BRITISH STANDARD BS 4018:1966

Incorporating
amendment issued
March 1970
(AMD 461)

Specification for

Pulley blocks for use

Licensed Copy: :FULLNAME, : DATE, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

with wire rope —

For a maximum lift of 25 tonf in
combination
 BS 4018:1966

Co-operating organizations

The Mechanical Engineering Industry Standards Committee, under whose

supervision this British Standard was prepared, consists of representatives
from the following Government departments and scientific and industrial
organizations:

Associated Offices’ Technical Committee* Institution of Heating and Ventilating

Association of Consulting Engineers Engineers
Association of Mining Electrical and Institution of Mechanical Engineers
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Mechanical Engineers Institution of Mechanical Engineers

Board of Trade
British Chemical Plant Manufacturers’
Association
British Compressed Air Society
British Electrical and Allied
Manufacturers’ Association
British Gear Manufacturers’ Association
British Internal Combustion Engine
Manufacturers’ Association
British Iron and Steel Federation
British Mechanical Engineering Federation
British Railways Board
Crown Agents for Oversea Governments
and Administrations
Electricity Council, the Generating Board and
the Area Boards in England and Wales*
Engineering Equipment Users’ Association*
Gas Council
Institute of Marine Engineers
Institution of Civil Engineers
Institution of Gas Engineers
(Automobile Division)
Institution of Production Engineers
Locomotive and Allied Manufacturers’
Association of Great Britain
London Transport Board
Machine Tool Trades Association
Ministry of Defence, Army Department*
Ministry of Defence, Navy Department*
Ministry of Labour (H.M. Factory
Inspectorate)*
Ministry of Power
Ministry of Public Building and Works
Ministry of Technology — National
Engineering Laboratory
Ministry of Transport
National Coal Board
National Physical Laboratory (Ministry
of Technology)
Radio Industry Council
Royal Institute of British Architects

The Government departments and scientific and industrial organizations

marked with an asterisk in the above list, together with the following, were
directly represented on the committee entrusted with the preparation of this
standard:

British Constructional Steelwork Association Machine Made Chain Manufacturers’

This British Standard, having
been approved by the
Mechanical Engineering
Industry Standards Committee
and endorsed by the Chairman
of the Engineering Divisional
Council, was published under
the authority of the General
Council on
27 May 1966
© BSI 02-2000
Chain Testers Association of Great Britain Association
Council of British Manufacturers National Association of Iron and Steel
of Petroleum Equipment Stockholders
Dock and Harbour Authorities Association National Federation of Building Trades
Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors Employers
Federation of Wire Rope Manufacturers National Federation of Demolition
of Great Britain Contractors
Honourable Company of Master Mariners North East Coast Institution of Engineers
Institution of Plant Engineers and Shipbuilders
Lifting Equipment Manufacturers’ Post Office
Association Individual makers and users
Lloyd’s Register of Shipping
Amendments issued since publication
Amd. No. Date Comments

The following BSI references 461 March 1970 Indicated by a sideline in the margin
relate to the work on this
standard:
Committee references MEE/64,
MEE/64/6
Draft for comment D64/2091

ISBN 0 580 35626 4

 BS 4018:1966

Contents

Page
Co-operating organizations Inside front cover
Foreword ii
1 Scope 1
2 Definitions 1
3 Design 3
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4 Material 4
5 Block shell 5
6 Shanks of hooks and eyes 5
7 Screw threads 5
8 Head fittings 5
9 Heat treatment 5
10 Axle pins 5
11 Lubrication 6
12 Sheaves 6
13 Becket 6
14 Locking nuts 6
15 Proof load 6
16 Type test 7
17 Examination after proof loading 7
18 Marking 7
19 Certificate of test and examination 8
Appendix A Recommendations relating to contracts 10
Appendix B Details which should be agreed between
the purchaser and the supplier 10
Appendix C Requirements for testing machines 10
Appendix D Care and maintenance of wire rope pulley blocks 10
Appendix E Marking of safe working load per rope part 11
Figure 1 — Wire rope pulley block components 2
Figure 2 — Falls of rope 3
Table 1 — Safe working loads of rigs 9

