Design Load Limit (DLL) A load limit is the amount of weight an item can take before it results in a pla

stic deformation. There are several different types of load limits and breaking points for any given item. In general, the working load limit is the only one a customer needs, but others are useful as well. Load limits do not take environme ntal effects and age into account; these factors must be considered by the endpo int customer at the time of loading. A common result of exceeding load limits is deformation, collapse and breaking. Nearly every structure or metal object is in danger of plastic deformation. This type of deformation is different from common bending or stretching. Once a subs tance reaches it point of plasticity, it does not return to its normal shape. In order to keep items from reaching this point, systems have maximum load limits. Under optimal conditions, these limits prevent plastic deformation from occurri ng. When people refer to a load limit, they typically mean the working load limit. T his is the limit where the item is safe from plastic deformation. If kept at thi s limit, the object should be safe for its lifetime. The exact lifetime of an ob ject is a set amount of time, typically in years, that varies widely based on th e object. While many objects continue to see use past their life expectancy, the ir load capacities are no longer supported past that point. The working load limit is based on the proof load limit. The proof load is an am ount of weight that the item withstood when it was brand new and unused. This li mit is then reduced by half for the working limit. The proof load is the extreme point of weight that an item can take, and should never be used as a limit by a consumer. The total proof load rapidly decreases with age and use. Some items also have a shock load limit. This is the limit of weight that may be placed on the object when the user intends to have sudden or jerking shifts in movement. When a load is suddenly moved, its weight transfers differently to the object it sits on. For a few milliseconds instead of weighing what it normally would, it can weigh significantly more or less. Those few milliseconds can cause plastic deformation and breaking. There are two main points that any end user needs to take into account when read ing load limits. The first is the age of the item. Any item past its expected us e life is no longer governed by its weight limit. The other is environment. Load limits are put together in a laboratory environment, extreme heat and cold can weaken a structure. Other environmental factors, such as how wet area is, can ha ve major impacts on certain metals and shouldnt be discounted even when the item i s new.