Quick answer: aerial rigging is the chain of load-rated hardware that connects your apparatus to a structural anchor. Every link must be rated for overhead dynamic loads, the weakest component sets the limit for the entire system, and flying people works to a 10:1 safety factor calculated against peak dynamic load — not against your body weight standing still.
A static hang of 70 kg can spike to several times that during a drop. That is the whole reason aerial rigging is treated as a lifting problem rather than a DIY one. This guide walks the chain from the beam down to the fabric: what each component does, how to read its rating, the order things go in, and what to check before you climb.
Key takeaways
- Aerial rigging connects your apparatus to a load-rated anchor through a chain of hardware — spanset, carabiners, swivel, descender.
- Hardware is rated by Minimum Breaking Strength (MBS), usually in kilonewtons, and you divide by a safety factor to get a working limit.
- 10:1 is the accepted standard for flying people, calculated against peak dynamic load.
- Only locking carabiners rated for overhead dynamic use — never a non-locking or unrated connector.
- Inspect every component before every session and retire anything damaged immediately.
If the terms MBS, SWL and safety factor are new to you, read SWL, MBS & SF explained first — it covers the arithmetic this guide assumes.
What is aerial rigging and why does it matter?
Aerial rigging is the system of load-rated hardware that suspends your apparatus from a secure structural anchor. It carries your full body weight plus the multiplied forces created by drops, spins and swings.
Aerial practice produces dynamic loads — forces generated by movement — rather than the steady, predictable weight of hanging still. That distinction shapes every hardware decision you make. Gear designed for static lifting can fail under the shock loading that is normal in aerial arts.
How are aerial rigging ratings measured?
Hardware is rated by its Minimum Breaking Strength (MBS), the force at which it fails, usually given in kilonewtons. 1 kN ≈ 102 kg ≈ 225 lb of force. To get a figure you can actually work to, divide the MBS by a safety factor.
| Term | What it means | Typical unit |
|---|---|---|
| MBS — Minimum Breaking Strength | The force at which a component fails completely | kN, or kg / lb |
| WLL — Working Load Limit | The manufacturer's marked maximum for regular use | kg or lb |
| SWL — Safe Work Load | MBS ÷ safety factor; the limit you work to | kg or lb |
| Dynamic load | The increased force created by movement, drops and spins | kN or kg |
| Safety factor | The ratio between MBS and the load you apply | ratio, e.g. 10:1 |
A worked example: a carabiner with an MBS of 25 kN (about 5,620 lb) at a design factor of 5 gives a working load limit of roughly 1,124 lb.
What safety factor should I use for aerial rigging?
10:1 is the accepted standard for flying people in circus and performance, calculated against your peak dynamic load rather than your standing weight. If your peak dynamic load is 250 kg, your rigging point needs to hold ten times that. Stage rigging for non-human loads often uses 5:1 or 8:1; human flight demands the higher margin.
Every apparatus we make is published at 10:1 — the full table of ratings is in our SWL, MBS & SF guide.
What anchor points are safe for aerial rigging?
A safe anchor is a structural connection rated for live, dynamic loads. If the anchor fails, nothing else in the chain matters.
| Suitable | Never |
|---|---|
| Professionally installed rigging points | Plasterboard or drywall |
| Structural steel beams rated by an engineer | Decorative beams |
| Certified portable aerial rigs | Wooden joists without an engineer's approval |
| — | Trees, or any structure not rated for live dynamic loads |
Have your anchor point assessed and confirmed for aerial use before you rig anything. It is the one part of the system you cannot buy your way out of.
What carabiners do I need?
Use locking carabiners rated for overhead lifting and dynamic loads. A non-locking carabiner has no place in any overhead application.
- Screw-lock: a manual gate, simple and reliable.
- Auto-lock: twist-lock or triple-action mechanisms that close themselves — better for busy studio setups where a gate might be left open.
One critical warning: a carabiner is strongest along its spine and dramatically weaker side-loaded. A connector rated 24 kN along the spine can drop to around 7 kN when loaded across the gate. Load it correctly, and check the gate is closed and locked every single time.
Why do I need a swivel?
A swivel lets the apparatus spin without winding up the rigging above it. For anything involving rotation — silks, lyra, trapeze — it is essential; without one, repeated spinning twists your rig and creates torque where you do not want it.
Choose a ball-bearing swivel in stainless steel or rated alloy, marked with its working load limit and rated for overhead dynamic use. Aerial swivels commonly carry high ratings; 36 kN (about 8,090 lbf) is a typical figure.
How do I attach aerial silks to my rig?
Use a Figure-8 or the larger Rescue-8. It creates a tight, low-profile connection that is easy to inspect and gentle on the fabric. Aluminium Rescue-8s used in aerial setups are commonly rated around 45 kN (roughly 10,100 lbf).
