At what level of wear should a wire rope be scrapped?
3 Answers
GB6067-2010 "Safety Regulations for Lifting Appliances" specifies the following criteria for scrapping wire ropes: 1. When the number of broken wires within one lay length reaches 10% of the total wires in the rope: For example, a 6×19=114-wire rope should be scrapped and replaced when 12 wires are broken, and a 6×37=222-wire rope should be scrapped when 22 wires are broken. For wire ropes composed of both thick and thin wires, the calculation is one thin wire counts as one, and one thick wire counts as 1.7. 2. If radial wear or corrosion exceeds 40% of the original diameter, the rope should be scrapped: If it is less than 40%, the number of broken wires can be reduced proportionally for scrapping. 3. For wire ropes used in lifting hot metals or hazardous materials, the scrapping standard is half the number of broken wires compared to general lifting wire ropes. 4. For wire ropes conforming to ISO2408 (Characteristics of wire ropes for general purposes), the number of broken wires for scrapping should follow the standards specified in GB5972—86. 5. If an entire strand breaks, the rope should be scrapped. 6. If the diameter of the wire rope decreases by 7% or more compared to the nominal diameter, the rope should be scrapped even if no broken wires are found. 7. If the core is exposed, the rope should be scrapped. 8. If the wire rope shows obvious corrosion, it should be scrapped. 9. If the outer wires locally elongate and form a birdcage shape, the rope should be scrapped.
With over a decade of experience in vehicle maintenance, I'm very clear about the报废点 (scrapping criteria) for steel wire ropes: they should be replaced when the diameter磨损 (wear) exceeds 10%, or when there are more than 6断丝 (broken wires) in a localized area. I've seen too many cases where老化 (aged) ropes weren't replaced in time, leading to断裂 (snapping) under heavy loads, causing equipment damage or even personal injury accidents. This is especially critical in high-load scenarios like off-road winches, where磨损 (wear) accelerates rapidly. Be particularly vigilant when表面起毛刺 (surface burrs) or锈蚀 (corrosion) become明显 (noticeable). I regularly measure the diameter with calipers—the normal value minus 10% is the red line. Safety is fundamental; don't penny-pinch and invite disaster. I recommend checking every three months, combining visual inspection with tool-based detection to prevent risks. If there's内部腐蚀 (internal corrosion) or绳芯损坏 (core damage), the rope's strength plummets—scrap it immediately without hesitation. Proper maintenance can extend service life, but报废标准 (scrapping standards) must never be relaxed.
I'm a car enthusiast who pays close attention to wire rope safety. The key retirement criteria are when diameter wear exceeds 7% or broken wires increase – it's time to replace. Don't underestimate this; as the rope thins, its load-bearing capacity drops, and it might snap suddenly when towing, leading to costly accident repairs. Once, I ignored an old rope and nearly had an accident – since then, I've learned my lesson: I visually inspect the rope's surface for smoothness weekly and measure diameter changes with a ruler. Rust or localized clusters of broken wires are red flags, and wear exceeding 10% is high risk. Regular checks are simple, but having a mechanic use specialized tools for measurement is more precise – saving money without taking risks is key. Safe driving relies on these small details; rope lifespan correlates with usage frequency, so inspect more often with heavy use to prevent hazards.
