Every crane lift depends on the gear between the hook and the load. Understanding the types of rigging equipment, what each piece does, and the standards that govern it helps you plan a lift that goes smoothly and speak the same language as your lifting partner. This guide maps the core rigging hardware to its function and to the OSHA or ASME standard behind it.
Key Takeaways
- Rigging equipment is the hardware that connects a load to a crane or hoist and controls it during the lift. Rigging secures the load; lifting moves it.
- The core types of rigging equipment are slings, shackles, hooks, eye bolts, spreader bars and lifting beams, wire rope, turnbuckles, blocks and pulleys, and hoists and winches.
- Every rigging decision starts with the load weight, taken from the nameplate, shipping documents, or engineering drawings.
- Each piece of rigging gear carries a Working Load Limit, and a rigging assembly is only as strong as its lowest-rated component.
- OSHA 29 CFR 1926.251 and the ASME B30 series govern rigging equipment across the United States.
- When a load is too heavy or complex for a crane and standard rigging alone, engineered rigging uses gantry systems, jack and slide methods, and specialized below-the-hook gear.
What Is Rigging Equipment?
Rigging equipment is the collection of hardware that connects a load to a crane or hoist and keeps it stable and controlled while it moves. It includes slings, shackles, hooks, spreader bars, and other hardware, each with a specific job in attaching, balancing, and securing the load.
Rigging and lifting work together, but they are not the same thing:
- Rigging: the hardware and setup that secures the load and connects it to the lifting equipment.
- Lifting: the crane or hoist that supplies the power to raise and move the load.
A crane supplies the muscle. The rigging makes sure the load is attached correctly and stays balanced from the pick to the set.
Start With the Load: Determining Weight Before Any Rigging Is Chosen
Before any rigging equipment is selected, the load weight has to be established. Weight determines which sling, shackle, and hardware ratings a lift requires, so it is the first number every rigging decision depends on.
The load itself is the primary source. Manufacturers and shippers typically record the weight in one of three places:
- The equipment nameplate: the manufacturer’s stamped or affixed plate on the component.
- The shipping documents: bills of lading and packing lists that travel with the load.
- The engineering drawings: project documentation that specifies the component and its weight.
When none of that data is available, weight can be estimated by calculating the load’s volume and multiplying by the material’s density. Aluminum weighs roughly 165 pounds per cubic foot and cast iron roughly 450, so two same-size components made of different materials can call for very different rigging.
Getting this number right matters, because every rated capacity downstream is measured against it. It is also why load weight, center of gravity, and attachment points are established up front as part of a lift plan rather than judged on the ground. Maxim Crane’s engineering services team works through these factors before a lift so the rigging matches the load.
The Types of Rigging Equipment
The core types of rigging equipment each attach, connect, balance, or power a lift. The table below maps each type to what it does, its common variations, and the OSHA or ASME standard that governs it. Short descriptions of each follow.
| Equipment | What it does | Common types | Governing standard(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slings | Attach the load to the hook and distribute its weight | Wire rope, synthetic web and round, alloy chain, metal mesh, fiber rope | OSHA 1926.251; ASME B30.9 |
| Shackles | Connect slings, chains, and ropes to the load or hook | Anchor (bow), chain (D), screw-pin, bolt-type | ASME B30.26 |
| Hooks | Connect and hold the sling or load, usually with a latch | Eye, clevis, sling, hoist, swivel, self-locking | ASME B30.10 |
| Eye bolts | Provide anchor and attachment points for slings | Shouldered (angled loads), straight or shoulderless (vertical) | ASME B30.26 |
| Spreader bars and lifting beams | Below-the-hook devices that balance and control the load | Spreader bars (two-point spread), lifting beams (single point) | ASME B30.20 |
| Wire rope | Flexible steel rope used in slings and hoist lines | 6×19 and 6×37 constructions | OSHA 1926.251; ASME B30.30 |
| Turnbuckles (rigging screws) | Adjust tension or length in a rigging line | Jaw, eye, and hook end fittings | ASME B30.26 |
| Blocks and pulleys | Redirect the line and add mechanical advantage | Snatch blocks, single and double sheave | ASME B30.26 |
| Hoists and winches | Provide the lifting or pulling power | Manual, electric, and air hoists; winches pull horizontally | ASME B30.16; B30.7 |
Slings
Slings attach the load to the hook and spread its weight across the pick points. Under ASME B30.9, the recognized materials are alloy steel chain, wire rope, metal mesh, synthetic fiber rope, and synthetic web. The right choice depends on the load’s weight, shape, temperature, and surface: synthetic web is gentle on finished surfaces, wire rope stands up to abrasion and heat, and alloy chain suits repeated heavy-duty use.