© BSI 02-2000 i
 BS 4018:1966

Foreword

This standard makes reference to the following British Standards:

BS 302, BS 621, Steel wire ropes for cranes, excavators and general engineering
purposes.
BS 592, (Included in BS 3100) Steel castings for general engineering purposes.
BS 919, Screw gauge limits and tolerances.
BS 970, Wrought steels in the form of bars, billets and forgings up to 6 in ruling
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section, for automobile and general engineering purposes. En series.

BS 1452, Grey iron castings.
BS 1486, Lubricating nipples. Part 1. Lubricating nipples and adaptors for use on
machinery and vehicles.
BS 1610, Methods for the load verification of testing machines.
BS 1936, Undercuts and runouts for screw threads.
BS 2789, Iron castings with spheroidal or nodular graphite.
BS 2902, Higher tensile steel chain slings and rings, links alternative to rings, egg
links and intermediate links.
BS 3032, Higher tensile steel shackles.
BS 3458, Alloy steel chain slings.
BS 3551, Alloy steel shackles.
The present standard is one of a series of British Standards for rigs and the
elements (blocks, rope, winches etc.) of which they are composed.
The design (Clause 3) requires specific overload performance, and provision is
made for an optional test to prove the design (Clause 16). Such an approach does
not require an overall design factor, and in this specification (unlike others) a
factor of safety is not given. In applying this new concept it is important that the
evidence of sample tests and the material control should be given.
A further innovation is in the marking of the safe working load, which is now
based on the number of parts of rope in the fall. A single block can have two or
even three safe working loads according to how it is rigged. This cannot be shown
by marking which takes no account of rigging.
The standard should not be applied to ships’ cargo blocks, which are covered by
BS 408, “Ships” cargo blocks’.
A British Standard does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a
contract. Users of British Standards are responsible for their correct application.

Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity

from legal obligations.

Summary of pages
This document comprises a front cover, an inside front cover, pages i and ii,
pages 1 to 12, an inside back cover and a back cover.
This standard has been updated (see copyright date) and may have had
amendments incorporated. This will be indicated in the amendment table on the
inside front cover.

ii © BSI 02-2000
 BS 4018:1966

1 Scope
This British Standard applies to pulley blocks designed for a maximum lift of 25 tonf (25 000 kgf) in
combination, for use with wire rope with rope speed not exceeding 100 ft/min (30 m/min), and with sheave
diameter (at the bottom of the groove) not larger than 12 in (300 mm).

2 Definitions1)
Licensed Copy: :FULLNAME, : DATE, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

For the purposes of this standard the following definitions apply:

pulley block
a block with sheave(s) for use with steel wire rope and forming a wire rope purchase
single, double, treble block
a block with one, two, three sheaves
snatch block
a single block with a gate through which a rope can be passed to facilitate reeving
head fitting
the means by which the block is attached to its anchorage or to the load being lifted (The head fitting,
becket and other parts of a wire rope pulley block are illustrated in Figure 1.)
beeket
the fitting on the block to which the rope used in the rig may be anchored
safe working load (S.W.L.)
the maximum load which can be safely applied to the block
rope fall
the rope connecting the blocks of a rig
rope parts
the parts of the fall between the blocks
hauling part
that part of the rope connecting an anchored block to the external source from which the tension or power
is supplied to control the position of the moving block engaging the load. The hauling part does not
constitute part of the fall2)
proof load
the load to which every block is tested
1/1 rig, 2/1 rig, etc. Rigs with, respectively, top and bottom single blocks, top double and bottom single block,
etc.

1) At the present time these definitions have notbeen approved in certain countries for use in ships.
2) In certain circumstances the source of tensionor power is connected directly to the moving block instead of to the anchored
block. The part of rope making this connection constitutes part of the fall between the blocks.

