According to wire rope replacement criteria, what indicates it is time to replace the wire rope?

The replacement criteria for wire rope are established to ensure safety and reliability during its use. The correct answer highlights that ten or more broken wires in one lay signal that the wire rope has deteriorated to a point where its structural integrity is compromised.

Having ten or more broken wires within a single lay indicates a substantial loss of strength and can significantly affect the rope's performance. This criterion helps to prevent potential accidents and failures that could result from continued use of a weakened wire rope. It reflects a serious level of wear and tear that necessitates immediate replacement to maintain safety standards.

Other conditions, such as fewer broken wires or minor wear, do not reflect the same level of risk. While five broken wires or any single broken wire may warrant attention, they do not, in isolation, necessitate immediate replacement like the scenario of ten or more broken wires does. Moreover, while wear of a quarter of the outside diameter is an important factor in evaluating the condition of a wire rope, it is not as definitive a criterion for replacement as the threshold of broken wires specified.