Colour-coded slings exist so that a rigger can pick the right capacity from across a yard. That works as long as everyone on site is reading the same code. On a Gulf project with slings from Europe, the US and Asia in the same container, they often are not.
The EN 1492 chart.
EN 1492-1 (flat webbing slings) and EN 1492-2 (round slings) give the same colour for each working load limit. Our polyester round and webbing slings are made to it, and the colours below are the ones in their size tables.
| Colour | WLL, straight lift | WLL, choked |
|---|---|---|
| Violet | 1 t | 0.8 t |
| Green | 2 t | 1.6 t |
| Yellow | 3 t | 2.4 t |
| Grey | 4 t | 3.2 t |
| Red | 5 t | 4.0 t |
| Brown | 6 t | 4.8 t |
| Blue | 8 t | 6.4 t |
| Orange | 10 t and over | 80% of the straight WLL |
Orange covers everything from 10 t up — our orange round slings run from 10 t to 100 t — so above 10 t the colour tells you only that the sling is heavy-duty. The standard also reserves these colours for these ratings: a sling with any other WLL must not be made in them.
What does the colour of a lifting sling mean?
On a polyester webbing or round sling made to EN 1492, the colour shows its vertical working load limit: violet 1 t, green 2 t, yellow 3 t, grey 4 t, red 5 t, brown 6 t, blue 8 t and orange 10 t or more. US round slings use a different scale, so always confirm the rating on the sling’s label.
The label has its own colour code.
Under EN 1492 the colour of the label — the sewn-on tag that carries the sling’s details — tells you what the sling is made of. That matters because the fibres react differently to heat and chemicals.
| Label colour | Fibre | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Blue | Polyester | Alkalis. Use from −40 °C to 100 °C. |
| Green | Polyamide (nylon) | Mineral acids. Use from −40 °C to 100 °C. |
| Brown | Polypropylene | Solvents. Use from −40 °C to 80 °C. |
US round slings use a different scale.
In the US, round sling colours follow a convention published by the Web Sling & Tie Down Association (WSTDA RS-1). It uses some of the same colours for quite different capacities, and adds colours that EN 1492 does not use at all.
| Colour | EN 1492 | US round sling (WSTDA RS-1) |
|---|---|---|
| Violet / purple | 1 t (2,205 lb) | 2,600 lb (1.18 t) |
| Green | 2 t (4,409 lb) | 5,300 lb (2.40 t) |
| Yellow | 3 t (6,614 lb) | 8,400 lb (3.81 t) |
| Tan | Not used | 10,600 lb (4.81 t) |
| Red | 5 t (11,023 lb) | 13,200 lb (5.99 t) |
| White | Not used | 16,800 lb (7.62 t) |
| Blue | 8 t (17,637 lb) | 21,200 lb (9.62 t) |
The US convention is not set by ASME B30.9, and the WSTDA table itself notes that colours and capacities may vary between manufacturers. So a blue sling could be 8 t, 21,200 lb or something else again. On a site that receives slings from more than one source, the only safe rule is to read every label.
The colour is the vertical rating.
The colour gives the WLL for a straight, vertical lift. Every other way of rigging the sling has its own factor, set out in EN 1492:
| How the sling is used | Factor | Yellow 3 t sling |
|---|---|---|
| Straight lift | 1.0 | 3.0 t |
| Choked | 0.8 | 2.4 t |
| Basket, legs parallel | 2.0 | 6.0 t |
| Basket, legs 0°–45° from vertical | 1.4 | 4.2 t |
| Basket, legs 45°–60° from vertical | 1.0 | 3.0 t |
| Two slings, 0°–45° from vertical | 1.4 | 4.2 t |
| Two slings, 45°–60° from vertical | 1.0 | 3.0 t |
The angle factors come from the geometry in our sling angle chart. When choking, let the choke draw up naturally; never force it down against the load.
The label is the rating.
Colour is a quick guide for picking up the right sling. The label is the record: it states the working load limit, the material, the length, the maker and a traceability code, and it is what an inspector checks against the certificate. Sling makers who use the colour code say so plainly — the colour is a guide, the label decides.
That is why a sling whose label is missing or unreadable comes out of service, however obvious its colour looks. US regulations require every sling to carry legible identification, and the same rule runs through EN-based inspection practice and the UAE codes of practice — see our guide to lifting inspection in the UAE.
Colour-coded slings in this guide
Common questions
What colour is a 1 tonne sling?
Violet under EN 1492. Under the US round-sling convention, purple is 2,600 lb, about 1.18 t — so check the label on any sling not made to EN 1492.
What colour is a 5 tonne sling?
Red under EN 1492. A US round sling in red is rated 13,200 lb, about 6 t, under the WSTDA convention.
Why are all heavy slings orange?
EN 1492 uses orange for every sling of 10 t and above. Above 10 t the colour tells you only that the sling is heavy-duty; the rating must be read from the label.
What does a blue label on a sling mean?
Under EN 1492, a blue label means the sling is polyester. A green label means polyamide (nylon) and a brown label means polypropylene. The label colour shows material, not capacity.
Can I use a sling if the label has come off?
No. A sling without a legible label has no verifiable rating and must be taken out of service, even if its colour suggests a capacity.
Synthetic slings
Polyester round and webbing slings made to EN 1492, colour-coded by WLL.
Lifting slings
Synthetic, wire rope and chain slings and fittings.
Figures verified · EN 1492 colours and mode factors checked against EN 1492-1/-2 and a manufacturer’s EN 1492 user manual; US colours from WSTDA RS-1 (2001 edition) Table 1. Pound and tonne conversions ours. The label on the sling governs.
Need slings colour-coded to EN 1492?
Tell us the load, the hitch and the length. We will quote polyester round or webbing slings in the matching EN 1492 colour, each labelled and supplied with the manufacturer’s certificate.
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