Slings are also rated by how they are configured. The three basic hitches are vertical, choker, and basket, and the same sling carries a different rated capacity in each one. That rating, not the sling material alone, is what a qualified rigger works from.
Shackles
Shackles connect slings, chains, and ropes to the load or the hook. Two families are common in crane rigging: anchor (bow) shackles, with a rounded bow that accepts loads from several directions, and chain (D) shackles, with a narrow body for straight, in-line pulls. Screw-pin and bolt-type pins separate quick-change hardware from more permanent installations. Side-loading a shackle reduces its rated capacity, which is why geometry matters, and shackles fall under ASME B30.26.
Hooks
Hooks connect and hold the sling or load, usually with a latch that keeps the connection from slipping off. They come in eye, clevis, sling, hoist, swivel, and self-locking styles and are governed by ASME B30.10. Because hook selection is a subject in its own right, see our guide to types of crane hooks and their applications for the full breakdown.
Eye Bolts
Eye bolts provide threaded anchor and attachment points for slings. Shouldered eye bolts are built to handle angled loads, while straight (shoulderless) eye bolts are rated for vertical, in-line pulls only. Like other rigging hardware, they are covered by ASME B30.26.
Spreader Bars and Lifting Beams
Spreader bars and lifting beams are below-the-hook devices that balance and control a load. A spreader bar uses two pick points spread apart so the sling legs hang closer to vertical, which lowers sling tension and suits long or wide loads. A lifting beam carries the load from a single top attachment point and handles the bending forces itself, which works well where overhead clearance is tight. Both are governed by ASME B30.20.
Wire Rope
Wire rope is flexible steel rope used in slings and crane hoist lines. Common constructions such as 6×19 and 6×37 trade off between abrasion resistance and flexibility. Wire rope is addressed under OSHA 1926.251 and ASME B30.30.
Turnbuckles
Turnbuckles, sometimes called rigging screws, adjust the tension or length of a rigging line. Jaw, eye, and hook end fittings let them connect to different hardware. They fall under ASME B30.26.
Blocks and Pulleys
Blocks and pulleys redirect the line and add mechanical advantage, letting a given amount of pulling force move a heavier load. Snatch blocks open on the side for quick reeving, while single and double sheave blocks change the mechanical advantage. Rigging blocks are covered by ASME B30.26.
Hoists and Winches
Hoists and winches provide the lifting or pulling power in a rigging setup. Hoists raise and lower loads and come in manual, electric, and air-powered versions; winches pull loads horizontally. Hoists are governed by ASME B30.16 and winches by ASME B30.7.
How Rigging Equipment Is Rated: Working Load Limit and the Weakest Link
Every piece of rigging gear has a Working Load Limit (WLL), the maximum load it is rated to handle in a given configuration. Three things set the safe limit for the assembly as a whole:
- The rated capacity marked on the gear: the figure the manufacturer assigned to that specific piece.
- The configuration it is used in: a sling’s rating changes between a vertical, choker, and basket hitch, and the sling angle changes the effective load on each leg.
- The lowest-rated component in the assembly: a rigging setup is only as strong as its weakest link, so the smallest shackle or the lightest-rated sling sets the ceiling.
Those ratings are not guesswork. OSHA requires rigging to carry permanently affixed markings that state its rated capacity. For wire rope slings, the federal rule reads: “Wire rope slings shall have permanently affixed, legible identification markings stating size, rated capacity.” That marking, together with the manufacturer’s load chart, is what tells a rigger what a piece of gear can safely handle.
Actual capacity varies widely by make, model, and configuration, which is why published per-item numbers can mislead. The rated capacity that matters is the one marked on the specific piece of gear in front of you and confirmed against its load chart.
