Standards Development

Scope

This European Standard specifies the requirements related to safety, methods of ‘fit for the intended use’ assessment and testing of slings made with braided rope constructions (rope slings) and single and multi-leg sling assemblies with such construction, with or without mechanical components, made of man-made-fibers such as Polyester (PES), High-Modulus Polyethylene (HMPE), Polyarylate (LCP), aramid (AR) and combinations hereof and used as lifting accessories. The standard is also applicable to other man-made fibers and combinations hereof.

The fibre rope sling constructions, and assemblies hereof covered by this standard, having a working load limit of maximum 40 tons are intended to be used in general-purpose lifting operations (also referred to as ‘routine’ lifting operations), i.e. when used for lifting objects, materials or goods which require no deviations from the general requirements and working coefficients equal to 7.

The fibre rope sling constructions, and assemblies hereof covered by this standard, having a working load limit greater than 40 tons are intended to be used in engineered lifting operations (also referred to as ‘non-routine’ or ‘complex’ lifting operations; incl. ship-toshore/shore-to-ship operations), i.e. when used for lifting objects, materials and goods in the onshore field of use which require special requirements and working coefficients smaller than 7.

In the exceptional case the fibre rope sling constructions, and assemblies hereof covered by this standard, having a working load limit greater than 40.0 metric tons and are intended to be used in general-purpose lifting operations for lifting objects or material the general requirements for general-purpose lifting slings and working coefficients specified ‘as a general rule’ are applicable.

This European Standard does not apply to types of braided rope constructions designed and intended to be used for:

a) lifting persons, potentially dangerous materials (e.g. molten metal, acids, and glass sheets),

b) towing and recovery of e.g. vehicles,

c) securing and lashing of cargoes,

d) use in chain-like assemblies, consisting of at least three (3) links without mechanical components (e.g. shackles or hooks), and

e) engineered lifting operations in the marine environment, incl. subsea lifting executed by floating crane vessels, incl. crane barges, crane ships, semi-submersible crane vessels and jack-up vessels.

This European Standard deals with the technical requirements to minimize the hazards listed in 4 which can arise during the use of braided rope constructions even when carried out in accordance with the instructions for use and specifications given by the manufacturer or their authorized representative(s).

Purpose

The justification is based on :

• Result of systematic review for EN 1492-4:2004+A1:2008 as covered in CEN/TC168 N783;

• Result of voting on decision 03/2023 to adopt PWI on revision of EN 1492-4:2004+A1:2008 as covered in CEN/TC 168 N 912;

• Gap analyses submitted to CEN/TC 168; 

• Position paper EUROCORD, 12/6/2024,

• Position paper EUROCORD, amendment, 23/10/2024

• Administrative Cooperation Group on Machinery – reporting, 17/10/2024;

• Adopted minutes of the 7th Machinery Expert Group mtg (17/10/2024), 25/4/2025;

• COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION of 20.1.2025 on a standardisation request to the European Committee for Standardization and to the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization as regards machinery and related products in support of Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 of the European Parliament and of the Council; C(2025) 129 final, 20/1/2025; and

• ANNEXES to the COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION on a standardisation request to the European Committee for Standardization and to the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization as regards machinery and related products in support of Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 of the European Parliament; C(2025) 129 final; 20/1/2025