© BSI 02-2000 1
 BS 4018:1966
Licensed Copy: :FULLNAME, : DATE, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

Figure 1 — Wire rope pulley block components

2 © BSI 02-2000
 BS 4018:1966
Licensed Copy: :FULLNAME, : DATE, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

Figure 2 — Falls of rope

3 Design
a) Design requirements relative to proof load. The complete block including head fittings shall be
designed to withstand without visible distortion a proof load equal to at least twice the load imposed by
the S.W.L. when the block is rigged as follows:
Single block rigged as top block of a 1/1 rig.
Double block rigged as top block of a 2/2 rig.
Treble block rigged as top block of a 3/3 rig.
(See Table 1)
Blocks shall be so designed that all components shall withstand without failure the application to the
block of twice the proof load. For the purpose of this requirement failure means breakage of material
partial or complete, or such distortion as could result in release of the load. (See Clause 16, Type test.)
b) Wire rope. Design shall be based on the nominal breaking load of ropes in the 6 × 37 group
of 100/110 tonf/in2 (160/175 kgf/mm2) tensile strength3).
c) Bearing pressure on axle pin. The maximum bearing pressure (taking the area as the projected area
of the axle pin in contact, i.e. length × diameter) on a steel axle pin in a lubricated phosphor bronze bush
shall not exceed the values given in the table below when the safe working load is imposed on the block.
Sheave diameter in 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
(bottom of groove) mm 125 150 175 200 225 250 275 300
Maximum bearing tonf/in2 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 2.1 2.3 2.5 2.7
pressure kgf/mm2 2.5 2.6 2.8 3.0 3.3 3.6 3.9 4.3

With other bearing materials the maximum bearing pressure may differ from the above values. The
manufacturer shall produce evidence that the design pressure is permissible, taking into account both
static and sliding friction.

3)
BS 302, BS 621, “Steel wire ropes for cranes, excavators and general engineering purposes”.

© BSI 02-2000 3
 BS 4018:1966

d) Forged eye head fittings. Head fittings in the form of round or elongated eyes of circular cross section
shall be designed in accordance with the appropriate formulae in
BS 29024) for H.T. steel,
BS 34585) for alloy steel,
using the appropriate design stress, f, for a ring or for an egg link.
For the purpose of this clause, the effect of the collar may be assumed to add 20 per cent to the strength
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of a ring (round eye), or 7" per cent to the strength of a link (elongated eye).
e) Forged bow head fittings and beckets. Head fittings and beckets of the bow or dee shackle form shall
be designed in accordance with the shackle body formulae and appropriate stress values in
BS 30326) for H.T. steel,
BS 35517) for alloy steel.
NOTE Forged bow fittings may have to be specially designed, and may not necessarily conform with the dimensions of the
shackle bodies in these standards.
f) Tensile stress in screwed shanks of head fittings. The average tensile stress in the screwed shanks of
head fittings shall be based on a minimum cross-sectional area, calculated from the minimum minor
diameter of the screw thread.
The average tensile stress due to the load on the screwed shank resulting from the application of the
safe working load to the block shall not exceed:
shank of eye, 5" tonf/in2 (8.7 kgf/mm2),
shank of hook, 4 tonf/in2 (6.3 kgf/mm2).
When calculating the resultant load on the screwed shank, the effect of acceleration of the load may be
neglected.

4 Material
The following materials are suitable for the construction of engineering blocks to this standard.
If other materials are used their suitability is the responsibility of the block manufacturer. Wrought steels
shall be selected from BS 9708) and the component shall be marked with the En number.
Forgings, BS 970a, En 5A, En 5B, En 5C, “30” carbon steel; En 14A carbon-manganese
steel; En 16 manganese-molybdenum steel; En 100 low alloy steel.
Machine parts, BS 970a, En 9 “55” carbon steel;
En 23 3 per cent nickel-chromium steel;
Any of the materials listed for forgings.
Structure (block shell), BS 970a, En 3A “20” carbon steel;
Any of the materials listed for forgings.
Castings (steel), BS 592b, group A, B or C.
Castings (iron), BS 1452c, minimum grade 12; BS 2789d (S.G. iron).
a
BS 970, “Wrought steels. En series”.
b BS 592, (Included in BS 3100) “Steel castings for general engineering purposes”.
c BS 1452, “Grey iron castings”.
d
BS 2789, “Iron castings with spheroidal or nodular graphite”.

