WIRE ROPE

INSPECTION OF WIRE ROPE AND

STRUCTURAL STRAND

qualified person and should be based on such factors as:

Wire Rope

expected rope life as determined by experience on the

Carefully conducted inspections are necessary to ascertain

particular installation or similar installations, severity of

the condition of wire rope at various states of it's useful

environment , percentage of capacity lifts, frequency rates

life.  The object of wire rope inspection is to allow for

of operation, and exposure to shock loads.  

removal of the rope from service before the rope's condi 

Periodic inspections with a signed report should be per 

tion, as a result of usage, could post a hazard to continued

formed by an appointed or authorized person.  This

normal operations. 

inspection should cover the entire lenth of rope.  The indi 

The individual making the inspection should be familiar

vidual wire in the strands of the rope should be visible to

with the product and the operation as his judgment is a

this person during the inspection.  Any deterioriation result 

most critical factor.  Various safety codes, regulations, and

ing in appreciable loss of original strength, such as

publications give inspection requirements for specific appli 

described below, should be noted and determination made

cations.

as to whether further use of the rope would constitute a

The following inspection procedure, taken from the ASME

hazard:

B 30 series, serves as a model of typical inspection

Distortion of the rope such as kinking, birdcaging, crush 

requirements.

ing, unstranding, main strand displacement, or core protru 

sion.

Frequent Inspection

Reduction of rope diameter below normal diameter due

All running ropes an slings in service should be visually

to loss of core support, internal or external corrosion, wear

inspected once each working day.  A visual inspection con 

of outside wires.

sists of observation of all rope and end conections which

Severely corroded or broken wires at end connetions.

can reasonably be expected to be in use during daily oper 

Severely corroded, cracked, bent, worn, or improperly

atons.  These visual observations should be concerned

applied end connections.

with discovering gross damage such as listed below, which

Lubrication.

may be an immediate hazard:

Special care should be taken when inspecting portions

Distortion of the rope such as kinking, crushing, 

subjected to rapid deterioration such as the following:

unstranding, birdcaging, main strand displacement or core

Portions in contact with saddles, equalizer sheaves, or

protrusion.

other sheaves where rope travel is limited.

General Corrosion.

Portions of the rope at or near terminal ends where 

Broken or cut strands.

corroded or broken wires may protrude.

Number, distribution and type of visible broken wires.

Rope Replacement

Lubrication

No precise rules can be given for determination of the

Special care should be taken when inspecting portions

exact time for replacement of rope, since many variable

subjected to rapid deterioration such as flange points,

factors are involved.  Continued use in this respect

crossover points and repetitive pickup points on drums.

depends largely upon good judgment by an appointed or

Special care should also be taken when inspecting por 

authorized person in evaluating remaining strength in a

tions subjected to rapid deterioration such as flage points,

used rope, after allowance for deterioration disclosed by

crossover points and repetitive pickup points on drums. 

inspection.  Continued rope operation depends upon this

Special care should also be taken when inspecting certain

remaining strength.

ropes such as:

Conditions such as the following should be sufficient rea 

Rotation resistant ropes such as 19x7 and 8x19,

son for questioning continued use of the rope or increasing

because of their higher susceptibility to damage and

the frequency of inspection.

increased deterioration when working on equipment with

In running ropes, six randomly distributed broken wires

limited design parameters. 

in one lay, or three broken wires in one strand in one lay.

Boom hoist ropes because of the difficulties of inspec 

(The number of wire breaks beyond which concern should

tion and important nature of these ropes.

be shown varies with rope usage and construction.  For

When damage is discovered, the rope should either be

general application 6 and 3 are satisfactory.  Ropes used

removed from service or given an inspection as detailed in

on overhead and gantry cranes (as defined in ASME B 30,

the section below.

2 1983) can be inspected to 12 and 4.  Rotation resistant

Periodic inspection

ropes should be inspected to 4 and 2.)

The inspection frequency should be determined by a 

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