Overview
ISO/TS 23624:2021 - "Cranes - Safe use of high-performance fibre ropes in crane applications" provides guidance for selecting, testing, installing and maintaining high-performance fibre ropes (HPFR) used on cranes and winches. It defines performance criteria, qualification testing and best-practice procedures for safe operation, assembly/disassembly, inspection and discard. The specification explicitly excludes hybrid steel/fibre ropes and HPFR used in very high‑risk tasks (e.g., transport of molten metal).
Key topics and requirements
- HPFR selection and performance considerations
- Guidance on rope types, selection criteria and necessary documentation for safe use.
- Emphasis on risk assessment and defined responsibilities for competent persons.
- Qualification testing
- Required testing regimes to evaluate bending fatigue, multilayer spooling, tension fatigue and termination performance.
- Reporting of basic data such as minimum breaking strength (MBS), residual breaking strength (RBS) and residual lifetime.
- Crane design considerations
- Requirements and recommendations for rope terminations, drums, sheaves, grooves, clearances, temperature limits and fleet angles to suit HPFR characteristics.
- Care, maintenance and inspection
- Procedures for installation (stationary and running ropes), routine maintenance, inspection intervals and discard criteria tailored to HPFR behaviour.
- Documentation and competence
- Need for qualification records, HPFR test reports, and proof of competence for personnel performing installation, inspection and maintenance.
Practical applications and users
ISO/TS 23624 is intended for practical use across industries where cranes and winches employ synthetic high-performance fibre ropes. Typical users include:
- Crane manufacturers and designers adapting equipment for HPFR
- Maintenance engineers, inspection bodies and safety managers
- Rope and termination suppliers validating products for crane use
- Crane operators and fleet owners implementing HPFR change‑over or upgrade programs
Benefits of applying the standard:
- Reduced hook‑block weight and improved handling due to lighter ropes
- Lower environmental impact (reduced grease pollution)
- Improved safety through defined qualification and discard procedures
Related standards
- ISO 2307:2019 - Fibre ropes: physical and mechanical properties
- ISO 4309:2017 - Cranes: wire rope care, inspection and discard (for comparison)
- ISO 9554:2019 - Fibre ropes: general specifications
- FEM 5.024 guideline - Industry input referenced in the introduction
Using ISO/TS 23624:2021 helps organizations implement evidence‑based selection, testing and maintenance practices for HPFR in crane and winch applications while aligning with established rope safety frameworks.