CSA Z150:26 mobile crane wire rope inspection and removal criteria
What CSA Z150:26 says about wire rope: scope, how often to inspect, what to
inspect and when a rope must come off. Written in our own words with the clause number for each point.
Send us a photo of a completed sheet and we send back a free analysis, usually the same day. Every standard.
Scope
Clause 5.5 deals with the ropes on a mobile crane and the sheaves they run over. 5.5
The rope clauses cover both wire rope and synthetic rope. Synthetic rope is judged against its maker's own inspection and discard criteria rather than the wire rope rules. 5.5.2.3; 5.5.3.2 b)
Ropes in scope for daily checks are the load hoist ropes, boom hoist ropes, and boom pendant, suspension and counterweight ropes expected to be used that day. 5.5.2.1
The daily crane check covers all reeved rope, for example the load lines, jib and mid-point suspension ropes and the boom hoist, checked against crane and rope maker recommendations. 5.3.3.1 a)
The broken wire limits in Tables 2 and 3 apply only to wire rope running on steel sheaves and steel drums. For sheaves or drums made of other materials, ask a qualified person plus the maker of the sheave, drum or crane for limits. 5.5.4.2
Table 2 covers round strand wire ropes (regular single-layer and parallel types). Table 3 covers rotation-resistant and non-rotating ropes, including ASTM A1023 Category I and II ropes. Table 2; Table 3
Inspection frequency
Daily (crane components including rope reeving). Items that can change with daily use, rope reeving included, must be checked every day where practical and watched during operation for defects that develop between checks. 5.3.3.1
Daily (rope observation). Ropes should be watched during normal work on every working day, with close attention to where the rope attaches to the crane and to all end fittings. 5.5.2.1
Daily (record keeping). Daily rope check results should be written in the operator's crane log. 5.5.2.4
Periodic (rope). The rope maker or a competent person should set the periodic interval, based on expected rope life on that crane, how harsh the environment is, the share of lifts made at maximum rating, and shock loading. Intervals do not have to be equal, but should be no longer than one month. Results should go in the operator's crane log. 5.5.3.1
Periodic (who and extent). A competent person must carry out periodic rope inspections, covering all of the rope that can be reached, note any deterioration that noticeably cuts original strength, and decide whether further use is a hazard. 5.5.3.2
Periodic (crane). Full crane periodic inspections include everything in the daily list plus extra items such as sheaves and drums that are worn, cracked or out of shape. The intervals are set in Clause 5.3.2.2. 5.3.4.1
Annual (rope). Once a year a competent person must inspect the whole rope from end to end, not just the parts that are easy to reach. 5.5.3.3
Annual (mechanical and operational). The yearly mechanical and operational inspection by a competent person must include a rope inspection to 5.5.3, and the signed report must state that the rope was inspected. 5.3.5.2.1 b); 5.3.5.2.2 c)
Ropes not in regular use. If the crane has been shut down or stored so that a rope has not been used for over a month, give the rope a periodic-level inspection before it goes back into service. 5.5.3.6
After an incident. Any time something happens that may have damaged the rope or its end termination, the rope must be inspected. 5.5.3.6
Idle crane under six months. A crane idle for less than six months needs the daily-level inspection, Clauses 5.3.3.1 through 5.3.3.3, before use. 5.3.6.1
Idle crane over six months. A crane idle for more than six months needs a complete inspection, Clauses 5.3.3.1 through 5.3.4.3, before use. 5.3.6.2
New rope installation (records). When a rope is installed, log its reference diameter and its length. Also log the length of any piece later cut off. 5.5.1
Sheave inspection triggers. Check sheaves for overall wear, uneven wear, flat spots and groove radius before fitting a new rope, when the rope wears early, when damaged or broken wires are found on wire rope, and when abrasion or cut strands show on synthetic rope. 5.5.6.1.1
After electrical contact. A crane that has made electrical contact must be taken out of service and not used again until inspected under 5.3.2.3 and per the maker's advice. 5.4.3.4
Record keeping (rope condition report). Keep a dated rope condition report on file that addresses each rapid-deterioration area listed in 5.5.3.4. 5.5.3.8
Record keeping (long-term program). Set up a long-term program that records examination of retired ropes, so what inspectors see on the outside can be compared with the true internal condition. 5.5.4.1
Inspection criteria
Rope distortion. Treat any distortion as an immediate hazard: kinks, crushing, birdcaging, unstranding, strands pushed out of place, or the core showing through. 5.3.3.1 a) i)
Diameter change. Look for any spot where the rope has become thinner or thicker than the rest. 5.3.3.1 a) ii)
Outer strands. Check that the outer strands sit evenly. 5.3.3.1 a) iii)
Corrosion. Look for general corrosion along the rope. 5.3.3.1 a) iv)
