PART SEVEN: ANCHORING SYSTEMS
TABLE 23-2. BBB CHAIN SPECIFICATIONS
Nominal Nominal Nominal Nominal
Trade Wire Wire Working Working Inside Inside Inside Inside Maximum Maximum
Size Diameter Diameter Load Load Length Length Width Width Length 100 Length 100 Wgt. Per Wgt.
inches inches mm Limit. lb. Limit, kg inches mm inches mm Links inches Length cm 100 feet lbs.kg/m(^3) / 16 7 / 32 5.55 800 363 0.78 19.81 0.37 9.40 81 206 43 0.6
(^1) / 4 9 / 32 7.14 1,300 590 0.87 22.10 0.43 10.92 88 224 72 1.1
(^5) / 16 11 / 32 8.73 1,900 862 1.00 25.40 0.50 12.70 104 264 110 1.6
(^3) / 8 13 / 32 10.32 2,650 1,202 1.09 27.69 0.62 15.75 113 287 156 2.3
(^1) / 2 17 / 32 13.48 4,500 2,042 1.34 34.04 0.75 19.05 139 353 277 4.1
(^9) / 16 19 / 32 15.07 5,875 2,666 1.58 40.13 0.73 18.54 162 411 337 5.0
(^5) / 8 21 / 32 16.67 6,900 3,131 1.74 44.20 0.84 21.34 176 447 451 6.7
(^3) / 4 25 / 32 19.84 10,600 4,809 2.20 55.88 1.09 27.69 225 572 598 8.9
strength of 55,000 psi, it is stamped with G3,
or G30, or G300, depending on the manufac-
turer, in sizes from^5 / 16 inch (8.4 mm) up.
GRADE30 “BBB” CHAIN This is the shortest
link chain available for anchoring. Its short
links work best on a windlass’s wildcat drums,
and BBB (or triple-B) chain weighs somewhat
more than proof coil, making a bigger cate-
nary curve when deployed (Figure 23-2). Made
from carbon steel with a tensile strength of
55,000 psi (380 MPa), BBB is stamped with 3B
or BBB, depending on manufacturer, in sizes
from^5 / 16 inch (8.73 mm wire dia.) up.
GRADE40 “HIGHTEST” CHAIN Suitable for
marine anchor use, this chain is hot-dip
galvanized. Grade 40 was originally a desig-
nation used exclusively by ACCO Chain. This
is somewhat confusing, because the majority
of the chain industry uses grade 43 for this
chain strength. Grade 40 and grade 43 chain
are of high-carbon steel with a tensile strength
of 85,000 psi (585 MPa). It is stamped with G4,
G40, or G400, depending on the manufacturer,
in sizes from^5 / 16 inch (8.4 mm) up.
GRADE43 CHAIN This chain is of the same
strength as grade 40.
GRADE63 CHAINHigher strength than grade
40 high test, this chain is sometimes available
in hot-dip galvanized steel for anchor use. It
is stamped with G6 or G63, depending on
manufacturer, in sizes from^5 / 16 inch (8.4 mm)
up. (Note that these high-strength-steel
chains may also be stamped with a propri-
etary mark such as ACCO’s “AS.”)
GRADE 70 HIGH-STRENGTH TRANSPORT
CHAIN This chain is not suited for anchor
systems. It is stamped with G7, G70, or G700,
depending on manufacturer, in sizes from
(^5) / 16 inch (8.4 mm) up.
GRADE80 HIGH-STRENGTHCHAIN This chain
is specifically designed for Occupational Safety
and Health Administration (OSHA) approval
for overhead lifting. In short-link size of hot-dip
galvanized steel, it could be used as anchor
chain; however, grade 80 generally is not avail-
able as hot-dip galvanized and also doesn’t
mate with standard galvanized chain shackles
and fittings, so the connections wouldn’t be
strong enough. It is stamped with G8, G80, or
G800, depending on manufacturer, in sizes from
(^5) / 16 inch (8.4 mm) up. (Note that these high-
strength-steel chains may also be stamped with
a proprietary mark such as ACCO’s “A8A.”)
GRADE 100 VERY-HIGH-STRENGTH CHAIN
This is generally available in sizes or coatings
suitable for use in anchor systems. It is
stamped with G10 or G100, depending on
manufacturer, in sizes from^5 / 16 inch (8.4 mm)
up. (Note that these high-strength-steel
chains may also be stamped with a propri-
etary mark such as ACCO’s “A10.”)
IMPORTANT NOTE: There are other
industrial chains not at all suited for use in
anchoring. There are also specific marine
chains that aren’t appropriate for anchor
Figure 23-2.
3B chain
(Courtesy ACCO
Chain)