Steel pulley block with hook over an engineering blueprint marked DIN, ISO, EN, ASTM, GB and JIS

Home/Standards

Standards and patterns

Find rigging hardware by the standard you specify — DIN, EN and U.S. patterns, each with what the standard covers and how to choose it.

WLL, MBL and SWL: what the letters mean

The three abbreviations every rigging document mixes up. They are not interchangeable, and the difference matters when you read a certificate.

Term	What it means	Where it comes from
Working load limit (WLL)	The maximum load the item may carry in normal service. This is the number you design against and the number that appears on the label.	Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC, EN 13414 for slings, and the standard EN 818-2 for steel wire rope slings use it.
Minimum breaking load (MBL) / MBS	The laboratory load at which the item fails. It is a test result, not a working figure, and it is always several times the WLL.	The old EN 13414 wording, still widely used in the trade.
Safe working load (SWL)	The older term for the same concept as WLL.	Legacy term. AS 4991 and ASME guidance have moved to WLL; you will still meet SWL on old drawings, lifting plans and certificates.
Proof load (WLL / proof factor)	A test load applied at manufacture to verify the item before it ships. Higher than the WLL, well below failure.	For many lifting components the proof factor is 2 to 2.5 times the WLL.

Read the full explanation →

Which system applies to your job

Most enquiries name either a DIN number or a G- number. This is how they differ, and what to check before ordering across systems.

Family	Standards in it	When it comes up
European (DIN) fittings	DIN 1480 and DIN 1478 turnbuckles, DIN 580 eye bolts, DIN 6899 thimbles, DIN 741 clips, DIN 5299 snap hooks.	Most common in European rigging. Closed bodies and collars suit outdoor and corrosive service.
US (G-) fittings	G-209, G-210, G-2130 and G-2150 shackles.	The pattern you will meet on US-spec drawings. Bolt type where vibration is a concern.
EN standards	EN 13411-5 wire rope clips, EN 13414 slings, EN 818-2 steel wire rope slings.	The European harmonised set. Clip installation follows the EN rule set.
Cross-standard equivalence	G-210 and DIN 82101 cover similar ground; DIN 1480 and DIN 1478 are frequently asked as a pair.	Patterns are not interchangeable size for size. Confirm the standard, the size and the WLL separately when you order.

Every standard we list, and where it points

Use the standard number on your drawing or enquiry. Each row leads to the product line it belongs to.

Standard	Product line	What it covers
G-209	Shackles	Bow shackle with a screw pin. The most common US-pattern shackle.	View →
G-210	Shackles	Dee shackle with a screw pin. Same body family as G-209, different shape.	View →
G-2130	Shackles	Bow shackle with bolt, nut and cotter pin. Chosen where the connection must not work loose under vibration.	View →
G-2150	Shackles	Dee shackle with bolt, nut and cotter pin.	View →
DIN 82101	Shackles	European pattern shackle. See the shackle pages for the European bow and dee forms.	View →
DIN 1480	Turnbuckles	Open body rigging screw. Thread engagement stays visible, so take-up can be checked by eye.	View →
DIN 1478	Turnbuckles	Closed body turnbuckle. The sleeve protects the thread from salt spray, dirt and concrete debris.	View →
DIN 741	Wire rope clips	German standard for wire rope clips. See the clip pages for the type and size range.	View →
EN 13411-5	Wire rope clips	European standard for wire rope clips, the reference for the turnback-and-torque installation rules.	View →
DIN 6899	Thimbles	Form B thimble for wire rope. See the thimble pages for Form A against Form B.	View →
DIN 580	Eye bolts	Collar eye bolt. The collar bears against the load surface so the thread is not the part that takes the pull.	View →
DIN 5299	Snap hooks	Snap hook series in types A, B, C and D. The gate position differs by type.	View →

Working with a standard number

A standard number identifies a pattern, not a load. Before you order, confirm the size designation, the material and the working load limit for the exact item.