Ropes

General information

Different types of ropes to cover most usage (basic shelters, mast guying, packing, towing…)

Choose the material according to the use:

• Polypropylene is commonly available and cheap, it serves general purposes. Very sensitive to UV. Dark colour ropes, in particular black, resist UV far more than light colour ropes.

• Polyamide (=Nylon) is very strong (but expensive) and recommended for all traction purposes or for guying masts. High tensile strength ropes are usually made of a braided external tube with an endless fibre core. They are very elastic. Nylon is very sensitive to chemicals and fuels, and also to UV.

• Sisal and hemp are natural fibres, they resist UV very well, but rot easily. Choose as cheap ropes when rotting is not a problem, or when natural fibres are mandatory.

Standard minimum breaking strength, and in brackets the limit of use:

• Polypropylene: 6mm/590kg (200kg) - 8mm/1040 kg (350kg) – 14mm/2990kg (1000kg)

• Polyamide:

• Hemp/Sisal:

Orange or red colour ropes can be useful for area marking.

Black and blue ropes are recommended for outdoors long-term use, for their resistance to UV.

Large quantities are normally purchased per weight instead of length. Nevertheless, a minimum length should also be indicated in the contract.

Some specifications may vary with national standards and local market conditions. For locally sourced items, check the relevant national standards or specifications. Any important variation from the EIC standard needs to be approved by a specialist.

Specifications