Weight Guidelines
Working Load Limits for Wire and Gripper Assemblies
The figures below apply to complete Alemtek wire and gripper assemblies suspended in a vertical position. Use them to select the correct wire diameter for your luminaire or object. For applications outside the conditions described on this page, contact our technical team.
| Wire Diameter | Working Load Limit | Minimum Break Load |
|---|---|---|
| Ø 0.8 mm | 5 kg | 25 kg |
| Ø 1.0 mm | 8 kg | 40 kg |
| Ø 1.2 mm | 12 kg | 60 kg |
| Ø 1.5 mm | 18 kg | 90 kg |
| Ø 1.8 mm | 24 kg | 120 kg |
| Ø 2.0 mm | 28 kg | 140 kg |
The total weight of the suspended object must not exceed the working load limit. Do not size to the minimum breaking load.
What these figures mean:
Working Load Limit (WLL)
The maximum permitted weight in normal static service. Each value is one fifth of the minimum breaking load.
Minimum Break Load (MBL)
The lowest force at which the assembly is guaranteed not to fail, established by tensile testing.
Safety Factor
Alemtek applies a safety factor of 5:1 to all wire and gripper assemblies. The working load limit is one fifth of the tested minimum breaking load. This is the established coefficient for wire rope and rope terminations in European practice.
Rated as a complete assembly
These figures are for the complete wire and gripper assembly – at larger diameters the gripper, not the wire, governs capacity. Figures published elsewhere often refer to bare wire rope and will look higher for the same diameter. They are not comparable. Contact us if you need the bare rope value for a structural calculation.
Test Conditions and Traceability
Figures are based on:
- 7×7 stranded stainless steel wire rope, grade AISI 304
- A matching Alemtek gripper for the stated diameter
- Vertical suspension, static load, ambient temperature
- Correctly installed components in new condition
Improper installation, incorrect component selection, or combining Alemtek products with components from other manufacturers invalidates every figure in this table and may cause the suspension to fail.
All figures are established by tensile testing of original Alemtek products. We maintain full traceability of every component, and each production batch is tested and documented with checks and certifications throughout the manufacturing process. Tensile test reports from our own testing facility or from an independent third party are available on request.
Contact us to request a test report.
Figures on this page are provided as guidance for component selection. Final responsibility for the suspension design, component selection and installation rests with the project designer and installer.
Product Exceptions
Article 9-39J accepts 1.8 mm wire, but its working load limit remains 18 kg – the same as the 1.5 mm assembly. Do not apply the 1.8 mm figure of 24 kg to this article.
Ferrules, loop terminals, wire rope clips and stoppers are not grippers – they rely on manual locking or tooling during installation, and their holding capacity depends on how they are fitted. Because that is outside our control, we publish no working load limit for them.
Application Conditions
Static suspension only. Alemtek wire suspension systems are designed to hold a fixed load in position. They are not lifting accessories and must not be used for lifting, hoisting, raising or lowering any load, or for any application where the load moves under tension.
Dynamic and impact loads. The table covers static loads only. Air movement from HVAC systems, cleaning, accidental impact and vibration all add load beyond the fixture weight. Where these are expected, increase the wire diameter or add suspension points.
Suspension over people. In certain markets, fixtures suspended above areas occupied by people require a secondary safety suspension or higher safety factor. In Germany and Austria this is governed by DGUV V17/V18. Confirm the requirements applicable to your project before installation.
Temperature. Figures apply at ambient temperature. Sustained elevated temperature, for example close to LED drivers or in high-bay applications, reduces capacity.
Corrosive environments. Standard stainless grades corrode and lose capacity in aggressive atmospheres. Contact us before specifying for outdoor, marine, pool or chemically aggressive installations. Material selection depends on the specific environment.
Ceiling fixings and structure. These figures cover the wire and gripper only. The suitability of the anchor, fixing and supporting structure – concrete, plasterboard, suspended grid, steelwork or timber – is the responsibility of the installer and the project designer. In most cases the fixing gives way before the wire does.
Inspection and re-use. Alemtek grippers and wire are single-use. The gripper permanently deforms the wire under load, so neither can be re-installed once a suspension is dismantled. Always fit new components and always replace everything on a fixture that has been overloaded or been struck.
Inspect visually at least once a year, and after any impact, structural work or change of use. Check for corrosion, broken or protruding strands, kinking, movement of the wire through the gripper, and looseness at the ceiling fixing or fixture attachment. Any wire with broken strands must be replaced immediately. Increase frequency in corrosive, hot or high-vibration environments, and where fixtures hang above occupied areas.