There is a common misconception in the logistics and transport industry that ratchet tie-down straps require a CE mark. In reality, applying a CE mark to a standard lashing strap is not just incorrect—it's a legal offense.
You often see it requested on procurement documents or questioned by safety inspectors: "Where is the CE mark on these ratchet straps?"
To understand why they don't have one, we must first understand what the CE mark actually signifies. The CE mark is an administrative indicator that declares a product complies with the health, safety, and environmental protection standards mandated by the European Union (EU) directives.
The application of the CE mark is restricted only to specific product categories governed by EU directives. Marking a product with a CE mark when it does not fall under an applicable harmonized standard is misleading and constitutes a legal offense.
Ratchet tie-down straps are governed by the EN 12195-2:2001 standard, titled "Load restraint assemblies on road vehicles — Safety — Part 2: Webbing lashings made from man-made fibres."
Crucially, EN 12195-2 is not on the European Commission's list of harmonized standards (such as the Machinery Directive which governs lifting equipment like webbing slings). Because lashing straps are designed for securing cargo—not lifting loads—they fall outside the directives that require CE marking.
If there is no CE mark, how do you know a ratchet strap is compliant and safe to use? Under EN 12195-2, the product's identification label must provide specific, mandatory technical information.
| Specification | What it Means |
|---|---|
| Lashing Capacity (LC) | The maximum force (measured in daN) the strap can withstand without breaking or sustaining damage. |
| Standard Hand Force (SHF) | The maximum force that should be applied to the tensioning device (the ratchet handle) by hand. Typically 50 daN (approx. 50 kg). |
| Standard Tension Force (STF) | The residual tension force created in the lashing strap after the ratchet handle is released. |
| Elongation Limits | The maximum stretch of the webbing must be ≤ 7% when subjected to the Lashing Capacity (LC). |
| Traceability | The label must state the Manufacturer's Name/Code and the Date of Manufacture (Month/Year). |
| Compliance Code | Must explicitly state compliance with EN 12195-2. |
By standard convention, the color of the identification label itself indicates the synthetic material used to weave the webbing strap:
"Not for lifting!"
According to EN 12195-2, every compliant ratchet strap label must clearly bear the phrase "Not for lifting!". Ratchet straps are engineered with a lower safety design factor (typically 2:1) compared to lifting slings (typically 7:1 for synthetic slings). Never use a cargo restraint for an overhead lift.
