§ 181.5. Securement systems.
(a) General requirements. This section applies to tiedown assemblies, including chains, cables, steel straps, other securement devices, and attachment or fastening devices used in conjunction therewith, which are used to secure cargo to motor vehicles in transit. Devices which are used to secure cargo to a motor vehicle in transit under this chapter shall conform with the requirements of this section.
(b) Tiedown assemblies. The aggregate static breaking strength of the tiedown assemblies used to secure an article against movement in a direction shall be at least 1 1/2 times the weight of that article. Chain used as a component of a tiedown assembly shall conform with the requirements of the August 1961 edition to the Welded Chain Specifications of the National Association of Chain Manufacturers, as amended, applicable to all types of chain. Copies of these specifications may be secured by writing to the National Association of Chain Manufacturers, 111 West Washington St., Chicago, IL 60601. Steel strapping used as a component of a tiedown assembly shall conform with the requirements of Federal Specification No. QQ-S-781 (1973). Copies of these specifications may be secured from the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C. 20402. Steel strapping that is one inch wide or wider shall have at least two pairs of crimps in each seal and, when end-over-end lap joints are formed, shall be sealed with at least two seals.
(c) Load binders and hardware. The strength of load binders and hardware that are part of, or used in conjunction with, a tiedown assembly shall be equal to, or greater than, the minimum strength specified for that tiedown assembly in subsection (b).
(d) Attachment to the vehicle. The hook, bolt, weld or other connector by which a tiedown assembly is attached to a vehicle, and the mounting place and means of mounting the connector, shall be at least as strong as the tiedown assembly when that connector is loaded in a direction in which the tiedown assembly may load or place a stress on it.
(e) Winches or other fastenings. The anchorages of a winch or other fastening device mounted on a vehicle and used in conjunction with a tiedown assembly shall have a combined tensile strength equal to, or greater than, the strength of the tiedown assembly.
(f) Adjustability. A tiedown assembly and its associated connectors and attachment devices shall be designed, constructed and maintained so that the driver of an in-transit vehicle can tighten them. However, the provisions of this subsection does not apply to a securement system in which the tiedown assembly consists of steel strapping or to a tiedown assembly which is not required by the provisions of this section.
(g) Tiedown limitations. Limitations on tiedowns shall be as follows:
(1) No chain may be used if any link is:
(i) Worn or gouged through over 10% of its thickness.
(ii) Cracked to an extent.
(iii) Bent, twisted, stretched or collapsed.
(iv) If a replacement or connecting link is not as strong in tension as the minimum required by subsection (b).
(2) For load binders the hook of the binder shall not be spread or distorted. The attaching pin may not be bent, worn over 10% of its thickness, or inadequately secured to the hook. The binder parts may not be bent, repaired by welding or so worn or distorted as not to enable the chain to be tensioned properly or to retain tension when in the secured position.
(3) Cables may not be worn or frayed or have over 10% of their strands broken at any point.
(4) Load securing devices, such as winches, shall be secured to the vehicles and may not give evidence of deterioration as by cracking of welds or distortion, wear or cracking of bolts. Ratchets shall be so designed and maintained as to hold the cable drum securely.
(5) For tiedown assemblies and other securing devices, natural or man made fibers, such as nylon or hemp rope, may not be used.
Source The provisions of this § 181.5 adopted January 20, 1978, effective January 21, 1978, 8 Pa.B. 205.
Cross References This section cited in 67 Pa. Code § 181.4 (relating to basic protection components).
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