Overview
ISO 8793:1986 defines minimum requirements for ferrule-secured eye terminations used on general-purpose steel wire ropes (per ISO 2408). The standard covers ferrules manufactured from steel, aluminium or copper, and specifies accepted eye constructions - the Flemish eye and the turn back loop - together with prototype testing and routine quality-control measures to ensure reliable terminations.
The standard aims to ensure consistent performance, safety and traceability of ferrule-secured systems through defined materials, pressing procedures, tests and marking.
Key Topics
- Ferrule materials and manufacture: ferrules may be made of steel, aluminium or copper; aluminium and copper ferrules must be produced seam‑free. Steel ferrules may be welded before drawing and annealing where permitted.
- Eye types: two principal eye terminations are covered:
- Flemish eye - split and re-laid strands forming a symmetrical eye with the ferrule securing the tails.
- Turn back loop - the rope is bent back on itself and the ferrule secures the dead end to the main body.
- Design and strength criteria: a ferrule-secured termination shall have a design breaking strength of at least 90% of the rope's minimum breaking force.
- Prototype tensile and durability tests:
- Tensile-to-destruction and cyclic fatigue tests are specified for type acceptance.
- Durability requires assemblies to withstand 75,000 cycles, after which breaking force must not be less than 80% of the rope's minimum breaking force.
- Test conditions include cyclic tension between 15% and 30% of minimum breaking force and machine frequency limits (not to exceed 15 kHz). Stress application rates and other procedural details are specified for reliable results.
- Quality control and marking: manufacturers must inspect ferrules during production, certify batch conformity, inspect pressed assemblies and apply durable identification marking to ferrules.
Applications
ISO 8793:1986 is applicable where ferrule-secured eye terminations are used to form load-bearing terminations or handling attachments on steel wire ropes. Typical practical benefits include:
- Consistent safety and performance across manufactured assemblies.
- Clear acceptance criteria for prototype and production testing.
- Improved traceability through marking and manufacturer certificates.
This standard is relevant to rope assembly manufacturers, inspectors, purchasing authorities and end users who require validated termination methods for lifting, mooring, transport and general rigging where ferrule-secured eyes are used.
Related Standards
- ISO 2408 - Steel wire ropes for general purposes (characteristics) - referenced for rope constructions and minimum breaking forces.
For procurement and compliance, users should consult the full ISO 8793:1986 text and the latest editions of referenced standards to confirm current requirements and any revisions.