The Standards That Govern Rigging Equipment: OSHA and ASME
Rigging equipment in the United States is governed by two main sources: OSHA’s federal regulation and ASME’s consensus standards. Together they define how rigging gear is made, marked, and rated.
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.251, Rigging Equipment for Material Handling, sets the federal requirements, including the sling materials that are recognized and the rated-capacity markings every piece must carry. The ASME B30 series provides the detailed consensus standards behind them, with a dedicated volume for each equipment family:
- ASME B30.9: slings.
- ASME B30.10: hooks.
- ASME B30.20: below-the-hook lifting devices, including spreader bars and lifting beams.
- ASME B30.26: rigging hardware such as shackles, eye bolts, turnbuckles, and blocks.
- ASME B30.30, B30.16, and B30.7: ropes, hoists, and winches, respectively.
These standards exist so that rigging hardware from different makers works together predictably and carries clear ratings. Knowing which standard governs a piece of gear is useful context. Applying it correctly on a live jobsite is work for qualified riggers and engineers.
When a Lift Needs Engineered Rigging
Engineered rigging, also called heavy rigging, is a specialized lifting approach for loads that are too heavy, too large, or too awkward for a standard crane and off-the-shelf rigging alone. It uses gantry systems, jack and slide methods, and other alternative lifting solutions to move and place complex components with precision.
A few conditions usually signal that a lift has moved past standard crane rental:
- The component is oversized or awkward: turbines, transformers, boilers, and presses that no standard sling-and-shackle setup will balance.
- The crane cannot reach the set point: tight interiors, limited overhead clearance, or no viable crane position.
- The lift needs formal engineering: major component replacement inside a live plant, where the placement has to be planned rather than judged on site.
In fall 2016, for example, Maxim handled the engineered rigging for the Moxie Freedom Energy project in Pennsylvania, setting turbines and generators on schedule. That work pairs a large, refreshed fleet of rental cranes, available with or without operating crews, with the engineered lifting and transport solutions that a complex component calls for. With 50-plus locations across the country, that support reaches jobsites coast to coast.
Frequently Asked Questions About Rigging Equipment
What is the difference between rigging and lifting?
Rigging and lifting are related but distinct. Rigging is the hardware and setup that secures a load and connects it to the crane, while lifting is the crane or hoist that supplies the power to raise and move it. A lift needs both: the right rigging to hold the load and the right crane to move it.
What are the main types of slings?
The main sling types are wire rope, synthetic web and round slings, alloy steel chain, metal mesh, and fiber rope. OSHA recognizes these materials for rigging, and the right one depends on the load’s weight, shape, temperature, and surface. Chain suits heavy repeated use, synthetic protects finished surfaces, and wire rope balances strength with abrasion resistance.
What is the difference between a spreader bar and a lifting beam?
A spreader bar uses two pick points spread apart so the sling legs hang closer to vertical, which lowers sling tension and is ideal for long or wide loads. A lifting beam carries the load from a single top attachment point and handles the bending forces itself, which works well where overhead clearance is limited. Both are below-the-hook devices governed by ASME B30.20.
What is the difference between an anchor shackle and a bow shackle?
There is not one. Anchor shackle and bow shackle are two names for the same shackle, the type with a rounded bow that can accept loads from more than one direction. The meaningful contrast is between anchor or bow shackles and chain (D) shackles, which have a narrower body meant for straight, in-line loads.
What is a Working Load Limit (WLL)?
A Working Load Limit is the maximum load a piece of rigging is rated to carry in a specific configuration, set by the manufacturer and marked on the gear. Because a rigging assembly is only as strong as its lowest-rated part, the component with the smallest WLL sets the safe limit for the entire setup.
Match the Right Rigging Equipment to Your Next Lift
The right rigging equipment is only part of a successful lift. Matching slings, shackles, and below-the-hook gear to the load, the crane, and the site is what keeps a lift on schedule and under control. Whether your project calls for standard crane rental or engineered rigging for a complex component, Maxim Crane can help you plan it. Request a quote to talk through your lift with a knowledgeable team.
