BRITISH STANDARD BS 302-4:1987

Stranded steel wire

ropes —
Part 4: Specification for ropes for lifts

UDC 677.721:621.876-83
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 BS 302-4:1987

Committees responsible for this

British Standard

The preparation of this British Standard was entrusted by the Mechanical

Handling Standards Committee (MHE/-) to Technical Committee MHE/2,
upon which the following bodies were represented:

Associated Offices Technical Committee

Association of Supervisory and Executive Engineers
British Coal
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British Ports Association and the National Association of Ports Employers

British Railways Board
British Steel Industry (Wire Section)
Bureau Veritas
Chain Testers Association of Great Britain
Department of the Environment (Property Services Agency)
Federation of Manufacturers of Construction Equipment and Cranes
Federation of Wire Rope Manufacturers of Great Britain
Health and Safety Executive
Institution of Mechanical Engineers
Institution of Mining Engineers
Institution of Mining and Metallurgy
Ministry of Defence
National Association of Lift Makers
Zinc Development Association

This British Standard, having

been prepared under the
direction of the Mechanical
Handling Standards
Committee, was published
under the authority of the
Board of BSI and comes
into effect on
30 June 1987

© BSI 06-1999

First published, as BS 302,

September 1927
First revision, as BS 302 and
BS 621, December 1957
Second revision, as BS 302, Amendments issued since publication
May 1968
Third revision, as BS 302-4, Amd. No. Date of issue Comments
June 1987

The following BSI references

relate to the work on this
standard:
Committee reference MHE/2
Draft for comment 85/70788 DC

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 BS 302-4:1987

Contents

Page
Committees responsible Inside front cover
Foreword ii
Section 1. General
1 Scope 1
2 Definitions 1
3 Compliance 1
4 Material 1
5 Direction of lay 1
6 Diameter and ovality tolerances 1
7 Lubrication 1
8 Wire rope constructions and sizes 1
Section 2. 1370/1770 grade dual tensile rope and 1570 grade
single tensile rope
9 Tensile grade of wires 3
10 Minimum breaking load 3
Section 3. 1180/1770 grade dual tensile rope
11 Tensile grade of wires 5
12 Minimum breaking load 5
Appendix A Recommendations for handling, use and care
of steel wire ropes for electric lifts 7
Table 1 — Rope diameter tolerances 1
Table 2 — Wire rope constructions 2
Table 3 — 6 × 19 construction group: equal lay 3
Table 4 — 8 × 19 construction group: equal lay 4
Table 5 — 6 × 19 construction group: equal lay 5
Table 6 — 8 × 19 construction group: equal lay 6
Publications referred to Inside back cover
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 BS 302-4:1987

Foreword

This Part of BS 302 has been prepared under the direction of the Mechanical
Handling Standards Committee. It is one Part of a combined revision of
BS 302:1968, BS 236:1968, BS 329:1968, BS 330:1968, BS 365:1968 and
BS 3530:1968, which are withdrawn. BS 302 is now published in six Parts and
takes account of both national and international developments since 1968.
This Part (Part 4) specifies requirements for ropes for lifts additional to the
general requirements in Part 1. Other Parts specify the additional requirements
for other particular uses of ropes:
— Part 2: Specification for ropes for general purposes;
— Part 3: Specification for zinc coated ropes for ships;
— Part 5: Specification for ropes for hauling purposes;
— Part 6: Specification for ropes for mine hoisting.
Two further Parts are in preparation, covering larger diameter ropes (64 mm
to 205 mm diameter) and higher strength ropes and will be Parts 7 and 8
respectively.
In line with the principles of international standard ISO 2408, published by the
International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the constructions are
grouped according to the number of outer wires in the strands. The general
requirements of BS 302-1 and the methods used for calculating breaking loads
and approximate masses comply with ISO 2408. In respect of individual usages
the ropes in Parts 2 and 3 are fully in accordance with ISO 2408 and those in
section 2 of Part 4 are in accordance with ISO 4344. In each of these Parts
however, certain additional ropes still in common use in the UK have been
included.
In line with current international practice, the term “zinc coated” has been
adopted in this standard in place of “galvanized”. The terms are synonymous.
Purchasers ordering to BS 302 are advised to specify in their purchasing contract
that the manufacturer operate a quality system in compliance with the
appropriate Part of BS 5750, or suitable equivalent, to ensure themselves that
products claimed to comply with BS 302 consistently achieve the required level of
quality.
Wire rope users will find valuable information in the companion publication
BS 6570 “Code of practice for the selection, care and maintenance of steel wire
ropes”.
A British Standard does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a
contract. Users of British Standards are responsible for their correct application.
Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity
from legal obligations.