4)
BS 2902, “Higher tensile steel chain slings”.
5)
BS 3458, “Alloy steel chain slings”.
6) BS 3032, “Higher tensile steel shackles”.
7)
BS 3551, “Alloy steel shackles”.
8)
BS 970, “Wrought steels. En series”.

4 © BSI 02-2000
 BS 4018:1966

5 Block shell
The side plates shall be made of wrought steel or shall be steel castings.
Side straps and partition plates shall be of wrought steel, free from distortion and with smoothly finished
edges. The plates shall project beyond the sheaves to provide protection for the rope and sheave.
Blocks shall be designed so that the rope cannot jam between the side plates and the sheaves.
The clearance between any plain bushed sheave boss and the side plates etc. within which it is housed shall
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not exceed 1/16 in (1.6 mm) [i.e. 1/32 inch (0.8 mm) at either side].
All through holes in side and partition plates shall be machined in true alignment.

6 Shanks of hooks and eyes

Shanked swivel head fittings shall be forged in one piece and machined. When threaded they shall be fitted
with screwed collars or nuts, the depth of either being not less than the full diameter of the screwed shank.
The continuous length of shank engaged by the nut or collar on the load side shall be at least equal to
two-thirds of the diameter of the screwed shank before being interrupted by a through-pin or other fixing.
The collars or nuts shall be secured by means which are effective against “slacking back” and at the same
time permit the removal of the swivel head fitting for inspection.
Head fittings with shanks shall turn freely by hand when not under load.

7 Screw threads
The screw threads on shanks of head fittings shall conform to an appropriate British Standard.
depth of thread
The ratio --------------------------------------------------------------------- shall be not less than 0.040.
diameter at top of thread
The portion of the shank adjacent to the shoulder shall have an undercut and fillet in accordance with the
recommendations for the undercut Form A, Grade 1, in BS 19369).
It is recommended that the screw threads be gauged with an appropriate gauge made to the relevant
specification in BS 91910).

8 Head fittings
a) Hooks. Hooks shall comply with an appropriate British Standard and the screw threads shall comply
with Clause 7 above.
b) Forged eyes, forged bow fittings. The design of forged eyes and forged bow fittings is described in
Clause 3, Design.
c) Plate crossheads, link plates, etc. Plate crossheads, etc., may be manufactured by one of the following
methods:
i) Wholly forged to finished dimensions;
ii) Rough forged and profiled to shape and dimensions by machining. Machine gas-cutting may be
used provided that an adequate excess of material remains for removal of surface defects by
machining, chipping or flame dressing.
All holes shall be accurately drilled or bored at right angles to the axis of the head fitting.

9 Heat treatment
Prior to machining operations, all forgings, e.g. head fittings and forged beckets and pins, shall be either
normalized or hardened and tempered in the temperature ranges appropriate to the material.

10 Axle pins
The surface finish of axle pins shall be appropriate to the bearings. Axle pins shall be positively secured
against rotation and lateral movement, by a means which permits the pin to be withdrawn for inspection.

9)
BS 1936, “Undercuts and runouts for screw threads”.
10)
BS 919, “Screw gauge limits and tolerances”.

© BSI 02-2000 5
 BS 4018:1966

11 Lubrication
Lubrication of all bearings shall be provided either by the inherent characteristics of the material used or
by provision of lubrication points.
Blocks shall be supplied in a lubricated condition11).
Lubrication nipples shall be of such a type12), and so located, that application of the lubricant gun and the
actions and forces required to operate it are possible in the rig position, whilst the nipples are not
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unnecessarily exposed to accidental damage.