Broken or cut strands. Look for any strand that is broken or cut. 5.3.3.1 a) v)
Broken wires. Note how many wires are broken, where they are and what kind of break they are, then judge them against 5.5.4.2. 5.3.3.1 a) vi)
Core deterioration (rotation-resistant). On rotation-resistant ropes, look for signs of local core damage. 5.3.3.1 a) vii)
Wear. Check for wear. 5.3.3.1 a) viii)
Heat and arcing. Look for damage caused by heat or by electric arcs. 5.3.3.1 a) ix)
Attachment points and end fittings. During daily checks, pay extra attention to the rope where it connects to the crane and at every end fitting. 5.5.2.1
Drum rapid-deterioration points. Focus daily checks on spots that wear fast on the drum: at the flanges, at crossover points, and where the rope is repeatedly picked up. 5.5.2.2
Rotation-resistant and spin-resistant ropes. Inspect these ropes closely. They are easily damaged by handling and misuse, wear faster on small sheaves or reverse bends, and can fail from the inside where damage may not show. 5.5.2.2 Note
Sections with limited travel. Check rope where it sits on saddles, equalizer sheaves or other sheaves that the rope barely moves over. 5.5.3.4 a)
Near terminations. Check rope at and close to its ends, where corroded or broken wires may stick out. 5.5.3.4 b)
Wedge sockets. Check rope next to the wedge socket for hidden damage. If damage is suspected, a competent person must take the socket apart, inspect the concealed rope and put it back together. 5.5.3.4 c)
Reverse bends. Check rope lengths that bend one way and then the other. 5.5.3.4 d)
Hidden sections. Check rope that is normally out of sight, such as lengths lying over sheaves and lower layers on the drum. 5.5.3.4 e)
Strength loss assessment. At periodic and annual inspections, record any deterioration that noticeably reduces original strength and decide whether continued use is a hazard, using the wire rope criteria (5.5.3.5, which points to 5.5.4). 5.5.3.2; 5.5.3.3; 5.5.3.5
Evaluating found damage. When damage is found at a daily or periodic check, assess the rope against the 5.5.4 replacement criteria and retire it if any are met. 5.5.2.3; 5.5.3.7
Diameter measurement method. The reduction in diameter is worked out as a percentage: reference diameter minus measured diameter, divided by nominal diameter, times 100. The reference diameter comes from an unbent, unworn part of the rope after break-in. Table 4 Note
Counting broken wires. A broken wire shows two ends but counts as a single break. Table 2 and Table 3 footnotes
Wires counted. Filler wires are not load-bearing and are left out when counting the outer strand wires used to pick a row in the broken-wire tables. Table 2 and Table 3 footnotes
Non-steel sheaves. With synthetic or synthetic-lined sheaves, many wires can break inside the rope before any breaks or wear show on the outside. 5.5.4.2 Note
Sheave grooves. Measure sheave grooves and confirm their profile is within the crane maker's limits, or failing that the rope maker's limits or relevant standards. 5.5.6.1.2
Sheave compatibility. Sheaves must suit the rope being used. 5.5.6.1.3
Sheave flanges. Look over sheave flanges for cracks, chips, breaks, bending or any other damage. 5.5.6.1.4
Sheave bearings. Make sure sheaves spin freely and their bearings do not have too much play. 5.5.6.1.5
Sheaves and drums (crane periodic). Periodic crane inspections include checking sheaves and drums for cracks, wear and deformation. 5.3.4.1 c)
Block sheaves. When inspecting the assembled load block, check that its sheaves are aligned, turn freely, have proper bearing clearance, and are free of nicks or cracks. 5.3.5.2.3 b); 5.3.5.3.5 b)
Dead-end attachment. The dead-end lug of the block is inspected by magnetic particle testing for cracks, wear and damage. 5.3.5.2.3 a) iii); 5.3.5.3.5 a) iii)
Deficiency follow-up. Every deficiency found must be examined to decide if it is a hazard, and hazardous ones fixed before the crane goes back to work. 5.3.3.2
Lubrication. Keep wire rope well lubricated with a product compatible with the original lubricant; ask the rope maker. Give extra attention to parts over sheaves or otherwise hidden. 5.5.5.5
Handling and installation. Store spare rope so it does not deteriorate, unreel it per the rope maker without kinks or twist, seize both sides before cutting, and do not drag it through dirt or over objects that could damage it. 5.5.5.1 to 5.5.5.4
Removal (discard) criteria
Crane out of service. Once a wire rope meets any single 5.5.4.2 criterion, or a synthetic rope meets any of its maker's criteria, the crane should stay out of service until the rope is changed. 5.5.4.1
Broken wire count. Broken wire limits for rope on steel sheaves and drums come from Table 2 (round strand ropes) and Table 3 (rotation-resistant ropes). The limit depends on the number of load-bearing outer wires, the lay type in Table 2, whether the section runs over sheaves or a single-layer drum or spools on a multi-layer drum, and the length of rope, in rope diameters, over which breaks are counted. 5.5.4.2; Table 2; Table 3Limit set by the standard's table: check your rope in the calculator
