Wire rope slings

Need information on wire rope slings? Use this page to find out about Australian Standards, splicing, thimbles, angles and inspection.

Wire rope slings are used in a variety of applications and lengths and can be fitted with various end terminations, including:

• thimbles
• soft eyes
• sockets
• swage fittings
• end stop buttons.

Wire rope slings - Australian Standards

All wire rope slings are made to AS1666.1 and shall be individually proof tested. For more information, refer to the following Australian Standards:

• AS1666.1: wire rope slings - product specification
• AS1666.2: wire rope slings- care and use
• AS3569: steel wire ropes product specification
• AS2759: steel wire ropes - use, operation and maintenance. Poured sockets
• AS1138: thimbles for wire rope
• AS3776: lifting components for grade T and grade V chain slings
• AS4991: lifting devices

Advantages of wire rope slings

Wire rope slings are used for lifting and are generally a lot cheaper than chain slings.

Although they can be damaged, wire rope slings can be supplied in longer lengths and higher capacities in excess of Grade T lifting chain.

Wire rope slings can be used to run through sheave blocks where alloy chains cannot. For example, tilt slabs.

Types of terminations

Machine swaged

Slings made with machine swages perform up to 95% of the minimum breaking force of the wire rope used up to 80mm. The pressing ensures the metal of the ferrule flows between the strands of the rope. Soft or thimble eyes can be manufactured.

Machine swaged thimble eye 

Machine swaged soft eye

Australoc

Also known as 'Flemish eyes'. The tapered steel sleeve prevents hand injuries from protruding wires. The Flemish eye ensures equal distribution of load in both parts of the eye.

Ausraloc

Hand spliced

Hand spliced wire rope slings of all types are manufactured. Is it the strongest spliced joint.

Hand spliced

Thimbles

If shackles are used with thimbles, always check the body of the shackle will pass through the thimble eye with enough room for the wire rope.

Types of thimbles

Types of thimbles include:

• solid heart thimble
• normal thimble
• gusseted thimble
• partially closed thimble.

Solid heart thimble

Normal thimble

Gusseted thimbles

Partially closed thimble

Note: solid heart thimbles have a maximum hole that can be drilled. Refer to AS1138

Changes in working load limit

The WLL stamped or tagged on a sling will vary depending on how it is connected to the load.

Changes in WLL

The direct load is 100% of the WLL. This varies as the sling is connected either as a choke or a basket.

Proof testing wire rope slings

All wire rope slings made to AS1666.1 should be proof tested by the manufacturer. The sling must be stamped on the ferrule or a Working Load Limit (WLL) tag attached with the following information:

• Working Load Limit in tonnes (direct load or multileg values)
• manufacturer ID
• test certificate number.

Care, use and inspection of wire rope slings

The operator must visually inspect all slings before and after each lift. A thorough inspection of all slings in use must be made at regular intervals. Inspections must be conducted by a competent person who will inspect the following:

• broken wires (refer to AS1666.2 and AS2759 discard factors)
• corrosion (rust)
• stretching (extended lay)
• kinks (see examples in AS2759) max loss of diameter of 5% of nominal
• more than 33% wear on individual wires
• crushed or flattened sections
• adjacent broken wires
• bird-caging
• high stranding
• heat damage
• damaged thimbles (where fitted)
• other obvious damage.

If any defects are detected, the sling should immediately be withdrawn from service. Don't use it, report it.