Load securing
Choose the friction and lay the anti-slip mat correctly
Material pairs, µ values and what reduces friction
The friction µ between load and load bed is the single factor that most affects how many lashings you need. Here you choose a realistic value and make optimal use of an anti-slip mat — without being too optimistic.
Clean the load bed and load
Sweep the load bed clean of dust, sand, loose particles and oil, and wipe off moisture. Even a thin layer of dirt or water between the load and the bed can reduce friction dramatically and invalidate your lashing calculation.
Identify the pair of materials
Determine which two surfaces meet — it is the combination (not just the load) that determines µ. A timber pallet on a steel load bed is a different pair from the same pallet on plywood.
Read off a realistic µ value
Use the quoted standard values and choose the low end if in doubt: sawn timber ↔ plywood/film-faced plywood ≈ 0.45, timber ↔ aluminium ≈ 0.4, timber ↔ steel ≈ 0.3. Smooth plastic/steel combinations can go as low as 0.15.
Timber ↔ plywood≈ 0,45Timber ↔ aluminium≈ 0.40Wood ↔ steel≈ 0.30Smooth plastic/steeldown to 0.15Lay anti-slip mats where it pays off
An anti-slip mat raises the friction to approx. µ ≈ 0.6 and can often halve the number of lashings needed. It is typically the cheapest way to secure a slippery load. Lay the mat so that it carries the whole weight of the load, not just at the corners.
Anti-slip matµ ≈ 0.6Be aware of what lowers µ
Moisture, ice, snow and oil, dust and sand, and polished/painted surfaces reduce friction. In these conditions you must assume a lower µ and therefore more lashings — not guess high to get off cheaper.
If you are unsure about the surface, choose the lower µ. The load and other road users pay for an optimistic guess.
Use the chosen µ in the calculation
Enter the chosen µ into the load securing calculator together with the strap's STF and the lashing angle. The declared µ for anti-slip mats is given in the supplier data — use it if it is lower than 0.6.
Source
Based on DS/EN 12195-1:2010 Annex B and IRU best practice, as reproduced in Discebo's load securing articles.
Videos from NDLA
Video guide· Norwegian speech
Transport: friksjon
Source
NDLA
«Transport: friksjon» · Photographer: Tom Knudsen
License: CC BY-ND 4.0 · Original at NDLA ↗
Shown unaltered in the original language with the source's own subtitles. The video shows Norwegian practice — the method is often the same, but rules and standards may differ from the Danish ones.
May not be adapted: the licence only allows the video to be shown unchanged, so it is neither dubbed, cut nor translated.