Sling protection products are designed to aid in the protection of lifting slings during a lifting  application. One of the most common cause of failure of slings, both during use and during inspection  is cutting and damage from abrasive or jagged surfaces. Sling protection can help reduce this problem  by acting as a buffer between the sling and the load. When used with steel slings, they can help protect both the sling and the load from damage. There are two main applications with regards to sling  rotection, abrasion protection and cut protection. Wear pads such as Cordura or ballistic nylon are  often used in the eye of the sling or any part of the sling that may come in contact with the load. Cut  protection and corner protection such the as the LiftGuard sling protectors and Spanset Secutex sleeves  should be used whenever the sling is going around a narrow radius or “sharp” edges or corners.

Definition: “Sharp” Edge

In addition to external factors, such as temperature or mechanical stress, “sharp edges” still represent  one of the main causes of damage to the lifting gearitself and are therefore a frequent cause of accidents. The most damages on sharp or rough edges occur by moving the load transversely to the  lifting gear. If the edge is “sharp”, it can, in the worst case, cut through the lifting gear. If the load  moves to the side, a cutting motion occurs at the edge. Being comparable with the blade of a knife, the  edge can cut through unprotected lifting gear. A sharp edge already exists if the edge radius “r” is  smaller than the thickness of the material “d” of the lifting gear. If the edge radius is under 2 mm,  experts already consider this a “razor-sharp edge”. The definition of “sharp edges” was originally  devised for wire rope attachments, but was not adapted to the development of round slings. This  problem was examined by SpanSet® in cooperation with the trade association and DEKRA in an  extensive series of tests.

THE DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF A SHARP EDGE:

Sharp edge: Edge radius If the edge radius “r” is smaller than the thickness of the at sling/round sling “d”, the edge is  considered “sharp”. Lateral movements or surface pressure can already be enough to sever the lifting  gear.
Sharp edge: Edge Angle In addition to loads with rectangular edges, there are goods with deviating  shapes. These include loads with protruding edges and with sharp or jagged outer contours,  such as cogwheels, turbine blades etc. These edges cannot be determined by the general rule.
Sharp  edge: Edge shape The shape and surface finish of the edges have a significant impact on the durability  of the lifting gear. Very rough surfaces, such as those of a prefabricated concrete component, can very  quickly damage textile lifting gear or a wire rope.

Ballistic Nylon is a thin, 2-ply wear resistant fabric made of bulked nylon fiber, appropriate for wider sleeves, bundling applications and abrasive surfaces.

Liftguard Sling protectors attach with strong magnets to the steel corner and keep the sling from contacting the load. Made of solid nylon, these Magnetic Sling Protectors are only 1/7th the weight of steel, no tools are needed since magnets allow for quick and easy attachment and removal.

“Slings in contact with edges, corners, or protrusions  should be protected with a material of sufficient strength, thickness, and construction to prevent  damage to the sling”
(ANSI/ASME B30.9-1.10.4)