Grade 100 alloy lifting chain can provide a higher working load limit than Grade 80 chain of a comparable nominal size, as shown in OSHA's grade-specific sling tables. That does not make every Grade 100 sling suitable for a heavier lift: the finished sling's identification, hitch, leg angle and lowest-rated component govern the permitted load. Compare documented products and complete assemblies, not grade names alone.
This guide concerns alloy chain for overhead lifting and chain slings made from it. Binder chain and a hoist's calibrated load chain are not interchangeable substitutes. OSHA's alloy steel chain sling guidance identifies Grades 80 and 100 as common sling grades and provides separate rated-load tables for each.
What changes between Grade 80 and Grade 100?
The grade describes the chain material's strength class. In a like-for-like comparison, Grade 100 can permit a higher working load limit at the same nominal chain diameter. It does not establish the rating of a hook, connector, master link or assembled sling. Liftool lists separate Grade 80 alloy lifting chain and Grade 100 alloy lifting chain product ranges; their published size tables differ. Obtain the current specification for the exact size and lot rather than applying a blanket percentage to a planned lift.
| Buyer question | Grade 80 option | Grade 100 option |
|---|---|---|
| Is the required load covered? | Check the marked or documented rating for the exact chain or sling. | Check its own rating; do not add a percentage to a Grade 80 sling tag. |
| Will it fit existing hardware? | Verify size, shape and rated connectors. | Verify the same details again; grade alone proves no interchangeability. |
| What must the purchase order name? | Chain size and grade, or a fully specified sling assembly. | The same, with matching Grade 100 components and assembly documentation where required. |
The old article's "up to 25%" statement is not a usable capacity rule. Liftool's catalog describes a strength comparison, while the size tables give product-specific figures. The choice must follow the applicable chain and assembled sling ratings for the intended configuration. A stronger chain does not add a safety margin to a sling already limited by its fitting or use angle.
Specify the complete lifting arrangement
Start with the load, lifting points, number of legs, hitch and expected leg angles. State the required sling reach, chain size, end fittings, operating environment and destination market. Ask the supplier whether you are buying loose alloy lifting chain for qualified fabrication or a finished chain sling with identification and assembly records. A loose chain product page cannot certify a finished sling.
For US general-industry sling use, 29 CFR 1910.184 requires durable alloy-chain-sling identification showing size, grade, rated capacity and reach. Attachments must have a capacity at least equal to the chain, or the sling is limited to the weakest component. The regulation also prohibits use above the manufacturer's marked safe working load. These are US use requirements; buyers in other markets must confirm their applicable rules and the assembly documentation they require.
Ask for the maker's load chart for the actual sling design and hitch. For a multi-leg sling, changes in leg angle can change the permitted load; do not multiply a single-leg rating by the leg count. The sling maker or a qualified person should resolve unequal loading and unusual arrangements before the lift. OSHA's sling guidance sets out angle and configuration limits for its Grade 80 and Grade 100 tables.
When is Grade 100 the useful choice?
Choose Grade 100 when the documented assembly rating meets a load or space constraint that an available Grade 80 assembly does not, and all fittings and the intended use are compatible. Grade 80 remains a valid option when its complete assembly meets the required rating and fit. Compare the delivered sling specification, traceability and replacement-component availability as well as the chain price.
Do not assume a higher grade makes the chain corrosion resistant, suitable for any outdoor or chemical exposure, or longer lived. Coating, environment, temperature, handling and inspection history need separate review. OSHA's guidance directs users to consult the manufacturer for chemically active environments, and its sling regulation requires daily pre-use inspection and removal of damaged or defective slings. Confirm any temperature derating against the actual chain or sling maker's instructions; no universal operating limit is inferred from the grade label here.
For a purchase comparison, send Liftool the load and lifting geometry, proposed grade and chain size, end-fitting list, destination, and documentation requirements. Request a model-specific chain specification or a rated finished-sling proposal before approving a substitution.