HALO
Sling Selection Guide
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www.WRCA.com
Sling Selection Guide
The first rule when selecting a wire rope sling is that no lift should be considered "routine".
Selecting the proper wire rope sling to meet your lifting needs requires planning. WRCA
recommends the following procedures for deciding the proper sling to meet your lifting needs.
Determine the weight. The weight of the load to be lifted must be known to assure a sling with
the correct rated capacity is selected for the job.
Evaluate the physical parameters of the load. The size of the object to be lifted, and particularly
the location of the lifting points, will affect the sling selection. The location of the center of
gravity is also necessary to determine the sling loadings in multi-leg bridles.
Consideration must also be given to the physical damage of the load as well as providing a positive
attachment. If the load has small corners, protective blocking or "soft corners" must be used to
ensure the sling capacity is not reduced along with providing protection to the object being lifted.
Decide the hitch. The load's shape and size must be accommodated as well as the weight. Keep in
mind that the hitch you choose may affect your choice of sling. Most lifts use one of three basic
hitch configurations:
A Vertical Hitch, or straight hitch, is formed when one eye of the sling is attached
to the lifting hook and the other is attached to the load. The full rated capacity of
the sling may be utilized, but not exceeded, while used in this configuration. A
tagline should be used to prevent load rotation that may damage the sling. When
two or more slings are attached to the same lifting hook the total hitch becomes,
in effect, a lifting bridle, and the load is distributed equally among the individual
slings.
A Choker Hitch is formed when one eye of the sling is attached to the lifting
hook, while the sling itself is drawn through the other eye. The load is placed
inside the "choke" that is created while the sling is drawn tight over the load
through the eye.
Sling Selection Guide
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For increased load control the Double Wrap Choker Hitch configuration is
recommended. This hitch is defined as having one eye of the sling attached to the
lifting hook. The wire rope is securely wrapped around the load prior to drawing
the sling through the other eye. The sling is drawn tight over the entire surface of
the load during lifting.
Choker hitches of all configuration types reduce the lifting capacity of the sling
since the wire rope component's ability to adjust during the lift is affected. A
choker hitch should only be used when the load will not be seriously damaged by
the sling body - or the sling damaged by the load, and when the lift requires the
sling to hug the load. The diameter of the bend where the sling contacts the load
should keep the point of choke against the sling body - never against a splice or
the base of the eye. When a choker hitch is used at an angle of less than 120
degrees the sling choker rated capacity must be adjusted accordingly.
A Basket Hitch is formed when both eyes of the sling are based on the lifting
hook, thereby forming a circular basket of the sling. This type of hitch distributes
the load equally between the two legs of the basket, within limitations.
For increased load control the Double Wrap Basket Hitch configuration is
recommended. This style basket hitch has the wire rope securely wrapped around
the load. The sling is drawn tight over the entire surface of the load during lifting.
Sling Selection Guide
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Lifting device. The lifting device, whatever it is, must have sufficient capacity and be in
proper working condition. The lifting device will also need to provide any maneuverability
required once the load is hoisted. The sling will also need to fit to or on this device. Various
eye configurations and fittings can be supplied with the slings based on the sling type.
Sling length. Determine the longest sling possible for completing the lift. For multi-leg slings
this will provide the smallest angle of spread between the legs resulting in the minimum
stress on the sling. Keep in mind all slings have minimum lengths to which they can be
fabricated. The required length of the sling may affect your choice.
Room to lift. The lifting device must have sufficient headroom to pick up the load and
handle it when the length of the sling is added to the lift point.
Sling body construction. Whether to use a Single-Part, Multi-Part, Cable-Laid, or Grommet
sling will depend on the required capacity and handling characteristics of the sling. With
most slings using a larger diameter component rope will correlate with a high rated
capacity. Based on capacity alone a Multi-Part sling will be more flexible than a single part
sling. The larger the capacity of the sling, the more important this becomes.
Rated capacity chart. Double check the sling length, type, and component rope diameter
you choose, when rigged at the angle you choose, will accommodate the load you will be
lifting. The rated capacity of the sling must never be exceeded. The rated capacity is based
both on sling fabrication components (minimum breaking force of the rope, splicing
efficiency, number of parts of rope, number of legs in sling) and sling application
components (angle of legs, type of hitch, D/d ratios). Per the ASME B30.9 specification
requires the rated capacities for wire rope slings be based on a design factor of 5.
