Stainless lifting and rigging hardware exists for environments that destroy plated or painted steel: marine and coastal work, food and pharmaceutical production, swimming pools, chemical plant and anywhere subject to regular washdown.
There is a critical distinction within the stainless range. Some items are load rated — marked with a Working Load Limit, certificated and suitable for lifting. Others are commercial quality, intended for general rigging and architectural work, carrying no Working Load Limit and not certified for lifting. They look almost identical and sit in the same category. Buy by code, and check the marking before putting anything in a lifting assembly.
Manufacturer specification. AISI 316 stainless steel. Screw Collar Pin. Polished finish. Commercial quality, untested.
Key Features
- Stainless finish: Identifies the range on site — never repaint a lifting product
- AISI 316 stainless steel: As specified by the manufacturer
- Screw Collar Pin: As specified by the manufacturer
- Polished finish: As specified by the manufacturer
- Commercial quality, untested: As specified by the manufacturer
Technical Specifications
| Product Code |
A (mm) |
B (mm) |
C (mm) |
D (mm) |
Weight (kg) |
| SSBS4 |
4 |
4 |
8 |
16 |
0.01 |
| SSBS5 |
5 |
5 |
10 |
20 |
0.02 |
| SSBS6 |
6 |
6 |
12 |
24 |
0.024 |
| SSBS8 |
8 |
8 |
16 |
32 |
0.06 |
| SSBS10 |
10 |
10 |
20 |
40 |
0.13 |
| SSBS12 |
12 |
12 |
24 |
48 |
0.2 |
| SSBS16 |
16 |
16 |
32 |
64 |
0.5 |
Full dimensional data and Working Load Limits for every size are given in the manufacturer information sheet.
LOLER Ready
AISI 316 stainless steel. Screw Collar Pin. Polished finish. Commercial quality, untested. Under LOLER 1998, lifting accessories require thorough examination by a competent person at intervals not exceeding 12 months, and immediate withdrawal after any overload.
Suitable Applications
Marine and offshore, coastal installations, food and beverage production, pharmaceutical manufacture, swimming pools and leisure, chemical plant, architectural and balustrade work, and anywhere subject to washdown or sterilisation. AISI 316 is the standard corrosion-resistant grade for these environments. Where the application lifts a load, specify a load rated item and check for the W.L.L. marking.
More About This Product
Stainless rigging exists for one reason: environments where a plated or painted fitting will not survive. Marine and coastal air, food and pharmaceutical washdown, pool chemistry, chemical plant. In those settings a galvanised shackle has a working life measured in months and a stainless one in years.
The cost of that is capacity. Stainless carries less than alloy steel at the same size, so a stainless assembly is physically larger and heavier for the same load. It is a trade people accept once they have replaced the same corroded fitting three times.
Pitting, Chlorides and Galvanic Corrosion
Stainless steel does not rust the way carbon steel does, and understanding how it does fail changes what you look for at inspection.
Pitting is the characteristic failure. Rather than corroding evenly across the surface, stainless develops small, deep, localised pits — usually where chlorides have attacked the passive oxide layer. A pit is far more dangerous than the equivalent volume of general surface rust, because it concentrates stress at a point. A fitting can look almost new and be significantly weakened.
Chlorides are the main aggressor: seawater, road salt, pool chemistry and many process chemicals. AISI 316 resists them considerably better than 304, which is why 316 is the marine grade, but neither is immune. Rinsing with fresh water after exposure is the single most effective maintenance action available.
Galvanic corrosion is the one people create themselves. Put a carbon steel component in a stainless assembly and the carbon steel corrodes preferentially and rapidly, and the contact can attack the stainless too. A single galvanised shackle in an otherwise stainless rig undoes the reason for buying stainless in the first place.
And never grind or machine a stainless fitting. Grinding removes the passive layer, and where it is removed the corrosion starts.
How to Use
- Confirm whether the item is load rated or commercial: Load rated items carry a marked Working Load Limit. Commercial items do not and must not be used for lifting.
- Keep the whole assembly stainless: A carbon steel component in a stainless assembly corrodes and can cause galvanic attack on the stainless around it.
- Rinse after exposure to salt or chemicals: Chlorides attack 316. Stainless resists corrosion; it is not immune to it.
- Do not grind or machine: Grinding destroys the passive layer that provides the corrosion resistance.
- Inspect for pitting, not just surface rust: Pitting is localised, deep and concentrates stress. It is the stainless failure mode.
- Do not modify: Never weld, heat treat or machine.
Warning: Commercial quality stainless items carry no Working Load Limit and must not be used in lifting applications. Load rated items are marked with a W.L.L. and certificated. The two look almost identical — check the marking before use.
Safety Information
- Use only load rated, W.L.L. marked items in lifting applications.
- Commercial quality items are not for lifting.
- Keep the whole assembly stainless.
- Rinse after exposure to salt, chlorides or process chemicals.
- Never weld, heat treat, machine or grind.
- Withdraw any item showing pitting, wear beyond the manufacturer’s stated limit, distortion or cracks.
- Where used as a lifting accessory, thorough examination at intervals not exceeding 12 months under LOLER 1998.
Inspection and Maintenance
Stainless fails differently from plated steel and the inspection differs accordingly. Look for pitting — small deep localised corrosion sites, usually from chloride attack, which are far more dangerous than the general surface rust you would see on carbon steel because they concentrate stress. Check crevices, contact faces and anywhere debris can lodge, since those are where pitting starts. Confirm the polished surface has not been ground or damaged, as that destroys the passive layer. On load rated items, measure wear at the bearing points and confirm the W.L.L. marking remains legible.
Downloads
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the difference between commercial and load rated stainless?
Load rated items carry a marked Working Load Limit and are certificated for lifting. Commercial quality items are for general rigging and architectural work, carry no W.L.L. and must not be used for lifting. They look almost identical, so buy by code.
Q: Is stainless completely corrosion proof?
No. Chlorides attack AISI 316, which is why marine and pool environments need rinsing after use. What stainless avoids is the coating failure that starts corrosion on a plated fitting.
Q: Can I mix stainless and carbon steel?
No. A carbon steel component in a stainless assembly corrodes, and the contact can cause galvanic attack on the stainless too. Keep the whole assembly stainless.
