A Webbing Sling Breaking Strain Guide

Webbing slings are just one alternative to other forms of lifting gear and equipment such as wire rope. While they have their own unique set of qualities, they also have their own unique set of considerations too. One of the most important things to think about with any piece of lifting equipment is the breakage point of that piece, and so below you will find a webbing sling breaking strain guide.

Factors to consider with webbing slings

Webbing slings have been designed as an alternative to offer their users an entirely new set of advantages and benefits. They are more flexible and lightweight pieces of lifting equipment, meaning they are much easier to transport around worksites and can wrap around odd shaped loads much easier. However, this more lightweight nature comes from a lighter, less sturdy material being used. Webbing slings are traditionally woven from fabric or polyester, and while they are strong enough to carry out many lifting tasks, their breaking strain will be at a much lower point than other pieces of lifting gear. It is also important to note that webbing slings are constructed in a different way to wire rope. Wire rope is made up of several wires and several strands so, should one break, it is technically possible to carry on using it until you complete the task. Webbing slings aren’t the same, and don’t have this “fail safe” mechanism. If the webbing sling snaps, then it snaps completely. This is why it is even more crucially important that you follow the specifications and webbing sling breaking strain limits that are given to you.

Working load limit and safe working load

Two important terms within the lifting gear industry are “working load limit” and “safe working load”, and both of these terms apply to webbing slings too. The working load limit refers to the absolute maximum that your webbing sling will be able to handle before it breaks. Even the smallest weight over this will result in a pretty dramatic snapping! The safe working load, on the other hand, is the limit that has been deemed to be safe by testers and manufacturers to operate at. It will be well below the maximum that your webbing sling is able to handle, but this has been done to ensure that you webbing sling has as long a service life as possible.

The colour codes of webbing slings

Unlike other pieces of lifting equipment, such as wire rope, webbing slings are actually designed and coloured in different ways to quickly indicate to the user its weight capabilities and breaking strain limits. These colour codes are universal, so no matter who you shop with (although we hope it’s us!), you’ll know the exact strengths of your webbing slings. The colour codes are as follows: ·         Purple – 1 tonne ·         Green – 2 tonnes ·         Yellow – 3 tonnes ·         Grey – 4 tonnes ·         Red – 5 tonnes ·         Brown – 6 tonnes ·         Blue – 8 tonnes ·         Orange – 10 tonnes The above shows the webbing slings that we stock at Rope Services Direct, as well as the colour guide

Looking to buy webbing slings?

If you are looking to purchase reliably manufactured and long-lasting webbing slings, or perhaps you would like to know more about the lifting capabilities of webbing slings, then we would be more than happy to help. You can either call us on 01384 78004, or find our other contact details listed here.