Everything You Need to Know About Dekanewton.
Proper load securing is crucial for the safety and stability when transporting goods such as machinery or construction materials. In this context, a specific unit of measurement often comes up – Dekanewton (daN). But what exactly is a Dekanewton, what does daN stand for, and why is it important for load securing? We’ll answer all these questions for you in the following article.
Table of Contents.
- What is a Dekanewton?
- Common Questions About daN
- Is daN the same as kg?
- How many kg is 1 daN?
- What does 2500 daN mean?
- How can I convert 500 daN to kg?
What is a Dekanewton?
The word Dekanewton combines "Deka" (from the Greek "δέκα" meaning ten) and "Newton", the unit of force. This means: 1 Dekanewton (abbreviated "daN") = 10 Newtons (N).
Newton is the unit of force. The prefix indicates the strength of the force (e.g., 10 N). Dekanewton is used in load securing because it presents forces more clearly by grouping 10 Newtons into one practical unit.
Dekanewton is the widely accepted unit in the market to indicate how much load securing equipment like straps, chains, and wire ropes can withstand. In load securing, Dekanewton has become the standard unit to specify the forces listed on the labels of securing devices. Examples include the Lashing Capacity (LC) and the Standard Hand Force (SHF). The LC is the maximum permissible lashing force that must never be exceeded and that a securing device, such as a strap, can withstand permanently without being damaged or failing.
Using kilograms is not correct in load securing due to the physical forces acting on a body. That’s why daN is used, since under earth conditions a force of 1 daN approximately equals the weight force of a 1 kg mass — making for an easier practical comparison.
LC is therefore a key value for the safe use of load securing equipment. Although a safety factor of 2 is usually applied in calculations, environmental influences such as aging, abrasion, or chemicals can significantly reduce the actual breaking load during use. The safety factor is an intentionally built-in oversizing factor. It ensures that the allowable load (LC) for everyday use always stays well below the load at which the device would actually fail (breaking load). This compensates for unavoidable real-world effects and ensures a high level of safety.
However, it’s important to understand that the breaking load is not the same as the LC. These two terms are sometimes confused. The breaking load specifies the tensile force at which, for example, a strap will tear, and is significantly higher than the LC. The breaking load is sometimes also given in daN but is intended only as a reference and must not be mistaken for the permissible lashing force.
Besides daN, the unit Kilonewton (kN) is also used in technical fields. 1 kN equals 1000 Newtons, which corresponds to 100 daN. Additionally, securing straps and similar equipment often list the STF (Standard Tension Force) and SHF (Standard Hand Force) in daN. The STF refers to the standardized pretension applied by a defined hand force of 50 daN to the strap. The SHF represents the ergonomically achievable hand force used, for example, to operate a ratchet. Specifically, the operator must pull with about 500 N (~50 kg) on the ratchet lever to reach the STF. Both values are important reference points for the safe and standards-compliant use of securing equipment.
For more information and detailed explanations of terms like "securing device," "tensioning element," and the different units used in load securing, you can visit the page About Load Securing. Want to learn everything about load securing from our experts? Feel free to attend one of our load securing seminars.
The Next Load-Securing Seminars:
Please note that out seminars are only available in German so far.
Common Questions About daN.
Is daN the same as kg?
No, Dekanewton and kilogram are not the same. Kilogram is a unit of mass, which tells you how heavy something is. Dekanewton is a unit of force, indicating how strong a force is. For example, daN is used with straps or other load securing devices to show how much tensile force they can withstand. Using kg is physically incorrect because it measures mass — what matters is the acting force, which is daN. That’s why daN is used in load securing, as it can be more easily compared to mass in kg.
How many kg is 1 daN?
A direct conversion from Dekanewton to kilograms is not accurate, as these are different physical quantities: weight (kg) and force (N). 1 daN equals 10 Newtons (N), which roughly corresponds to the force exerted by a 1 kg mass under Earth's gravity. The LC (and also not the STF) should NEVER be equated with cargo weight. A calculation (e.g., using the "Dolezych Simple Method©" with the Trucker’s Disc) must always be performed at this point.
What does 2500 daN mean?
If a strap label states 2500 daN, it means the strap is designed for a maximum tensile force of 2500 Dekanewton. In practice, this roughly corresponds to a force equivalent to the weight of about 2500 kg under Earth’s gravity.
How can I convert 500 daN to kg?
As mentioned before, a direct conversion from force to weight is not possible. However, 500 daN equals exactly 5000 Newtons, which corresponds to roughly 510 kg of weight force under Earth's gravity.
| Unit | Meaning | Application |
|---|---|---|
| kg (Kilogram) | Mass (commonly called “weight”) | How heavy is something? (e.g., body weight) |
| N (Newton) | Force | How strong is a force? (e.g., weight force) |
| daN (Dekanewton) | = 10 Newton | Force measurement for securing devices, often for straps |
| kN (Kilonewton) | = 1000 Newton = 100 daN | Technical force measurement (e.g., breaking force of bolts) |