Summary of pages
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This document comprises a front cover, an inside front cover, pages i and ii,
pages 1 to 8, an inside back cover and a back cover.
This standard has been updated (see copyright date) and may have had
amendments incorporated. This will be indicated in the amendment table on the
inside front cover.

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 BS 302-4:1987

Section 1. General

1 Scope 4.1.2 Wire finish. The wire shall be bright or

zinc-coated.
This Part of BS 302, which consists of three
NOTE It will need to be stated by the purchaser on his enquiry
sections, specifies the requirements for single and and order if zinc-coated wire is required, otherwise bright wire
dual tensile steel wire ropes for lifts and is for use in will be supplied.
conjunction with BS 302-1. 4.2 Rope core
Section 2 applies to suspension and ancillary ropes
The core shall be of fibre and shall comply with 3.2
for electric lifts which:
of BS 302-1:1987.
a) are new;
4.3 Joints
b) have been modified to use 1370/1770 grade
dual tensile rope; or Wires of over 0.25 mm diameter shall be joined by
welding or brazing. Wires below these sizes shall be
c) are capable of using 1370/1770 grade dual welded, brazed or tucked.
tensile rope.
NOTE 1 Section 2 is generally aligned with ISO 4344 except 5 Direction of lay
that the 1770 grade single tensile ropes which are not used in the
UK are not included. It also aligns with and is complementary to Ropes shall be of right-hand lay or of left-hand lay.
BS 5655-1 which is the English language edition of EN 81-1.
NOTE For economic reasons right-hand lay is preferred and
Section 3 applies to suspension and ancilliary ropes will be supplied. It will need to be stated by the purchaser on his
for existing electric lifts that require replacement enquiry and order if a left-hand lay rope is required.
of 1180/1770 grade ropes and are not capable of
accepting the ropes specified in section 2 with 6 Diameter and ovality tolerances
higher tensile outer wires. 6.1 Diameter tolerances
NOTE 2 The ropes in section 3 were previously specified in
BS 329, and include some non-preferred sizes.
When measured in accordance with Appendix A of
NOTE 3 Information to be given by the purchaser on the BS 302-1:1987, under no load and under a load
enquiry and order is given in Appendix F of BS 302-1:1987. of 10 % of the minimum breaking load (MBL), the
NOTE 4 Recommendations for the handling, use and care of actual diameter shall be equal to the nominal
steel wire ropes for electric lifts are given in Appendix A. diameter with a tolerance in accordance with
NOTE 5 The titles of the publications referred to in this
standard are listed on the inside back cover. Table 1.
Table 1 — Rope diameter tolerances
2 Definitions Rope diameter No load 10 % MBL
For the purposes of this Part of BS 302, the Up to and +6% +4%
definitions given in BS 302-1 apply.
including 10 mm +2% 0%
3 Compliance Over 10 mm +5% +3%
1570 grade and 1370/1770 grade ropes shall comply +2% 0%
with the requirements of sections 1 and 2 of this
6.2 Ovality tolerances
Part and with BS 302-1. 1180/1770 grade ropes shall
comply with the requirements of sections 1 and 3 of The maximum variation between any of the four
this Part and with BS 302-1. measurements made in accordance with Appendix A
of BS 302-1:1987 under no load or under a load
4 Material of 10 % of the minimum breaking load shall not
exceed 3 % of the nominal diameter.
4.1 Wire
4.1.1 General. The wire used for the manufacture of 7 Lubrication
wire ropes to this standard, as shown in
The rope shall be lubricated in stranding and wiped
Table 2, shall comply with sections 1 and 2 of
well back.
BS 2763:1982. The mechanical tests shall be
confined to the tensile strength and torsion The main fibre core shall be adequately lubricated.
requirements. Lubricants shall comply with 3.3 of BS 302-1:1987.

