A main contractor’s rigging loft might hold a few hundred shackles, from 1/2" pins on tag lines to 2" bow shackles under the crane hook. They arrive in mixed lots, from more than one supplier, against purchase orders that often say no more than “shackle 1 inch, 20 nos”. That order can be filled with a forged, rated, certified shackle — or with something that looks the same and carries a third less. This guide sets out what a shackle order should specify, and why.
/01Pattern: the shape and pin in one number.
Shackles sold to the US pattern numbers share dimensions and ratings, so a pattern number tells the supplier the body shape, the pin and the rating table in one word. The common ones are the G-209 screw-pin anchor shackle, the G-2130 bolt-type anchor shackle and the G-213 round-pin anchor shackle, with their chain (dee) equivalents G-210, G-2150 and G-215. They trace to US Federal Specification RR-C-271, which classes shackles as Type IVA (anchor) or IVB (chain), Grade A or B, and Class 1 (round pin), 2 (screw pin) or 3 (bolt, nut and cotter). Our comparison of G-209, G-2130 and G-213 explains when each is the right choice, and pattern numbers explained decodes the prefixes.
/02Size is not a rating.
| Size | Commercial grade | G-209 / G-2130 pattern | Grade 8 alloy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2" | 1.5 t | 2 t | 3.3 t |
| 5/8" | 2.25 t | 3.25 t | 5 t |
| 3/4" | 3.25 t | 4.75 t | 7 t |
| 7/8" | 4.25 t | 6.5 t | 9.5 t |
| 1" | 5.5 t | 8.5 t | 12.5 t |
The nominal size is the diameter of the bow, and three shackles of the same size can carry very different loads. Specify the WLL your rigging plan needs, then let the size follow from the table of the pattern you are buying. Our shackle size and capacity chart lists every size; commercial grade vs lifting grade explains why the left-hand column exists and where it belongs.
/03Pin type.
- Screw pin — quick to fit and remove, for rigging that is made and broken often. Must be fully engaged and tightened before each lift.
- Bolt type (safety pin) — bolt, nut and cotter pin, for long-term installations and wherever the load could slide on the pin and turn it.
- Round pin — a plain pin held by a cotter, for in-line loads only; makers do not allow side loading or gathering several sling legs on a round-pin shackle.
/04Finish and material.
Hot-dip galvanised carbon steel is the general-purpose standard on Gulf sites. Self-coloured (painted) shackles are common in heavy-lift and alloy ranges. Stainless shackles are chosen for corrosion — marine, food and chemical plant — not for strength, and their ratings vary by maker. Our stainless vs galvanised rigging in the Gulf covers the trade-off. Grade 8 alloy shackles carry about half as much again as carbon shackles of the same size, which matters where weight and bow size are limited.
/05Certificates and marking.
Every rated shackle should be forged or stamped with the maker’s name or mark, its working load limit and its size; RR-C-271 requires that on the bow, and ASME B30.26 sets similar marking for rigging hardware. Ask for the manufacturer’s test certificate with every consignment and check the stamp against it on receipt. Unmarked shackles come out of service at inspection. See shackle markings explained and what a lifting gear test certificate should show.
/06The purchase order checklist.
| Line | Example |
|---|---|
| Pattern or standard | G-2130 pattern / AS 2741 Grade S / BS 3032 pattern |
| Body and pin | Anchor (bow), bolt type |
| Size and WLLHighlighted | 1" — 8.5 t |
| Finish | Hot-dip galvanised |
| Quantity and delivery | 20 pcs, site store, Ruwais |
| Documents | Manufacturer’s test certificate; third-party certificate if the site requires it |
When you send the enquiry, the rigging hardware RFQ checklist lists what a supplier needs to quote the right shackle first time.
Common questions
- What is the most common shackle on UAE construction sites?
- The galvanised screw-pin anchor shackle to the G-209 pattern, with bolt-type G-2130 pattern shackles where rigging stays in place or the pin could rotate.
- Is a 1 inch shackle rated 8.5 tonnes?
- A 1" G-209 or G-2130 pattern carbon shackle is rated 8.5 t in our tables; a 1" commercial-grade shackle 5.5 t; a 1" Grade 8 alloy shackle 12.5 t. Always check the table for the pattern you buy.
- Do your shackles come with certificates?
- Yes. Rated shackles ship with the manufacturer’s test certificate. If your site needs third-party certification, say so on the enquiry.
- Can I mix shackles from different suppliers?
- Yes, if each is marked and certified, but never swap pins between shackles — use only the pin supplied for that shackle.
- Do you deliver shackles to sites in Abu Dhabi and the Western Region?
- We ship from Dubai across the UAE and the GCC. Tell us the delivery point and required date with the enquiry.
Shackles we supply
IH-LR-SH-G209Screw Pin Anchor Shackle — G-209 Pattern
IH-LR-SH-G2130Bolt-Type Anchor Shackle — G-2130 Pattern
IH-LR-SH-G213Round Pin Anchor Shackle — G-213 Pattern
IH-LR-SH-G210Screw Pin Chain Shackle — G-210 Pattern
IH-LR-SH-G2150Bolt-Type Chain Shackle — G-2150 Pattern
IH-LR-SH-8ASPASGrade 8 Alloy Screw Pin Anchor Shackle
IH-LR-SH-SSA2741SP2Grade S Shackle — AS 2741, Screw Pin
IH-LR-SH-WBSSSPWide Body Sling Shackle, Safety Pin