Wire Rope Slings (ASME B30.9)
A wire rope sling shall be removed from service if conditions such as the following are present:

  • Missing or illegible sling identification.
  • Broken Wires:

    • *For strand-laid and single-part slings, 10 randomly distributed broken wires in one rope lay, or 5 broken wires in one strand in one rope lay.
    *For cable-laid slings, 20 broken wires per lay.
    *For less than eight-part braided slings, 20 broken wires per braid.
    *For eight-part or more than eight braided slings, 40 broken wires per braid.

    • Severe localized abrasion or scraping.
    • Kinking, crushing, bird caging, or any other damage resulting in damage to the rope structure.
    • Evidence of heat damage.
    • End attachments that are cracked, deformed, or worn to the extent that the strength of the sling is substantially affected.
    • Severe corrosion of the rope, end attachments, or fittings.
    • For hooks, removal criteria as stated in ASME B30.10.
    • For rigging hardware, removal criteria as stated in ASME B30.26
    • Other conditions, including visible damage, that cause doubt as to the continued use of the sling.

Nylon Web Slings (ASME B30.9) – A synthetic web sling shall be removed from service if conditions such as the following are present:

  • Missing or illegible sling identification.
  • Acid or caustic burns.
  • Melting or charring of any part of the sling.
  • Holes, tears, cuts, or snags.
  • Broken or worn stitching in load bearing splices.
  • Excessive abrasive wear.
  • Knots in any part of the sling.
  • Discoloration & brittle or stiff areas on any part of the sling, may mean chemical or ultraviolet/sunlight damage.
  • Fittings that are pitted, corroded, cracked, bent, twisted, gouged, or broken.
  • For hooks, removal criteria as stated in ASME B30.10.
  • For rigging hardware, removal criteria as stated in ASME B30.26
  • Other conditions, including visible damage, that cause doubt as to the continued use of the sling.

Polyester Round Slings (ASME B30.9) – A synthetic round sling shall be removed from service if conditions such as the following are present:

  • Missing or illegible sling identification.
  • Acid or caustic burns.
  • Evidence of heat damage.
  • Holes, tears, cuts, abrasive wear, or snags that expose the core yarns.
  • Broken or damaged core yarns.
  • Weld splatter that exposes core yarns.
  • Knots in the roundslings, except for core yarns inside the cover.
  • Fittings that are pitted, corroded, cracked, bent, twisted, gouged, or broken.
  • For hooks, removal criteria as stated in ASME B30.10.
  • For rigging hardware, removal criteria as stated in ASME B30.26.
  • Other conditions, including visible damage, that may cause doubt as to the continued use of the sling.

Alloy Steel Chain Slings(ASME B30.9) – An alloy steel chain sling shall be removed from service if conditions such as the following are present:

  • Missing or illegible sling identification.
  • Cracks or breaks
  • Excessive wear, nicks, or gouges.
  • Stretched chain links or components
  • Bent, twisted, or deformed chain links or components.
  • Evidence of heat damage.
  • Excessive pitting or corrosion.
  • Lack of ability of chain or components to hinge (articulate) freely.
  • Weld splatter.
  • For hooks, removal criteria as stated in ASME B30.10
  • For rigging hardware, removal criteria as stated in ASME B30.26
  • Other conditions, including visible damage, that cause doubt as to the continued use of the sling.

Wire Mesh Slings (ASME B30.9) – A metal mesh sling shall be removed from service if conditions such as the following are present:

  • Missing or illegible sling identification.
  • Broken weld or a broken brazed joint along the sling edge
  • Broken wire in any part of the mesh.
  • Reduction in wire diameter of 25% due to abrasion or 15% due to corrosion.
  • Lack of flexibility due to distortion of the mesh.
  • Distortion of the choker fitting so the depth of the slot is increased by more that 10%
  • Distortion of either end fitting so the width of the eye opening is decreased by more than 10%
  • A 15% reduction of the original cross-sectional area of any point around the hook opening of the end fitting.
  • Visible distortion of either end fitting out of its plane.
  • Cracked end fitting.
  • Slings in which the spirals are locked or without free articulation shall not be used.
  • Fitting that are pitted, corroded, cracked, bent, twisted, gouged, or broken.
  • Other conditions, including visible damage, that cause doubt as to the continued use of the sling.