Conveyors
Conveyor belt cover grades explained
Reviewed August 2026
Short answer
The grade letter sets the rubber compound of the covers. Common fabric-belt grades are M (cut-and-gouge / high strength), N (general-purpose abrasion) and grades for heat, oil or fire resistance. Choose by the dominant wear mechanism: impact and sharp rock need a cut-resistant grade; fine abrasive material needs an abrasion grade; hot material needs a heat-resistant compound.
The class and ply count set how strong a belt is. The cover grade sets how long the rubber survives the material it carries.
General-purpose grades
- Grade N — abrasion-resistant, general duty. Fine to medium material, ambient temperature, moderate impact.
- Grade M — higher tensile and better cut-and-gouge resistance. Coarse, sharp, high-drop material such as primary-crushed rock.
Special-property grades
- Heat-resistant — for hot clinker, sinter, foundry sand, hot screened product. Rated by continuous and peak material temperature.
- Oil-resistant — for oily materials, treated ore, or where hydraulic oil contamination is likely.
- Fire-resistant (FR / FRAS) — for underground and other fire-risk applications; see the dedicated guide.
- Food-grade — only where the application and certification require it.
Choosing
Identify the single dominant failure mode on the belt you are replacing. If the top cover is chipped and gouged, you need a cut-resistant grade even if the rest of the belt looks fine. If it is worn smooth and thin, an abrasion grade with a thicker top cover will last longer. Tell the supplier what the old cover looked like at removal.