12 Sheaves
a) Material. Sheaves shall be steel or iron castings (see Clause 4).
b) Form and dimensions. The diameter of the sheave, measured at the bottom of the rope groove, shall
not be less than twelve times the diameter of the wire rope for which the sheave is designed.
The overall breadth of any part of the sheave shall be at least 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) less than the boss
[i.e. 1/32 inch (0.8 mm) at either side].
c) Bearings13). Sheaves shall be either provided with ball or roller bearings, or they shall be fitted with
anti-friction bushes.
Ball or roller bearings shall be in accordance with a relevant British Standard and shall conform to the
maker’s recommendations as to duty and fittings. They shall withstand the specified proof load on the
block without injury.
Sheaves shall rotate freely by hand.
d) Groove. The sheave groove shall be machined to a depth of not less than the diameter of the rope for
which the sheave is designed and not more than 1" times this diameter. It shall be smoothly finished
and free from surface defects liable to injure the rope. The edges of the groove shall be radiused. The
angle of flare14) of the sides of the groove shall be 52 deg. (See Figure 1.)
The contour at the bottom of the groove shall be circular over an angle of not less than 120 deg. The radius
of the groove shall be at least 5 per cent larger than the nominal radius of the wire rope15).

13 Becket
a) Strength. The breaking load of the becket shall be at least equivalent to the breaking load of the rope
on which design is based.
The load imposed on the becket when proof loading the block is acceptable as a proof load on the becket.
b) Workmanship. The becket shall be cleanly forged or machined from the solid, and shall be heat
treated.

14 Locking nuts
All nuts shall be securely locked by a means which permits removal for the purpose of examination and
repair of the block.

15 Proof load
The completed block including head fitting shall be subjected to a proof load which shall impose on the block
at least twice the loading imposed by the design load (see Table 1). Testing machines shall comply with
Appendix C.

11)
This does not necessarily mean that in all circumstances a block can be put into service without attention to this aspect.
12)
BS 1486, “Lubricating nipples”, Part 1: “Lubricating nipples and adaptors for use on machinery and vehicles”. Type 11 nipples
are suitable.
13) Designers are advised when approaching bearing manufacturers in regard to bearing selection to provide not only
information on service loads, speeds, hours of operation, but also on any test loading, particularly the proof load.
14)
i.e., the included angle between the straight sides of the groove contour (see Figure 1).
15) A suitable value is 7" per cent.

6 © BSI 02-2000
 BS 4018:1966

16 Type test
If specified by the purchaser in the enquiry and order a sample block shall be selected by the representative
of the purchaser and shall be subjected to twice the proof load, in order to test compliance with the
requirements in Subclause 3 a) relating to freedom from failure.

17 Examination after proof loading

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After proof loading the block, and prior to dismantling, the sheaves shall be checked for free rotation.
The block shall then be thoroughly examined by a competent person. The block complies with this standard
if found free from visible deformation, cracks, flaws, or other defects.
After re-assembly or at the completion of the examination, the shanks of the head fittings and the sheaves
shall rotate freely by hand.

18 Marking
The following information shall be permanently and legibly marked on a suitable part of the block:
Distinguishing number or mark (for identification with certificate, Clause 19);
Safe working load per rope part16).
Name of maker or supplier;
The number of this British Standard, i.e. BS 4018.
NOTE The mark BS 4018 on or in relation to the product is a claim by the manufacturer that it complies with the requirements of
the standard.
The British Standards Institution is the owner of a registered certification trade mark. This is shown below, enclosed in the words
“Approved to British Standard”. This mark can be used only by manufacturers licensed under the certification mark scheme operated
by the BSI. The presence of this mark on or in relation to a product is an assurance that the goods have been produced to comply with
the requirements of the British Standard under a system of supervision, control and testing operated during manufacture and
including periodical inspections at the manufacturer’s works in accordance with the certification mark scheme of the BSI.