Multi-layer drum columns. The multi-layer drum limits in Tables 2 and 3 are for damage at crossover zones and where wraps rub due to fleet angle, not for rope that only runs over sheaves. Table 2 and Table 3 footnotesLimit set by the standard's table: check your rope in the calculator
Grouped broken wires. Discard the rope if broken wires are bunched close together. If the cluster sits in a length shorter than six rope diameters, or is all in one strand, discard even when the total is under the table limit. 5.5.4.2 a)
Broken wires near end connections. Where a rope has over two broken wires more than six rope diameters from an end connection, or over one broken wire inside six rope diameters of it, remake the termination to shorten the rope where possible, or replace the rope. 5.5.4.2 b)
Valley breaks at the core. Replace the rope if two or more outer wires have broken where they touch the core, which shows as a wire or loop of loose wires poking out. 5.5.4.2 c)
Diameter reduction. Replace the rope if the loss of diameter at any location is greater than the Table 4 limit. The allowed percentage below reference diameter depends on the rope type: fibre core, steel (IWRC) core by strand count and 19 or 36 class, or rotation-resistant. 5.5.4.2 d); Table 4Limit set by the standard's table: check your rope in the calculator
Any loss of diameter on rotation-resistant rope. On rotation-resistant rope, any drop in diameter may mean the core has failed. A qualified person must review it and decide if the rope comes out of service. Look for a longer lay and local thinning. 5.5.4.2 e)
Distortion. Replacement is indicated by waviness, extruded strands or wires, kinks, tightened loops, crushed or birdcaged sections, bends, or other damage that distorts how the rope is built. Figure 1 shows waviness. 5.5.4.2 f); Figure 1
Heat damage. Any sign of heat damage, whatever caused it, calls for replacement. 5.5.4.2 g)
Power line contact. Replace the rope after it touches a high-voltage line in a way that could pass current through it. 5.5.4.2 h)
Rope too short. Replace the rope once it has been shortened below the crane maker's minimum length for that drum. 5.5.4.2 i)
Non-steel sheaves and drums. For wire rope on sheaves or drums not made of steel, the table limits do not apply; ask a qualified person plus the maker of the sheave, drum or crane for broken wire limits. 5.5.4.2
Synthetic rope. Retire a damaged synthetic rope when its maker's replacement criteria say so. 5.5.2.3; 5.5.4.1 b)
Cutting off a worn section (drum end). Where wear is concentrated in clear local areas, the rope can be made to last longer by removing a length at the drum end, but only if the maker allows it, the worn diameter still passes 5.5.4.2 d), minimum drum wraps are kept, and it is logged. 5.5.5.6
Wedge socket damage. Rope harmed by a wedge socket, for example by kinks, bends, crushing, loosened outer strands or waviness ahead of the fitting, may be shortened to remove the bad part. Cut carefully and log the work. 5.5.5.7
Replacement rope rating. A new rope and its end connections should be rated at least as strong as the originals. Any change in size, grade or construction should be set by a rope maker, the crane maker or a qualified person. 5.5.4.3
Sheave removal. Take a sheave out of service if a flange is broken or bent, or if a crack is found anywhere in it. 5.5.6.3
Sheave groove repair. A sheave with worn or damaged grooves may be reworked only with the sheave maker's approval. 5.5.6.2
Terms used
Reference diameter (dref). The diameter measured on a part of the rope that has not been bent, worn or otherwise deformed, taken after the rope has broken in. Logged at installation. Table 4 Note; 5.5.1
Measured diameter (dm). The diameter you actually get from measuring the rope. Table 4 Note
Nominal diameter (d). The size the rope is named and ordered by. Table 4 Note
Percent diameter reduction. (Reference diameter minus measured diameter) divided by nominal diameter, times 100. Table 4 Note
Load-bearing wires. Wires in the outer strands that carry load. Filler wires do not count. Table 2 and Table 3 footnotes
Rope categories (Table 3). Table 3 groups rotation-resistant and non-rotating ropes, which it links to ASTM A1023 Categories I and II. Table 3
This page summarises CSA Z150:26 in our own words for general information. It is not
a copy of the standard, does not reproduce its tables and does not replace it. Clause numbers refer to
CSA Z150:26 (March 2026). The full standard is available from CSA Group. The rope or crane manufacturer's criteria take
precedence where they are stricter, and inspection and discard decisions remain those of your competent
or qualified person.
Need a rope for your crane?
Find your crane for the diameter, length, OEM part number and a price estimate for every winch. Or send us what you know and we quote it the same day.
All specifications must be verified before purchase and before installation. Rope specifications can change between machines of the same model and between model years. Confirm against your machine's logbook, reeving and the manufacturer's documentation before ordering. Inspection and discard decisions remain those of your competent person.