Footwear industry international standardization

The creation of shoes is an ancient industry and is responsible not only for aesthetics, but also for safety, comfort and even health issues. That is why shoe manufacturers around the world are constantly researching, introducing innovative technologies and taking care of the quality of their products in terms of compliance with safety standards and rules. Today, this industry is global and has a number of rules and regulations that are established to regulate product quality and protect consumer rights. As for the equipment itself and the production processes themselves, they are regulated by international standards, the main ones of which we will present in today's article.

Footwear — Test methods for heels — Heel pin holding strength

ISO 19957:2021

High heels came into fashion several centuries ago. Over time and changing fashion trends, he acquired different forms and models. Nevertheless, wearing footwear has a great impact on human health, which is why its production is regulated by international standards such as ISO 19957:2021.

This document specifies a test method for measuring the force required to pull a single heel pin out of a heel. This test method is used both to measure the heel pin holding strength of heel materials by using a standard heel pin and a method of insertion, and to assess the heel nailing of commercial production. This test method is applicable to testing plastics and wooden heels for women’s footwear. Heels composed of layers of fibreboard or leather and low plastics heels for men’s footwear cannot be tested by this method.

Since this International Standard is descriptive for the test methods of already manufactured products, in order to fully build a cycle in accordance with international norms and standards, it is necessary to apply it together with similar standards of a similar category.

Data Sheets - Footwear Tests Materials and Test Adhesives

SIST-TP CEN/TR 15990:2021

Each material has a certain effect on the skin and health of the consumer. Moreover, during the production process, people who come into contact with the material during its processing are also subject to certain influence, which is why this issue is regulated by such international standards as SIST-TP CEN / TR 15990: 2021.

For research, development and quality certification purposes, some simply formulated 1- and 2-part "reference test adhesives" have been developed and, from the most important and most often applied, some materials have been selected as "reference test materials". This technical report offers for each of these reference test adhesives and reference test materials some information and specify some properties. CEN/TC 193/WG 5 takes care for a continuous updating of these data sheets.

Since the description of this International Standard does not contain detailed technical details that may be significant for your field of activity, if you are interested in this document, we recommend that you consult with our specialist about how this standard will be useful directly for your business.

Electrostatics - Part 4-3: Standard test methods for specific applications - Footwear (IEC 61340-4-3:2017)

SIST EN IEC 61340-4-3:2018

Test methods are one of the most important final stages in the production of a product. Since it is the testing of already manufactured products that will allow us to assess whether the technical forecast was built correctly and what financial results will be as a result. For the production of shoes and the regulation of test methods for the European Union, an international standard such as SIST EN IEC 61340-4-3:2018 was created.

This part of IEC 61340 describes a test method for determining the electrical resistance of footwear (shoes, slippers or booties) used in the control of electrostatic potential on people.
 This document is suitable for use by the manufacturer of footwear as well as the end user.

A method for measuring the electrical resistance of footwear alone is described and serves as a qualification test or an acceptance test for new footwear, or as a periodic test of in-use footwear.


Although this document does not include requirements for personal safety, footwear used within the scope of this document in all places of work is regulated by the relevant local statutory requirements regarding the health and safety of all persons.


Insulating footwear is not included within the scope of this document although the electrical resistance measurement techniques can be applicable.

Since this document does not include some technological aspects that may play a significant role, we recommend that you go to our website and familiarize yourself with the international standards in this category in more detail.

Footwear - Test methods for uppers, lining and insocks - Seam strength (ISO 17697:2016)

EN ISO 17697:2016

The quality of the products sold - shoes, largely depends on the final check of compliance with technological standards in production. If the check was carried out insufficiently thoroughly and with a lack of certain weather conditions, then damage to the product may occur during the operation of the goods by the consumer. To minimize this risk, an international standard such as EN ISO 17697:2016 was created.

ISO 17697:2016 specifies two test methods for determining the seam strength of uppers, lining or insocks, irrespective of the material, in order to assess the suitability for the end use.
These methods are as follows.


-      Method A: Needle perforations. For determining the force required to pull a row of needles through an upper material, in a direction perpendicular to the row.


-      Method B: Stitched seams. For determining the breaking strength of stitched seams in shoe upper and lining materials. This method is applicable to seams cut from shoes or made up to simulate footwear constructions.

A feature and advantage of this international standard is its multi-vector nature and the combination of descriptive techniques of several materials. That is why if you, your company or organization are connected with the activities of the production of shoes on a professional level and plan to scale in the future, then this document will become an assistant in this activity.

Compliance with international standards is the key to successful business development

At the pace of rapid business development, it is sometimes difficult to keep up with constant regulatory and legal changes. Nevertheless, today there are a lot of services, connecting to which your business can be aware of the constant updates punishable by the industry of your activity. Since the development of the company, or rather one of its indicators, is an increase in profits due to scaling, the presence of international standards will help to significantly protect the location where you are going to operate in the future from non-compliance with production standards. Go to our website and get acquainted with all the regulations for the footwear industry.

References:

https://standards.iteh.ai/catalog/standards/iso/5d218e12-c46c-4944-a853-2152b45d26ba/iso-19409-2022 https://standards.iteh.ai/catalog/standards/iso/45c17b28-f7f5-4fdd-9a13-0b6cb8104bdc/iso-19957-2021 https://standards.iteh.ai/catalog/standards/sist/59aee14c-e494-4a43-a57d-2a0af69a9653/sist-tp-cen-tr-15990-2021 https://standards.iteh.ai/catalog/standards/cen/575a4edd-6d8b-484a-8c40-c7be30eb42fd/en-iso-17697-2016