Ratchet Lashing Straps

LC and STF: the two numbers that decide your strap

LC (lashing capacity) is what the strap can take in a straight pull — the 2T, 4T or 5T figure. STF (standard tension force) is the pre-tension the ratchet actually delivers into the strap.

For top-over lashing, STF is the number that matters. The strap passes over the load and presses it down; the restraint comes from that pressure, not from the strap capacity. A 5T strap with a weak ratchet delivers less useful restraint than a 4T strap with an STF 500 daN ergo ratchet. Buyers who only compare tonnage regularly buy the wrong strap.

Choosing the right strap

• 2T with end fittings — vans, courier work, light palletised goods
• 4T — the general workhorse for trucks and trailers
• 5T with STF 500 daN ergo ratchet — heavy loads and top-over lashing where pre-tension does the work
• Hook type — J-hooks for standard rave rails, double J or claw hooks where the anchorage differs. Order the fitting that matches your vehicles or you will be replacing straps early.

Cutting the number of straps you need

Under EN 12195-1 the required restraint follows from the friction between cargo and load bed. Bare timber on steel gives roughly 0.2 to 0.3 µ. Anti-slip material raises that to 0.6 µ and above, which can reduce the number of straps per load by up to 40%. Fewer straps means faster loading, fewer to inspect and fewer to replace — which is why straps and anti-slip belong on the same order.

Inspection and withdrawal

• Withdraw straps with cuts, chafing, cut edges, chemical damage or heat damage
• Check the ratchet mechanism and hooks for deformation and cracks
• The label must stay legible — an unlabelled strap fails inspection regardless of condition
• Never knot a strap; a knot substantially reduces capacity at the knot
• Fit edge protection at every corner — corner damage is the main reason straps are withdrawn early

Frequently asked

How many straps per pallet load? It depends on cargo weight, friction and lashing angle. Send us your typical load and we run the EN 12195-1 calculation with you.

Why buy per pallet? Straps are consumables — they wear, they get damaged, they leave on trailers. Pallet quantities take the cost per strap far below single-unit and box pricing, and we show that unit price up front.

Stocked in our EU warehouse with same-day dispatch on stock items, delivered across the EU, including Ireland, and to Switzerland. Contact info@sorbpack.com — answered within 2 business hours.

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