16) If required a load plate may be attached detailing the safe working load under each condition of rig. See Appendix E.

© BSI 02-2000 7
 BS 4018:1966

19 Certificate of test and examination

The block maker or supplier shall supply a certificate with each consignment of blocks, giving the following
information for each one.
Distinguishing number or mark (as marked on the block, Clause 18)
Description
Head fitting: type, material, heat treatment
Licensed Copy: :FULLNAME, : DATE, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

Pin: material, heat treatment

Becket (if fitted): material, heat treatment
Wire rope: diameter
Number tested
Proof load (Clause 15).
The certificate shall declare that each block was proof loaded in accordance with Clause 15 and was
subsequently examined by a competent person, and that it complies with BS 4018. It shall also state the
name and address of the testing establishment and the status of the signatory.
The certificate may be the appropriate statutory form provided that the required information is given.

8 © BSI 02-2000
Licensed Copy: :FULLNAME, : DATE, Uncontrolled Copy

Table 1 — Safe working loads (S.W.L.) of rigs

© BSI 02-2000

S.W.L. per single Safe working loads of rigs

Dia. of sheavea Dia. of ropea
part of ropea 1/1 Rig 2/1 Rig 2/2 Rig 3/2 Rig 3/3 Rig

in mm in mm tonf kgf tonf kgf tonf kgf tonf kgf tonf kgf tonf kgf

5 127 3
/8 9 0.75 750 1.5 1 500 2.25 2 250 3.0 3 000 3.75 3 750 4.5 4 500
6 152 7/
16 11 1.00 1 000 2.0 2 000 3.00 3 000 4.0 4 000 5.00 5 000 6.0 6 000
7 177 1
/2 13 1.25 1 250 2.5 2 500 3.75 3 750 5.0 5 000 6.25 6 250 7.5 7 500
8 203 9
/16 14 1.50 1 500 3.0 3 000 4.50 4 500 6.0 6 000 7.40 7 500 9.0 9 000
9 228 5/
8 16 2.00 2 000 4.0 4 000 6.00 6 000 8.0 8 000 10.00 10 000 12.0 12 000
11 279 3
/4 19 3.00 3 000 6.0 6 000 9.00 9 000 12.0 12 000 15.00 15 000 18.0 18 000
12 304 7
/8 22 4.00 4 000 8.0 8 000 12.00 12 000 16.0 16 000 20.00 20 000 24.0 24 000
a Sheave dia.
-------------------------------- = at least 12 (see Clause 12).
Rope dia.
a
The safe working load per single part of rope is approximately one-sixth of the nominal breaking load of ropes as specified in BS 302, BS 621 in the 6 × 37 group of tensile
strength 100/110 tonf/in2 (160/175 kgf/mm2). This is the nominal breaking load on which the design of blocks to this standard is based [see Subclause 3b)].

BS 4018:1966
9
 BS 4018:1966

Appendix A Recommendations relating to contracts

It is recommended that a contract for pulley blocks to this standard should include provisions on the
following lines:
Proof loading. The manufacturer should proof load the blocks in accordance with the requirements of this
specification at his own cost.
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Inspection. The representative of the purchaser should have access to the works of the manufacturer at all
reasonable times; he should be at liberty to inspect the manufacture of the blocks at any stage, the testing
machine and methods of examination, and to reject any blocks made to his order which do not conform to
the requirements of this standard.

Appendix B Details which should be agreed between the purchaser and

the supplier
The following details should be agreed:
1) Type of block, single, double, treble, snatch, etc. (Clause 2);
2) Details of rig and position of block (if pre-determined);
3) Diameter of wire rope (Clause 3 b);
4) Type of head fitting;
5) Type of bearings (Clause 12);
6) With or without becket;
7) Whether a type test of a sample block is required (Clause 16).

