Overview - ISO 4344:2022 (Steel wire ropes for lifts - Minimum requirements)
ISO 4344:2022 specifies minimum requirements for the manufacture and testing of stranded carbon steel wire ropes for lifts. It covers bright and galvanized wire finishes in common rope constructions with diameters from 6 mm to 38 mm. The standard applies to ropes used for suspension duty on traction-drive and roped-hydraulic lifts and for compensation and governor duties on passenger, freight, service and man lifts that run between guides. It explicitly excludes builder’s hoists, temporary hoists not running between permanent guides, cable-ways and mine hoists.
Key topics and technical requirements
ISO 4344:2022 addresses the full rope lifecycle from materials to testing and information for use:
- Materials and wire grades: Specifies acceptable wire properties and tensile strength grades (examples listed in the standard) and wire finish (bright or agreed Class B galvanizing).
- Core types: Defines permitted cores - fibre core (natural or synthetic), steel core, steel-based composite core, and other non-metallic cores (subject to agreement).
- Rope manufacture requirements: Covers wire and fibre core joints, preformation/postformation, lubrication, prestretching limits, rope ends, construction, grade, lay type/direction and lay length.
- Dimensions and strength: Rules for diameter and length measurement, minimum breaking force, and required wire tensile strength, including testing after rope making.
- Rope stretch and mechanical properties: Includes construction and elastic stretch requirements and verification tests.
- Testing and verification: Test methods for diameter, ovality, variation, breaking force, lubricant content, and wire tensile strength; sampling and acceptance criteria are defined.
- Information for use: Requirements for certificates, selection, installation, maintenance, discard criteria and marking. Annexes provide calculation methods and tables of minimum breaking forces.
Applications - who uses ISO 4344:2022
- Rope manufacturers - to design and certify lift ropes that meet international minimums.
- Elevator designers and OEMs - for specifying ropes in traction and roped-hydraulic systems.
- Installers and maintenance engineers - for selection, installation, testing, inspection and discard criteria.
- Testing laboratories and procurement teams - for acceptance testing and supplier evaluation.
ISO 4344 is practical for anyone specifying or responsible for the safety and performance of lift wire ropes.
Related standards
Normative references in ISO 4344 include:
Using ISO 4344:2022 helps ensure consistent quality, traceable testing and clear guidance for safe lift rope selection, manufacture and maintenance.
