TechMeasuRIng

Tips: ElevatorWITh calIpeRs

Industry Tools
Caliper Usage

Rope Diameter sheave surface) due to abrasion, or to

Measuring Devices
Various rope diameter measuring devices
are available that feature either digital or
analog displays. Though Brugg offers no
recommendation as to which type one
should employ, it does strongly recommend
a procedure to accurately and consistently
measure hoist rope diameters.
The Right Way (#1)
Versus The Wrong Way (#2)
Figure #1 details the correct way To
use calipers to measure rope diameter.
one should ALWAYS measure rope size
proceeding from crown to crown (or peak to
peak) on the strands, and NOT as shown in
Image #2, from valley to valley.
help in ascertaining the overall condition of
the hoist rope itself.
Many criteria are used to determine when
one should replace a suspension, governor or
compensation rope (for the North American
elevator industry these are detailed in A
17.1/CSA B44 guidelines). Certainly one of
the more important guidelines concerns the
amount of diameter reduction evident in a
rope. ASME guidelines state that hoist
ropes should be replaced if they meet the
specified diameter reduction — even if no
crown or valley breaks are detected.
For suspension and compensation rope
replacement criteria one should consult
section 8.11.2.1.3.— as it includes
guildelines on the equal distribution of

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broken wires; unequal distribution of
broken wires; if four or five wires, side
Why It Is Important by side, are broken across the crown of
To Do The Job Right. any strand; the existence of unfavorable
Less than attentive measurement conditions such as fretting corrosion
technique used in measuring rope diameter (red dust or rouge), etc. ; if there is more
can render this data of little use in verifying than one valley break per rope lay.
0.3125 in rope diameter reduction. And listing
data incorrectly can make it difficult for
NOTE: For more specific information
review ASME 17.6 “Standard for Elevator
professionals (especially inspectors) to Suspension, Compensation and
formulate opinions on topics such as crown Governor Systems”.
0.3125 in wear (Note: crown wires are those wires
actually making contact with the sheave
groove surface — valley wires are those
located within the valleys of adjacent
strands and do not make contact with the

TABLE 8.11.2.1.3 (cc)(3)

2
Rope Diameter Max. Reduced Diameter* Rope Diameter Max. Reduced Diameter*
in.•mm in.• decimal in.•mm in.•mm in.•decimal in.•mm

0.3014 in 8.0 mm 9/32 • 0.313 • 7.50 5/8 • 16.0 37/64 • 0.578 • 15.00
3/8 • 9.5 11/32 • 0.344 • 8.91 11/16 • 17.5 41/64 • 0.641 • 16.41
10.0 mm 9.38 mm 18.0 mm 16.88 mm

0.3014 in 7/16 • 11.0 13/32 • 0.406 • 10.31 3/4 • 19.0 45/64 • 0.703 • 17.81
12.0 mm 11.25 mm 20.0 mm 18.75 mm
1/2 • 12.7 15/32 • 0.469 • 11.91 22.0 mm 20.63 mm
13.0 mm 12.19 mm 1 • 25.4 15/16 • 0.938 • 23.81
14.0 mm 13.13 mm * Under normal wear conditions
Brugg Lifting_0413

the discard number is 6.25% below nomimal.

9/16 • 14.3 17/32 • 0.531 • 13.41
15.5 mm 14.53 mm

Brugg Lifting • Rome, GA USA • 866.542.7844 • www.bruggrope.com • Brugg Lifting • Birr CH • +41 56 464 42 42 • www.brugglifting.com
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