Overview
ISO 4101:1983 specifies requirements for drawn steel wire for elevator ropes. It covers dimensional tolerances, mechanical properties and mandatory tests for new steel wire with nominal diameters from 0.25 mm to 1.8 mm, intended solely for manufacture of elevator ropes. The standard does not apply to wires removed from assembled ropes.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and applicability
- Applies only to new drawn steel wire for elevator rope manufacture (0.25–1.8 mm).
- Excludes wires taken from existing ropes.
- Dimensions and ovality
- Nominal diameter is defined by the cable maker and is the basis for acceptance.
- Measurement: arithmetic mean of two perpendicular diameter readings; the difference between readings must not exceed half the total tolerance.
- Diameter tolerances vary by size (typically in the order of ±0.010 mm to ±0.025 mm depending on diameter).
- Tensile strength
- Wire classes are defined by minimum tensile strength: 1370, 1570 and 1770 N/mm² (nominal lower limits).
- Upper limits are determined from lower limits plus specified tolerances (see standard for detailed tables).
- Mechanical tests
- Tensile test performed per ISO 89 (including test speed and specimen preparation).
- Simple torsion test per ISO 136 - specimen length ideally 100×d; minimum number of turns required depends on diameter and tensile class.
- Alternating bending (fatigue) test per ISO 144 - minimum number of alternate bends and specified support radii vary with diameter and tensile class.
- Tensile on knotted wire for wires under 0.5 mm replaces torsion and bending tests; a single overhand knot must sustain at least 50% of nominal tensile strength.
- Acceptance and sampling
- Sampling and lot acceptance procedures are referenced to ISO 2701.
Applications and users
Who uses ISO 4101:
- Elevator rope manufacturers and wire rod suppliers specifying wire for rope manufacture
- Quality and test laboratories performing tensile, torsion and fatigue testing
- Procurement and inspection engineers verifying delivered wire for elevator rope production
- Designers and safety engineers concerned with elevator rope performance and conformity
Practical benefits:
- Ensures consistent wire quality for elevator rope safety and durability
- Provides standardized test methods and acceptance criteria to reduce risk of premature rope failure
- Facilitates clear procurement specifications between cable makers and wire suppliers
Related standards
- ISO 89 - Steel - Tensile testing of wires
- ISO 136 - Steel - Simple torsion test for wires
- ISO 144 - Steel - Alternate bending test for wires
- ISO 2701 - Drawn steel wire for general purpose cables - Acceptance conditions and sampling
For detailed numeric tables, test procedures and acceptance criteria refer to the full ISO 4101:1983 text.
