Lashing Straps – Everything you should know
Lashing Straps - Top tips and insights
We all know that lashing straps are used for securing cargo. We know they are an important component of material handling. Yet, did you know that not all straps are created equally?
Lashing straps are made from polyester webbing. This gives them low elongation to ensure they keep loads secured. Polyester webbing is recommended for outdoor use because it’s unaffected by UV radiation. It also holds color longer and resists piling which causes the fabric to fray at the seams.
Polyester and nylon are very similar materials. Nylon absorbs small amounts of water while polyester doesn’t. Due to the water absorption, nylon does not hold dye well, and it tends to fade quickly when exposed to the sun. This also means that nylon takes longer to dry than polyester and may stretch after extended exposure to our harsh South African sun.
Contrary to what you may have thought, the load capacity of a lashing strap is not always represented by the amount of stripes in the weaving. It is always advisable to ask for certification if there is any doubt of the tonnage capacity to prevent straps from breaking and loads being lost.
The most common method of securing loads is lashing down. Lashing down means that the load is ‘pressed firmly’ onto the load floor. When using these types of methods the tension builds in the lashing system. There are a number of factors to take into account when choosing the correct strap for your application:
- Lashing straps can have an elongation varying between 1% to 20%.
- The safe working load on lashing straps is 50% of the rated break load.
- The load capacity is reduced between 15 & 20% after stitching.
- The average tension applied by a hand ratchet is between 600 & 800kg.
Click here To read our article on the quality and safety of lashing equipment
Before loading, straps should be checked for the following:
- Is all the stitching free of damage?
- Are they still within the maximum service life?
- Are they free of damage caused by heat or friction?
- Are they free of cuts, breaks, or protruding threads?
- Are they free of damage caused by exposure to chemicals?
- Are they free of signs of unauthorized repair?
It is advisable to check loads at regular intervals when on long trips as they have the tendency to shift if not correctly secured. In some cases, especially with bagged products like cement, the load will need to be re-secured as the product settles while in transit.