Use only a Figure-8 rated for rigging and overhead suspension. Standard climbing descenders are not built for the repeated dynamic forces of aerial performance — do not substitute them.
Our aerial silks are cut and hemmed to the length you choose and rig from their midpoint over the descender, so the working drop is a little under half the total fabric length.
What are spansets and daisy chains used for?
Both adjust the length of your rigging, and they carry very different safety rules.
Spansets, also called round slings, are industrial textile slings that wrap a beam or extend your rigging. They are colour-coded by load rating — always check the manufacturer's chart, and remember that a choke hitch substantially reduces a sling's rated strength.
Daisy chains are loops of webbing used to adjust height. Because of how the loops are stitched, they should only be used for low-load static applications such as aerial yoga. Never use a daisy chain for silks, lyra or trapeze, where shock loading can overload a single loop.
A note on terminology: “aerial chains” means two completely different things. Rated daisy-chain rigging loops are hardware for adjusting height. Aerial chains as an apparatus are steel chains you actually perform on, rated like any other apparatus — ours are 180 kg SWL per chain at 10:1. The two are not interchangeable, and search results mix them up constantly.
How do I assemble a rigging chain?
A standard silks setup, top to bottom:
- Structural anchor point — a rated beam or rig
- Spanset wrapped around the anchor
- Locking carabiner
- Swivel
- Locking carabiner
- Figure-8 or Rescue-8
- Aerial silk
The weakest component in that chain determines the safe limit of the whole system. Match your ratings deliberately rather than assuming the fabric is the weak point — often it is not.
If you would rather not assemble the middle of that chain yourself, our Universal Hanging Kit ships fully assembled: a rigging plate, three swivels, three shackles and an auto-locking carabiner, rated SWL 360 kg and MBS 3600 kg at 10:1. It is deliberately rated above every apparatus we make, so the fabric or rope stays the limiting component rather than the hardware holding it. The rest of the range is in our rigging and hardware collection.
How do I inspect aerial rigging hardware?
Inspect every component before every session. Safety is a habit, not a one-time event.
| Component type | What to look for | Retire when |
|---|---|---|
| Metal — carabiners, swivels, figure-8s, shackles | Cracks, sharp edges, deformation, corrosion | Any permanent deformation or crack |
| Textile — slings, silks, straps | Fraying, cuts, burns, thinning, discolouration | Any cut or burn; thinning across the weave |
| Moving parts | Gates spring shut and lock fully, swivels turn smoothly | Sticking gate, play or grinding in a bearing |
If any piece shows damage or wear, retire it immediately. Replacement hardware is trivially cheap next to an accident. When you are unsure, ask a certified rigger.
Frequently asked questions
What does kN mean in aerial rigging?
kN stands for kilonewton, the unit used for a component's strength. 1 kN ≈ 102 kg ≈ 225 lb of force, so a carabiner rated 25 kN withstands roughly 5,620 lb before reaching its minimum breaking strength.
What safety factor is safe for aerial silks?
10:1, calculated against peak dynamic load rather than body weight. The higher margin exists to absorb the shock loading created by drops.
Can I use climbing gear for aerial rigging?
Some climbing-rated hardware works if it is rated for overhead dynamic loads, but not all of it. Climbing descenders in particular are not designed for the repeated dynamic forces of aerial performance. Confirm a component is rated and intended for overhead suspension before using it.
Do I need a swivel for aerial silks?
For anything that spins, yes. Without a swivel, rotation winds up the rigging above the apparatus and puts torque into components that are not designed to take it.
Can I rig from a wooden joist or a tree?
Not without a structural engineer's assessment, and never from a tree. A joist may hold a static weight and still fail under the shock load of a drop. Live dynamic loading is a different problem from static loading, and only a professional can confirm your specific structure.
How often should I replace rigging hardware?
Replace anything showing cracks, deformation, corrosion, fraying or excessive wear the moment you find it. Inspect before every session, and follow the manufacturer's stated lifespan for textile components — they degrade over time even without visible damage.
Do I need a professional to set up my rig?
For the anchor point, yes. Have a structural engineer or certified rigger assess it before you hang anything from it. The hardware below the anchor you can assemble yourself, provided every component is rated and correctly ordered.
Build your practice on a foundation of safety
Strong aerial work starts long before your hands touch the fabric. Understand how hardware is rated, choose components built for dynamic loads, assemble the chain in the right order, and inspect everything before each session. Knowledge is your first piece of safety equipment.
Published by Aerial Obsessed, Alicante, Spain. Ratings quoted for our own equipment are the figures published on our product pages. This article is general guidance and does not replace assessment of your specific rig by a qualified rigger or structural engineer.