Enter the breaking strength and the safety factor into the calculator to determine the safe working load for equipment or materials. The safe working load is the maximum load that can be applied to a component or material without causing failure.
Safe Working Load Formula
The following formula is used to calculate the safe working load.
SWL = BS / SF
Variables:
- SWL is the safe working load (lbs)
- BS is the breaking strength (lbs)
- SF is the safety factor (dimensionless)
To calculate the safe working load, divide the breaking strength by the safety factor. The result is the maximum load that can be safely applied to the material or component without risk of failure.
What is Safe Working Load?
Safe working load (SWL) is the load that lifting equipment, such as ropes, chains, and lifting devices, can safely handle without risk of breaking. It is determined by taking into account the minimum breaking strength of the material and applying a safety factor to provide a margin of safety. The safety factor varies depending on the type of material, the conditions in which it will be used, and the level of risk involved.
How to Calculate Safe Working Load?
The following steps outline how to calculate the Safe Working Load.
- First, determine the breaking strength (BS) of the material or component in pounds (lbs).
- Next, determine the safety factor (SF) that is appropriate for the material and the conditions of use.
- Next, gather the formula from above = SWL = BS / SF.
- Finally, calculate the Safe Working Load (SWL) in pounds (lbs).
- After inserting the variables and calculating the result, check your answer with the calculator above.
Example Problem :
Use the following variables as an example problem to test your knowledge.
breaking strength (BS) = 1000 lbs
safety factor (SF) = 5
