A ratchet strap's label has more numbers on it than most people read. They come from EN 12195, the European standard family for load restraint on road vehicles. This guide explains what the family covers, what the figures on a strap mean, how straps are tested, and why the same strap is used in two different ways. It is buyer education, not a replacement for the standard or for a calculation made by a competent person.
1. The four parts of EN 12195
| Part | Subject | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| EN 12195-1 | Calculation of lashing forces | The method for sizing the securing |
| EN 12195-2 | Web lashing made from man-made fibres | Rating, testing, marking and instructions for webbing lashings |
| EN 12195-3 | Lashing chains | The chain equivalent |
| EN 12195-4 | Lashing wire ropes | The wire rope equivalent |
Part 2 applies to multiple-use web lashings made of flat woven webbing, for transporting goods on road vehicles such as trucks and trailers, including when they travel on vessels or rail wagons. It covers only hand-driven tensioning devices, designed for a maximum hand force of 500 N. liftrue's ratchet straps are made with construction and test methods referenced to Part 2; cargo nets are rated by their declared LC with a test method agreed per order, because Part 2 addresses web lashings rather than net assemblies.
2. LC, SHF and STF
| Term | Definition | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| LC | Lashing capacity: the maximum force for use in straight pull that the web lashing is designed to sustain | The limit for direct pulls on the strap |
| SHF | Standard hand force: a hand force of 500 N, shown as 50 daN on the label | The reference force for tensioning |
| STF | Standard tension force: the residual force left in the lashing after the ratchet handle is released | The pre-tension available for friction lashing |
The standard sets how big the STF is. After the standard hand force is applied, the remaining tension must be at least 0.1 LC for ratchets designed for friction lashing and never more than 0.5 LC (clause 6.5.1). For a strap with an LC of 2,500 daN, an STF of 400 daN is 0.16 LC and sits inside those limits. A common 50 mm ratchet strap is marked with an LC of 2,500 daN.
3. How a strap is tested
| Item | Requirement | Clause |
|---|---|---|
| Complete web lashing at 1.25 LC, held for one minute | No deformation or defect affecting function; no seam failure; no slippage through the tensioner after settling | 5.1, 6.4 |
| Then loaded to 2 LC | Withstand at least 2 LC without failure, the "coefficient of utilisation" of 2 | 5.1, 6.4, 3.16 |
| Unsewn webbing | Sustain at least 3 LC in the tensile test | 5.2, 6.3 |
| Webbing elongation at LC | Not more than 7% | 5.2, 6.3 |
That is the 2:1 figure usually quoted for lashing. It applies to the complete lashing with its ratchet and end fittings, which is why the LC on the label is set by the whole assembly. It is a much smaller margin than the 7:1 used for lifting slings, and it is not interchangeable with it: see the standards comparison.
4. Reading the label
Clause 8 lists what the label must show, where applicable: the lashing capacity LC; the lengths of the strap in metres; the standard hand force; the standard tension force when the strap is designed for friction lashing; the warning "Not for lifting!"; the webbing material; the manufacturer or supplier name or symbol; a traceability code; the number and part of the standard, EN 12195-2; the year of manufacture; and the elongation of the webbing at LC. Label colour identifies the material: blue for polyester, green for polyamide, brown for polypropylene. Colour does not identify the LC, which has to be read from the label. End fittings and tensioners of 5 kN LC or more carry the manufacturer's mark.
The standard's temperature ranges for webbing lashings are −40 to +80 °C for polypropylene, −40 to +100 °C for polyamide and −40 to +120 °C for polyester, and they vary in a chemical environment (Annex B.9). The same Annex describes chemical behaviour: polyamide is attacked by mineral acids, polyester by alkalis, and polypropylene is little affected by either except for certain organic solvents.
5. Friction lashing and diagonal lashing load the strap differently
Diagonal (direct) lashing ties the load to anchor points so that the strap pulls against the way the load would move. The force in the strap rises as the load pushes, and the LC is the limit. Friction (top-over) lashing presses the load down onto the platform and raises the friction between load and bed so the load cannot slide. The strap's pre-tension, its STF, creates the downward force, and the strap is never loaded near its LC. That is why a strap with an LC of 2,500 daN may be worth only a few hundred daN of clamping force.
Annex B states the rules that follow from this. Only web lashings designed for friction lashing and carrying an STF on the label are to be used for friction lashing. A free-standing unit of load needs at least one pair of web lashings for friction lashing and two pairs for diagonal lashing. The number of lashings is calculated according to EN 12195-1. The tension should be checked periodically, especially shortly after the journey starts, and again after entering warmer areas because temperature changes alter the forces in the strap.
