1.Storing
Ropes should be stored where possible clean and dry, out of directsunlight and away from extreme temperature.
Never store rope on concrete or dirty floors, or drag it over rough ground-dirt, grit picked
up by the rope can work into the strands cutting the inside fibres.
Keep away from chemicals of all types.
When coiling a rope one must should always take care that a right hand laid rope is coiled in a clock-wise direction.
And that a left hand laid rope is coiled in a counter clock-wise direction, so with the lay of the rope.It is best to
lay the rope in a spiral shape by moving each layer by a few centimeters.
The best way to coil a rope is in a "figure 8 shape. This method can be used on both laid and braided ropes,
it avoids the build up of twist in both directions. For laid ropes it is necessary to turn the rope
over the lines axe every second turn, else there will still be tension within the rope.
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2.Pulleys and sheaves
Pulley diameters should always exceed 5 rope diameters in all cases and up to 20 rope diameters in certain high performance fibres.
Especially for lifting operations higher design factors are approperiate.
For synthetic rope it is recommanded that the groove diameter is 10 to 15% larger than the nominal diameter of the rope.
The best possible manner is that the arc of contact with the groove contour can be 150°.
The flange height should be at least 1,5 time the rope diameter to avoid the rope from running off the sheave.
Pulleys must be free to rotate properly and should not be used if they have sharp edges or rough surfaces.
Chocks, bitts, winches, drums and other surfaces against which a rope is to be used should be in good condition and
free of burrs, rust and paint.
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3.Capstans and winches
When a rope is used on a capstan or winch, care should be exercised to avoid surging while the capstan or winch
head is rotating. Excessive surging or slippage causes localised over-heating wich can melt or fuse synthetic
fibres with resulting loss of strength. A risk of deterioration occurs if a rope remains in the same working or
bearing position over long period of use.
It can be reversed one end to the other to spread the wear, or if long enough can be periodically moved to a new bearing
position.
The "furry" look of a well-used synthetic rope is not necessarily an indication of weakness, in fact, that hairy surface
serves to protect the rope.
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4.Retiring ropes
Fibre rope inspection
Apart from rejecting your rope when obviously damaged, it is wise to establish lifetimes of your rope within the parameters
of the use for which it was selected.
This will allow you to retire your rope on a regular scheduled bases, provided of course, that your conditions of usage remain
unchanged. Remember to re-establish your discard criteria if changing rope type, rope material or rope breaking load.
Safety of life and property is the prime consideration.
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5.Rope safety
Never stand in line with a rope under tension. If a rope fails it can recoil with sufficient force to cause serious
injury or even death! Ensure all end terminations are adequate to take shock loads.
Use correct safety factors. Remember to de-rate rope strenghts for incorrect end fitting and wear.
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