also be pliable and not crack or separate
when cold yet not drip when warm. Never apply heavy grease to the rope
because it can trap excessive grit, which can damage the rope. Nor
should you apply used "engine oil" because it contains materials that can
damage the rope.

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Extending Rope Service Life

Warning. In the real world, accidents do happen, and that's why
you need to take special precautions. Before installing wire rope in
your applications, always read and follow the warning label attached
to each product.
Wire rope WILL FAIL, if worn-out, overloaded, misused, damaged, improperly
maintained or abused.
Wire rope failure may cause serious injury or death!
Protect yourself and others:
ALWAYS INSPECT wire rope for WEAR, DAMAGE or ABUSE BEFORE USE.
NEVER USE wire rope that is WORN-OUT, DAMAGED OR ABUSED.
INFORM YOURSELF: Read and understand manufacturer's literature.
REFER TO APPLICABLE CODES, STANDARDS and REGULATIONS for INSPECTION
REQUIREMENT and REMOVAL CRITERIA.

For additional information, ask wire rope supplier.

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Wire Rope Slings

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Types of Slings
Wire Rope
Socket
Poured
Spelter or
Resin

Wire
Rope
Socket
Swaged

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Mechanical
Splice
oop or
Thimble

Loop or
Thimble
Splice
Hand
Tucked

Wedge
Socket

Clips

:LUH5RSH6OLQJV
How to Use a Sling
Vertical: hitches are made directly from the
crane hook to the load. Full rated capacity of
the sling may be used but never exceeded. A
tagline should be attached to prevent rotation
which can damage the sling. A sling with a
hand-tucked splice can unlay and fail if the
sling is allowed to rotate.

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How to Use a Sling
Choker: hitches reduce lifting capability of a
sling, since this method of rigging affects the
ability of the wire rope components to adjust
during the lift, places angular loading on the
body of the sling, and creates a small
diameter bend in the body at the choke point.

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How to Use a Sling
Basket: hitches distribute a load equally
between the two legs of a sling. Rated
capacities are influenced by sling
angles.

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Rated Capacity of Sling
Sling angles have a direct affect on the rated capacity of a sling. This
angle, which is measured between a horizontal line and the sling leg or body, may
apply to a single leg sling in an angled vertical or basket hitch, or to a multi-legged
bridle sling. Anytime pull is exerted at an angle on a leg, the tension or stress on
each leg is increased. To illustrate, each sling leg in a vertical basket hitch absorbs
500 lbs. of stress from a 1,000 lb. load. The same load, when lifted in a 60 degree
basket hitch, exerts 577 lbs. of tension on each leg.

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Rated Capacity of Sling
Actual Sling Capacity = Factor x Rated Capacity

It is critical therefore, that rated capacities be reduced to account for sling

angles. Angles less than 45 degrees are not recommended and those below
30 degrees should be avoided whenever possible. Use the formula and
chart shown below to calculate the reduction in rated capacities caused by
various sling angles.

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Rated Capacity of Sling
Rated capacity of a wire rope sling is based upon the nominal or
catalog strength of the wire rope and factors affecting the overall
strength. These factors include termination efficiencies (see chart),
type of hitch, number of rope parts in the sling body, diameter around
which the sling is bent, and diameter of the pin or hook over which the
sling eye is placed.

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Rated Capacity of Sling Chart
Termination Efficiencies (Approximate)
Applicable to nominal wire rope breaking strengths

Type of Termination

Efficiency
IWRC1

FC2

Wire Rope Socket (Spelter or Resin)

100%

100%

Swaged Socket (Regular Lay Ropes Only)

100%

NR

Mechanical Spliced Sheeve (Flemish Eye)

1 diameter and smaller
Greater than 1 diameter thru 2
Greater than 2 diameter thru 31/2

95%
92.5%
90%

92.5%
90%
NE

90%
89%
88%
87%
86%
84%
82%
80%

90%
89%
88%
87%
86%
84%
82%
80%

Loop or Thimbles SpliceHand Spliced (Tucked)

(Carbon Steel Rope)

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5/16
3/8
7/16

5/8

7/8 thru 2.5

continued

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Rated Capacity of Sling Chart
Wedge Sockets3
(Depending on Design)

75 to 80%

75 to 80%

Clips1
(Depending on Design)

80%

80%

1.
2.
3.

IWRC = Independent Wire Rope Core

FC = Fiber Core
Typical values when applied properly. Refer to fitting manufacturer for exact values
and method.

NR
NE

Not Recommended
Not Established

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Precautions while using Slings
Never force the eye of a sling onto a hook or pin that has a diameter
larger than the natural width of the eye. Also avoid placing a sling eye
onto a hook or pin whose diameter is less than the diameter of the
sling body.
Rated capacities of fittings and attachments must be equal to or
greater than that of the wire rope sling.
Never "shock load" a sling. The actual force caused by a sudden
application of load can easily exceed rated capacities and damage a
sling. Abruptly releasing a load can also damage the sling.
Protect the sling body against sharp edges and corners of loads,
protrusions or abrasive surfaces. Sharp bends can distort wire rope
and reduce its strength.

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Precautions while using Slings
Fiber core wire rope slings should never be exposed to temperatures
exceeding 200 degrees F. Avoid using IWRC wire rope slings at
temperatures above 400 degrees F or below -60 degrees F.
Slings are susceptible to damage and strength loss when used in
chemically active environments.
Slings fabricated with a hand tucked splice can unravel and fail if the
sling is allowed to rotate during use.
Do not drag slings across floors or pull from underneath loads.
Avoid twists, kinks and knots before lifting.
Store wire rope slings where they will not be subjected to dirt,
moisture, extreme heat, corrosion or mechanical damage.

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