ISO 4309-2017 PDF

Full title and description

ISO 4309:2017 — Cranes — Wire ropes — Care and maintenance, inspection and discard. This international standard gives guidance on correct handling, storage, lubrication, inspection, assessment and discard of steel wire ropes used on cranes, winches and hoists; it includes updated discard criteria, methods for combined-effect assessment and advice on magnetic rope testing (MRT) introduced in the 2017 edition.

Abstract

ISO 4309:2017 establishes general principles for care and maintenance, inspection and discard of steel wire ropes used on cranes and hoists. The 2017 (5th) edition expands discard guidance (including local and general diameter loss and corrosion), introduces magnetic rope testing (MRT) as an aid for detecting internal defects, and provides methods for assessing combined deterioration and for dealing with special cases such as multi‑layer spooling and crossover-zone wear.

General information

• Status: Published — International Standard (confirmed stage).
• Publication date: 30 November 2017 (Edition 5, 2017-11).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 53.020.30 (Accessories for lifting equipment).
• Edition / version: 5 (2017).
• Number of pages: 59 (ISO published document pagination).

Scope

Applies to steel wire ropes used on cranes, winches and hoists for hook, grabbing, magnet, ladle, excavator or stacking duties whether manual, electric or hydraulic. The standard is applicable to a wide range of crane types (including cable/portal cranes, cantilever/jib cranes, deck and floating cranes, mobile cranes, overhead travelling cranes, bridge/portal cranes, railway and tower cranes and offshore cranes) and to ropes used on hoists and hoist blocks. It gives discard criteria for running ropes, special guidance for multi‑layer spooling (crossover zones) and notes limitations for certain combinations (for example exclusive use of synthetic‑lined sheaves with single‑layer spooling).

Key topics and requirements

• Care, handling and storage recommendations to minimise corrosion, contamination and mechanical damage (including lubrication guidance and storage conditions).
• Inspection regimes and record keeping: visual inspection, frequency guidance related to operating conditions and documented inspection records for traceability.
• Discard criteria covering visible broken wires, strand fractures, local and general reduction in rope diameter, corrosion and deformation (kinks, basket, protruding wires, flattened sections), with methods to assess combined deterioration effects.
• Introduction and use of Magnetic Rope Testing (MRT) as an aid for detecting internal broken wires and corrosion, and guidance on combining MRT results with visual inspection when making discard decisions.
• Special-case guidance for multi‑layer spooling (crossover‑zone deterioration is emphasised) and explicit notes where discard criteria are not provided (e.g., exclusive use of synthetic sheaves with single‑layer spooling).
• Examples and annexed material illustrating assessment methods, inspection records and practical discard decision aids (including numerical examples and descriptive figures).

Typical use and users

Used by crane manufacturers, rope manufacturers and suppliers, maintenance and inspection teams, lifting equipment owners and operators, safety officers, competent inspectors and third‑party certifiers. It is applied where consistent, auditable rope‑management and discard decisions are required to manage safety and reliability of lifting operations.

Related standards

ISO 4309 is commonly used alongside other crane and lifting standards such as ISO 4306‑1 (Cranes — Vocabulary), the ISO 9927 series (inspections of cranes) and the ISO 12480 series (safe use of cranes). These standards provide complementary vocabulary, inspection schedules and safe‑use requirements referenced by ISO 4309.

Keywords

wire rope; cranes; hoists; inspection; discard criteria; maintenance; lubrication; magnetic rope testing (MRT); multi‑layer spooling; crossover zone; broken wires; diameter loss; corrosion.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 4309:2017 is an international standard that specifies care, maintenance, inspection and discard criteria for steel wire ropes used on cranes, winches and hoists.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers storage, handling, installation and maintenance recommendations; inspection procedures and record keeping; discard criteria for visible and internal deterioration (including guidance on combining inspection methods); and special guidance for multi‑layer spooling and use of MRT.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Crane and hoist operators, maintenance engineers, lifting equipment inspectors, rope and OEM manufacturers, plant safety managers and regulatory/inspection bodies.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The 2017 edition (Edition 5) replaced the 2010 edition; it is published and listed by ISO as the current (confirmed) international standard (published November 2017). Users should check national/adopted dates if they use a national adoption (e.g., BS, DIN) but the ISO 2017 edition is the latest ISO revision.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: It sits within the body of crane‑related standards and is often used with ISO 4306 (crane vocabulary), the ISO 9927 inspection series and ISO 12480 safe‑use documents, which together support consistent inspection, terminology and safe‑use practices.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Wire rope, inspection, discard, maintenance, cranes, magnetic rope testing (MRT), diameter loss, corrosion, broken wires, multi‑layer spooling.