Which option describes the recommended relation of safe working load to rated load for anchors?

• A. It equals the rated load
• B. It is divided by two
• C. It is divided by four
• D. It is multiplied by safety factor

Answer: (C)

Safety comes first: the load you apply to an anchor must be well below what the anchor is certified to carry because real-world conditions add uncertainty—dynamic forces, wear, and imperfect conditions. The rated load (what the anchor is certified to hold under standard tests) provides the maximum limit, but you don’t use it as-is. A common safety margin used in practice is about 4:1, so the safe working load ends up being one quarter of the rated capacity. This is why dividing by four is the correct relation. Using the full rated load would remove the safety margin; dividing by two is more conservative than typical practice; multiplying by a safety factor would increase the load, which defeats safety.