Appendix C Requirements for testing machines

The accuracy of the machine shall be in accordance with BS 161017), Table 4, Grade A or Grade B.
In no case shall the plus or minus tolerance of the testing machine used exceed 5 per cent of the proof load
applied.
Machines measuring the load by levers and weights or by pendulum shall be verified and adjusted as
necessary by a competent independent person at intervals not greater than one year. For machines
measuring the load other than by levers and weights or by pendulum, the interval shall be not greater than
three months.
A signed certificate of the last examination shall be displayed beside the machine.
The testing machine shall be balanced in the presence of the inspector before the tests are made.

Appendix D Care and maintenance of wire rope pulley blocks

Wire rope pulley blocks should be subjected only to fair and proper usage. Special attention should be given
to the undermentioned precautions:
a) Swivel head fittings. Examine the nut or collar of the shank, to ensure that it is securely fastened and
free from visible defects. See that the shank is not distorted and turns freely by hand, and that the
clearance is not excessive. Grease or oil the shank and the bearing surface of the nut or collar.
b) Binding. Examine for fractures and wastage due to corrosion.
c) Side or partition plates. Examine to see these are not buckled nor distorted. Buckled side or partition
plates may allow the rope to jam between the sheave or side and partition plate: this has been the cause
of many accidents.
d) Sheaves. Examine for cracks; verify that the bush is not slack in the sheave and is not worn where in
contact with the axle pin. See that each sheave turns freely by hand.
Examine the fit of the rope in the grooves of the sheaves. This is particularly important when a new rope
is first reeved, since a worn sheave may result in a high rate of rope wear.

17)
BS 1610, “Methods for the load verification of testing machines”.

10 © BSI 02-2000
 BS 4018:1966

e) Axle pins. Examine axle pins for wear; check that they do not rotate, also that they are securely held
in place to prevent the pins working out of the shell of the block.
f) Lubrication. It is impossible to over-emphasize the necessity for regular and adequate lubrication.
If the block is not lubricated regularly and carefully, its life is greatly reduced and the efficiency of the
tackle is impaired.
g) Protection. Do not paint the block in such a manner that free movement is impaired or lubrication
Licensed Copy: :FULLNAME, : DATE, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

points or grease holes are choked. It is specially important that reference marks should not be
obliterated.
h) Cleaning blocks by heating, prior to examination. Parts of blocks having been where necessary heat
treated in manufacture do not require further heat treatment in service, except that after repair or
treatment involving heat, they should be normalized before being put back in service.
Neither blocks nor parts should ever be subjected to sub-critical annealing, (i.e. low temperature
annealing as applied to wrought iron).
j) Reeving. When reeving blocks, the wire rope should be paid out without slack from a reel or coil in a
straight line to prevent the possibility of kinking or disturbance of the lay of the rope. A coil of rope
should be paid out from a turntable, or alternatively one end of the coil should be made free and the
remainder rolled along a clean floor. In no case should the rope be unwound by throwing off turns when
the coil or reel is flat on the floor. Terminal seizings should not be removed without ensuring that the
lay of the rope is held.

Appendix E Marking of safe working load per rope part

If required for clarity a load plate may be attached to the block giving the safe working load under each
condition of rig in the following manner:
SAFE WORKING SAFE WORKING SAFE WORKING
LOAD LOAD LOAD
3t on 3 parts 5t on 5 parts 7t on 7 parts
2t on 2 parts 4t on 4 parts 6t on 6 parts
1t on 1 part 3t on 3 parts 5t on 5 parts

1 tonnef safe working load per rope part is assumed in the above illustration.
The actual load marked will depend on the rope used (see Clause 4).
The load plate and its attachment should be designed to minimize the likelihood of damage or of
obscuration.

© BSI 02-2000 11
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12
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 BS 4018:1966

British Standards
The following are available on application:
YEARBOOK
Including subject index and numerical list of British Standards
SECTIONAL LISTS. Gratis
Acoustics
Aircraft materials and components
Building materials and components
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Chemical engineering
Chemicals, fats, oils, scientific apparatus, etc
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 BS 4018:1966

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