If a rope has SWL of 2,000 and a knot/splice ER of 50%, what is the RSWL?

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Multiple Choice

If a rope has SWL of 2,000 and a knot/splice ER of 50%, what is the RSWL?

The key idea is that a knot or splice reduces the rope’s strength to a percentage of its original rating. The revised safe working load (RSWL) is found by multiplying the SWL by the knot/splice efficiency (as a decimal). So with an SWL of 2,000 and an efficiency of 50%, the calculation is 2,000 × 0.50 = 1,000. Therefore, the RSWL is 1,000. This means you should not rely on more than 1,000 pounds when that rope has the knot or splice. The other numbers would come from using a different efficiency or ignoring the derating: 4,000 would imply increasing strength, 2,000 would be no reduction, and 1,500 would correspond to an efficiency of 75% rather than 50%.

The key idea is that a knot or splice reduces the rope’s strength to a percentage of its original rating. The revised safe working load (RSWL) is found by multiplying the SWL by the knot/splice efficiency (as a decimal).

So with an SWL of 2,000 and an efficiency of 50%, the calculation is 2,000 × 0.50 = 1,000. Therefore, the RSWL is 1,000.

This means you should not rely on more than 1,000 pounds when that rope has the knot or splice. The other numbers would come from using a different efficiency or ignoring the derating: 4,000 would imply increasing strength, 2,000 would be no reduction, and 1,500 would correspond to an efficiency of 75% rather than 50%.

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