8 Wire rope constructions and sizes

Constructions and size ranges shall be as given in
Table 2.

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 BS 302-4:1987

Table 2 — Wire rope constructions

Rope group Description Size range Typical construction
(diameter)
mm
6 × 19 Six strands, 8 to 12 outer wires in a strand 6 to 22 6 × 19 (9/9/1)
Two or three layers over a king wire 6 × 19 (12/6 + 6F/1)
Wires equal laid
8 × 19 Eight strands, 8 to 12 outer wires in a strand 8 to 22 8 × 19 (9/9/1)
Two or three layers over a king wire 8 × 19 (12/6 + 6F/1)
Wires equal laid
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 BS 302-4:1987

Section 2. 1370/1770 grade dual tensile rope

and 1570 grade single tensile rope
9 Tensile grade of wires b) inners: 1 770 N/mm2.
Excluding filler wires and king wires, the tensile 10 Minimum breaking load
grade for single tensile rope shall
be 1 570 N/mm2 1)and the tensile grade for dual The minimum breaking loads shall be as given in
tensile ropes shall be: Table 3 and Table 4.
a) outers: 1 370 N/mm2; NOTE For guidance, these tables also give approximate masses
of ropes, calculated as in C.2 of BS 302-1:987.
Table 3 — 6 × 19 construction group: equal lay

6 × 19 (9/9/1) FC 6 × 19 (12/6 + 6F/1) FC

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Nominal Minimum breaking force/load of rope corresponding to nominal Approximate mass (fibre cored)
diameter tensile grade of the wires of 1 570 N/mm2 single
tensile; 1 370/1 770 N/mm2 dual tensile; both calculated on a single Natural fibre Man-made fibre
tensile of 1 500 N/mm2
mm kN t kg/100 m kg/100 m
6 17.8 1.81 13.0 12.7
8 31.7 3.23 23.1 22.5
10 49.5 5.05 36.1 35.2
11 59.9 6.11 43.7 42.6
13 83.7 8.53 61.0 59.5
16 127 12.9 92.4 90.1
19 179 18.2 130 127
22 240 24.5 175 170

1)
1 N/mm2 – 1 MPa.

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 BS 302-4:1987

Table 4 — 8 × 19 construction group: equal lay

8 × 19 (9/9/1) FC 8 × 19 (12/6 + 6F/1) FC

Nominal Minimum breaking force/load of rope corresponding to nominal Approximate mass (fibre cored)
diameter tensile grade of the wires of 1 570 N/mm2 single
Natural fibre Man-made fibre
tensile; 1 370/1 770 N/mm2 dual tensile; both calculated on a single
tensile of 1 500 N/mm2

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mm kN t kg/100 m kg/100 m
8 28.1 2.86 22.2 21.7
10 43.9 4.48 34.7 33.9
11 53.2 5.42 42.0 41.0
13 74.3 7.57 58.6 57.3
16 113 11.5 88.8 86.8
19 159 16.2 125 122
22 213 21.7 168 164

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 BS 302-4:1987

Section 3. 1180/1770 grade dual tensile rope

11 Tensile grade of wires 12 Minimum breaking load

Except filler wires and king wires, the tensile grade For the purposes of clause 7 of BS 302-1:1987, the
of wires shall be: minimum breaking loads shall be as given in
a) outers: 1 180 N/mm2; Table 5 and Table 6.
NOTE For guidance, these tables also give approximate masses
b) inners: 1 770 N/mm2. of ropes, calculated as in C.2 of BS 302-1:1987.
Table 5 — 6 × 19 construction group: equal lay

6 × 19 (12/6 + 6F/1) FC 6 × 19 (9/9/1) FC

Nominal Minimum breaking force/load of rope corresponding to nominal Approximate mass (fibre cored)
diameter tensile grade of the wires of 1 370 N/mm2, 1 180/1 770 N/mm2
1 370/1 570 N/mm2 calculated on a single tensile of 1 370 N/mm2 Natural fibre Man-made fibre

mm kN t kg/100 m kg/100 m
6.5 19.2 1.96 15.3 14.9
8 29.1 2.97 23.1 22.5
9.5 41.0 4.18 32.6 31.8
11 55.0 5.61 43.7 42.6
13 76.8 7.83 61.0 59.5
16 116 11.8 92.4 90.1

