Which statement correctly characterizes chain slings?

• A. They stretch 8-10% at rated capacity
• B. They generally do not stretch at rated capacity but can stretch 15-20% prior to failure
• C. They stretch more than nylon at rated capacity
• D. They never stretch

Answer: (B)

Chain slings are steel and designed so their elongation under the rated load is minimal, keeping the sling mainly in its elastic range. The rated capacity is set so that the sling won’t experience permanent deformation at that load. If the sling is overloaded and approaches failure, the steel links yield and the length increases noticeably, with substantial elongation—roughly 15–20%—before final fracture. This reflects the ductile nature of steel under overload and serves as a warning sign before failure. It’s not accurate to say they stretch a fixed 8–10% at rated capacity, nor that they never stretch, and synthetic (nylon) slings generally show more stretch under load than steel chain slings.