How many straps that takes is a calculation rather than a guess. EN 12195-1 sizes the securing from the mass of the load, the friction between load and bed, the strap's STF and the angle to the deck, using design accelerations of 0.8 g forward and 0.5 g rearward and sideways for normal road use. The same load can need several times as many straps on a smooth steel bed (μ ≈ 0.3) as on anti-slip mats (μ ≈ 0.6), which is why mats, blocking and diagonal lashing do so much of the work. Send us the load, the deck surface and the route and we will do the arithmetic.
6. Using and withdrawing a strap
Annex B sets the user rules: apply only the standard hand force of 500 N (50 daN), with no levers, bars or extensions unless they are part of the tensioning device; never knot a lashing; protect the webbing from friction, abrasion and sharp load edges with sleeves or corner protectors; and use only lashings whose marking is legible.
Reject a lashing with tears, cuts, nicks, broken load-bearing fibres or retaining stitches, or heat deformation; reject end fittings and tensioners that are deformed, split, visibly worn or corroded; and take a lashing out of service after any accidental contact with chemicals and consult the supplier. Only lashings bearing identification labels are repaired. Before releasing a load, make sure its stability does not depend on the lashings, so that releasing them cannot make the load fall.
7. Where the rules come from
EN 12195 is a standard, not a regulation. In the EU, roadside inspections under Directive 2014/47/EU check whether cargo is properly secured and refer to European standards for cargo securing as minimum references, and national rules and guidelines sit alongside them. If you ship across borders, the receiving country's rules and your customer's contract apply as well.
8. What to put on the purchase order
A lashing order that leaves nothing to guess states the lashing capacity LC and, for friction lashing, the standard tension force; the length and the end fitting; whether the strap is intended for friction or diagonal lashing; the material and the temperature range it will see; and the documents required with the shipment — a declaration of conformity, a material test certificate and the instructions for use.
Questions worth asking before the first order: Is the LC marked for the complete assembly, since the strap, ratchet and end fittings together set the rating? What is the STF at the standard hand force, and is the strap designed for friction lashing? Does the label carry the clause 8 items — ask for a photo of the real tag? Does the manufacturer hold a certified quality system, which affects the production sampling lot size?
FAQ
Is LC the same as WLL?
No. WLL belongs to lifting and comes with a 7:1 failure force under EN 1492. LC belongs to lashing and is the maximum force in a straight pull, with a complete lashing withstanding at least twice that. Do not read one as the other.
Why is the STF so much lower than the LC?
The STF is the tension left after one person's standard hand force on the ratchet, and the standard limits it to between 0.1 and 0.5 of the LC. The LC is the most the strap is designed to carry when the cargo pushes on it. A strap is tensioned a little and then loaded by the cargo, not tensioned up to its capacity.
Can I add a bar to the ratchet handle for more tension?
No. Annex B allows only the standard hand force, and extensions are not used unless they are part of the tensioning device.
Can a webbing lifting sling be used for lashing?
It may be strong enough, but its rating and paperwork are for lifting under EN 1492, so it does not document a restraint capacity. See EN 1492-1 Explained.
Do cargo nets follow EN 12195 too?
Cargo nets are lashing equipment and are rated by LC, declared for the complete net assembly. See What Is Load Securement Netting?
Further reading
- EN 1492 vs EN 12195 vs EN 1263: Which Applies?
- EN 1492-1 Explained
- What Is Load Securement Netting?
- Ratchet Straps
- Cargo Securing Nets
Tell us the load, the securing method and the deck surface and we will quote from our standard ratchet strap and cargo securing net range. Standard sizes ship in 3–7 days; custom lengths take 2–4 weeks. Use the inquiry form and we will come back with a configuration and a price.
Basis and disclaimer: clause references are to EN 12195-2:2000. Always work from the current edition of EN 12195-1 and EN 12195-2 and the manufacturer's instructions for use. This is buyer education; securing plans for real loads should be calculated to EN 12195-1 or an equivalent recognised method by a competent person.
References
[1] EN 12195-1:2010, Load restraint on road vehicles — Safety — Part 1: Calculation of securing forces.
[2] EN 12195-2:2000, Load restraint assemblies on road vehicles — Safety — Part 2: Web lashing made from man-made fibres (all clause references in this guide).
[3] EN 12195-3:2001, Load restraint assemblies on road vehicles — Safety — Part 3: Lashing chains.
[4] EN 12195-4:2003, Load restraint assemblies on road vehicles — Safety — Part 4: Lashing steel wire ropes.
[5] Directive 2014/47/EU on the technical roadside inspection of the roadworthiness of commercial vehicles (cargo-securing checks).
[6] Directive 2006/42/EC on machinery (scope: lifting accessories), for the boundary between lifting equipment and lashing equipment.
* Standards are cited here for traceability. Always work from the edition you have purchased and from the manufacturer's instructions issued for your order.