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Maximum load that a lifting device can safely lift

Safe Working Load (SWL) sometimes stated as the Normal Working Load (NWL) is the maximum safe force that a piece of lifting equipment, lifting device or accessory can exert to lift, suspend, or lower, a given mass without fear of breaking. Usually marked on the equipment by the manufacturer. It is a calculation of the Minimum Breaking Strength (MBS) also known as Minimum Breaking Load (MBL) divided by a safety factor, usually ranging from 4 to 6 on lifting equipment. The factor can be as high as 10:1 or 10 to 1, if the equipment poses a risk to a person's life.

Working Load Limit (WLL) is the maximum working load designed by the manufacturer. This load represents a force that is much less than that required to make the lifting equipment fail or yield. The WLL is calculated by dividing MBL by a safety factor (SF). An example of this would be a chain that has a MBL of 2000 lbf (8.89 kN) would have a SWL or WLL of 400 lbf (1.78 kN) if a safety factor of 5 (5:1, 5 to 1, or 1/5) is used.

The current American standard for lifting and handling devices is Reference (1), which provides minimum structural and mechanical design and electrical component selection criteria for ASME B30.20 below-the-hook lifting devices. The provisions in this Standard apply to the design or modification of below-the-hook lifting devices.

As such:

WLL = MBL / SF

SWL is no longer used to identify the maximum capacity of equipment due to it being too vague and leaving it open for legal issues. The US and European standards switched to The Working Load Limit' standard shortly after.

References

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1) ASME BTH-1 (Below the Hook Lifting Devices)

 

All Non Domestic Stainless Steel strand, cable and wire rope are manufactured to Federal Specs RR-W-410E.  Test certificates are available.   Non-domestic in origin.  Domestic stainless steel cable wire rope also available on request. 
Breaking strength load limits and working load limits are different.  The working load limit is less and generally considered for safety working load usage in applications.  Example, a 500 lbs breaking strength may only have a safe working load limit of 100 lbs.  This safety factor depends on the manufacturer.  Safe working load limits based on manufacturer are available upon request.  For Rigging Purposes uses the manufactures Safe Working Load Limits not the Breaking Strength.

Non Domestic

Domestic

1x19 7x7 7x19 6x19/36 7x7 7x19 6x19 6x36  

Non Domestic Stainless Steel Cable Wire Rope

Stainless Steel Aircraft Cable 1 x 19 Construction

     

Type 304

Type 316

Size

Construction

Wt/1000 Ft. (lbs)

Working
Load Limit
(lbs)

Breaking Strength
(lbs)

Working
Load Limit
(lbs)

Breaking Strength
(lbs)

1/16

1x19

8.5

100

500

96

480

3/32

1x19

20

240

1,200

214

1,070

1/8

1x19

35

420

2,100

378

1,890

5/32

1x19

55

660

3,300

600

3,000

3/16

1x19

77

940

4,700

854

4,270

7/32

1x19

102

1,260

6,300

1,146

5,730

1/4

1x19

135

1,640

8,200

1,492

7,460

 

Stainless Steel Aircraft Cable 7 x 7 Construction

     

Type 304

Type 316

Size

Construction

Wt/1000 Ft. (lbs)

Working
Load Limit
(lbs)

Breaking Strength
(lbs)

Working
Load Limit
(lbs)

Breaking Strength
(lbs) )

3/64

7x7

4.2

54

270

48

240

1/16

7x7

7.6

96

480

84

420

3/32

7x7

16

184

920

162

810

1/8

7x7

28

340

1,700

302

1,510

5/32

7x7

43

500

2,500

454

2,270

3/16

7x7

62

740

3,700

670

3,350

 

Stainless Steel Aircraft Cable 7 x 19 Construction

     

Type 304

Type 316

Size

Construction

Wt/1000 Ft. (lbs)

Working
Load Limit
(lbs)

Breaking Strength
(lbs)

Working
Load Limit
(lbs)

Breaking Strength
(lbs)

3/32

7x19

17

189

920

162

810

1/8

7x19

29

352

1,760

306

1,530

5/32

7x19

45

480

2,400

422

2,110

3/16

7x19

65

740

3,700

642

3,210

1/4

7x19

110

1,280

6,400

1,160

5,600

5/16

7x19

173

1,800

9,000

1,640

8,200

3/8

7x19

243

2,400

12,000

2,200

11,000

 

Stainless Steel Aircraft Cable 6x19/37 Constructions

     

Type 304

Type 316

Size

Construction

Wt/1000 Ft. (lbs)

Working
Load Limit
(lbs)

Breaking Strength
(lbs)

Working
Load Limit
(lbs)

Breaking Strength
(lbs)

3/8

6x19/37

.24

2,400

12,000

2,160

10,800

7/16

6x19/37

.35

3,260

16,300

2,960

14,800

1/2

6x19/37

.46

4,560

22,800

4,100

20,500

9/16

6x19/37

.59

5,700

28,500

5,140

25,700

5/8

6x19/37

.72

7,000

35,000

6,300

31,500

3/4

6x19/37

.92

9,920

49,600

8,920

44,600

7/8

6x19/37

1.42

13,300

66,500

11,980

59,900

1

6x19/37

1.85

17,080

85,400

15,380

76,900

1-1/4

6x19/37

2.90

25,880

129,400

23,300

116,500