What’s the meaning of Working Load Limit, Breaking Strength and Safety Factor?
You can always see some parameters on the load-bearing equipment and do not know what are they? So, today we are going to talk about 3 parameters: working load limit, breaking strength, and safety factor.
When you get a ratchet strap and you can see there is a label sewn on the polyester cargo webbing. There marked some numbers and you may be confused about what do they mean? The work load limit and break strength means working ability of the tie down straps in your hand and let us explain them in details
What does the working load limit mean?
For a beginner who just starts to learn the working load limit, they may mix this property with break strength. Working load limit sometimes marked as W.L.L, this is the maximun loading force that you can never exceed when you use the ratchet strap to load something. So, take care to check the working load limit before you use the load-bearing products to secure your cargo.
What does breaking strength mean?
Breaking strength is another parameter marked on the label and this is also very important information before you use a ratchet tie-down strap. If your loading weight exceeds the working load limit, then the cargo strap will fail or crack and may cause danger. So, never use a ratchet belt strap to exceed the break strength.
Also, please note that the cargo tie down strap is made up of ratchet, strap hook, polyester webbing and you need to refer to the lowest breaking strength among them. For example, if the strap hook and polyester webbing have 8000lbs break strength, but your ratchet only has 6000lbs breaking strength, then the entire breaking strength of the cargo tie down strap is only 6000lbs. But if these 3 parts have 8000lbs break strength for each, then the entire tie-down strap has 8000lbs break strength.
What does the safety factor mean?
Safety factors determine the ratio between the working load limit and break strength and why the loading strap designed has a safety factor, because this is the allowance for shocking or some other unforeseeable factor. If only designed the working load limit, then you load something, the strap is very easy to break and can not protect your loads securely.
Some suggestion before using the cargo tie-down strap
Checking if the cargo tie down strap is in a good condition is the most important before using them, here is some point you can refer to:
- If there are some cuts, tears, holes
- If it is not in the original status and already bent
- If it is melted or burned
- If it is burned by acids or alkalis
- If it is already worn out
- Other visible damages
Each loading bearing product has its own characters, you may check the parameters marked on it before using it. Webslingness provides thousands of tie-down straps and loading straps to fit your specific needs. No matter you need bulk ratchet straps or in small quantities to start up your business, we all can support you. You can give us a Call or WhatsApp us at (0086) 1505 1715 196 or send your detailed request to: info@webslingness.com, you can also chat with us online by clicking the bottom right corner.
