GAC Flex

[derekleffew]

A trademarked brand of polyester round sling (SpanSet) with multiple 1/16" galvanized aircraft cables (GAC) inside.

From http://www.christielites.com/product...id=517&curmm=5 :

“Gacflex” is used in the same applications as a polyester roundsling. It is preferable in some instances where a polyester roundsling is unsuitable, for instance where a fire rating is required. Made out of a continuous coil of 1/16” galvanized aircraft cable housed in a polyester jacket, this sling is rated at 400 degrees F, with load ratings of: Vertical : 5300 lbs Choke : 4250 lbs Basket: 10,600 lbs

When not using a GAC-Flex sling, many/most/all venues require that a standard polyester round sling be backed up with 3/8" steel cable and 1/2" shackle. Thus GACflex saves time, but is stiffer, slightly harder to work with, and more expensive than a standard SpanSet.

One important note: in almost all cases the aircraft cables inside does not change the load carrying capacity of a polyester round sling.

From a State of Illinois Fire Marshall document.pdf dated April 2008:

Reason: LiftAll, the company that manufactured GACflex™, no longer markets its galvanized aircraft
cable slings under the name of GACflex™. In addition, other companies manufacture and market
similar galvanized aircraft cable steel slings that can comply with the defined performance criteria.

Thus the term "GAC Flex" joins the ranks of Marley and Masonite--a product no longer manufactured, but so well-known that the brand name has become generic. Perhaps the other term Steel-Flex will now catch on.