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 BS 302-4:1987

Table 6 — 8 × 19 construction group: equal lay

8 × 19 (9/9/1) FC 8 × 19 (12/6 + 6F/1) FC

Nominal Minimum breaking force/load of rope corresponding to nominal Approximate mass (fibre cored)
diameter tensile grade of the wires of 1 370 N/mm2, 1 180/1 770 N/mm2,
Natural fibre Man-made fibre
1 370/1 570 N/mm2 calculated on a single tensile of 1 370 N/mm2
mm kN t kg/100 m kg/100 m
8 25.2 2.57 22.2 21.7
9.5 35.6 3.63 31.3 30.6
11 47.7 4.86 42.0 41.0
13 66.6 6.79 58.6 57.3
16 101 10.3 88.8 86.8
19 142 14.5 125 122
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 BS 302-4:1987

Appendix A Recommendations for A.5 Ferrule secured eye terminations

handling, use and care of steel wire Ferrule secured eye terminations fitted to wire
ropes for electric lifts ropes should be in accordance with BS 5281.
A.1 Storage A.6 Installation
The wrappings of a rope should be removed It is recommended that all the ropes of any one lift
immediately after delivery and the rope examined. installation should be taken from one rope-making
(production length).
Ropes should be stored in a cool, dry building whose
temperature is kept reasonably constant to prevent Prior to installation of a new rope, grooves of drums
condensation, and should not be in contact with the sheaves and pulleys should be examined to ensure
floor. Ropes should never be stored where they are that the profile is correct for the size and type of rope
liable to be affected by acid fumes, steam or other to be fitted. Where necessary worn grooves should
corrosive influences. Rope in store should be be machined to the correct profile. A new rope
examined periodically. installed on to a worn sheave will suffer damage
which could greatly reduce its service life.
A.2 Uncoiling and handling
Care should be taken when installing a rope to
Ropes should be paid out from a reel or coil and, to
prevent unlaying of the rope due to rotation of the
prevent the possibility of kinking or disturbance to
free end. This is particularly important with Lang’s
the lay, should be paid out without slack and in a lay ropes.
straight line. A coil of rope should preferably be paid
out from a turntable. A reel of rope should be set up Servings should not be removed without ensuring
with a spindle supported on jacks. A rope should that the lay of the rope will be held.
never be unwound by throwing off turns with the Care should be taken when installing multiple ropes
coil or reel flat on the ground. to ensure tensions are equal, and provision should
Lang’s lay rope is more liable to deform than be made for any necessary length adjustment.
ordinary lay, and will give satisfactory service only After installation ropes should be checked for
if handled with due care. lengths and tensions.
A.3 End fittings A.7 Maintenance
All rope terminations should comply with the Maintenance should comprise regular inspections
appropriate British Standard2). They should be and cleaning, with records kept of any adjustments
strictly compatible with the wire rope, correctly carried out, any defects noted, or any other incident
fitted, tested and certified where applicable. relative to rope performance. The inspection should
A.4 Hand splicing always include any end fittings, with emphasis at
the point of entry.
A thimble or loop splice made in the wire rope
should have at least three tucks with a whole strand
of the rope, and two tucks with one half of the wires
cut out of each strand made under and over, against
the lay of the rope. The splice should be tightly
drawn and neatly made.

2)
i.e. BS 462, BS 463 or BS 464.

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 BS 302-4:1987

Publications referred to

BS 462, Specification for wire rope grips.

BS 463, Sockets for wire ropes.
BS 464, Thimbles for wire ropes.
BS 2763, Specification for round carbon steel wire for wire ropes.
BS 5281, Ferrule secured eye terminations for wire ropes.
BS 5655, Lifts and service lifts.
BS 5655-1, Safety rules for the construction and installation of electric lifts.
BS 5750, Quality systems.
BS 5750-2, Specification for manufacture and installation.
BS 6570, Code of practice for the selection, care and maintenance of steel wire ropes3).
ISO 2408, Steel wire ropes for general purposes — Characteristics3).
ISO 4344, Steel wire ropes for lifts3).
EN 81, Safety rules for the construction and installation of lifts and service lifts.
EN 81-1, Electric lifts.
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3) Referred to in the foreword only.

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 BS 302-4:1987

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