SIST-TS CEN ISO/TS 20952:2026

Footwear - Performance requirements for components for footwear - Uppers (ISO/TS 20952:2024)

This document establishes the performance requirements for upper components for footwear (not for the finished footwear), irrespective of the material, in order to assess the suitability for the end use. It also establishes the test methods to be used to evaluate the compliance with the requirements.
This document applies to uppers for all kinds of footwear as defined in Clause 4.
This document can be used as a reference by the footwear manufacturer and the supplier.

Schuhe - Anforderungen an das Gebrauchsverhalten von Schuhkomponenten - Obermaterialien (ISO/TS 20952:2024)

Chaussures - Exigences de performance pour les composants des chaussures - Tiges (ISO/TS 20952:2024)

Obutev - Zahtevane lastnosti za sestavne dele obutve - Zgornji del (ISO/TS 20952:2024)

Ta dokument določa zahteve glede zmogljivosti za zgornje dele obutve (ne za končano obutev), ne glede na material, da se oceni primernost za končno uporabo. Prav tako določa preskusne metode, ki se uporabljajo za oceno skladnosti z zahtevami.
Ta dokument se uporablja za zgornje dele vseh vrst obutve, kot je opredeljeno v točki 4.
Ta dokument lahko uporablja proizvajalec obutve in dobavitelj kot referenco.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Public Enquiry End Date: 11-Feb-2026
• Publication Date: 12-Apr-2026
• ICS: 61.060 - Footwear
• Technical Committee: I13 - Imaginarni 13
• Current Stage: 6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 03-Apr-2026
• Due Date: 08-Jun-2026
• Completion Date: 13-Apr-2026
• Ref Project: CEN ISO/TS 20952:2026 - Footwear - Performance requirements for components for footwear - Uppers (ISO/TS 20952:2024)

Relations

• Refers: SIST EN 15307:2015 - Adhesives for leather and footwear materials - Sole-upper bonds - Minimum strength requirements
• Effective Date: 08-Apr-2026
• Refers: SIST EN 1392:2006 - Adhesives for leather and footwear materials-Solvent-based and dispersion adhesives-Testing of bond strength under specified conditions
• Effective Date: 08-Apr-2026
• Refers: SIST EN 1392:1999 - Adhesives for leather and footwear materials - Solvent-based and dispersion adhesives - Test methods for measuring the bond strength under specified conditions
• Effective Date: 08-Apr-2026

Overview

ISO/TS 20952:2024 (adopted as FprCEN ISO/TS 20952) defines performance requirements and test methods for footwear upper components (not the finished footwear), irrespective of material. Its purpose is to assess the suitability of uppers for their intended end use and to provide a clear reference for footwear manufacturers and component suppliers. The document covers classification of uppers by exposure (Classes A–D), essential and optional additional requirements, sampling and conditioning, and optional marking/labeling rules.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Classification (Classes A–D): Uppers are grouped by exposure/use - Class A (slight: infants, fashion), B (medium: casual, school), C (high: sports, trekking), D (heavy: high-demand sports).
• Essential vs Additional requirements: Essential requirements must be met for compliance; additional requirements are optional and should be agreed between supplier and manufacturer.
• Core test methods (normative references):
  • ISO 17694 - Flex resistance (cycles to no visible damage; e.g., Class B/C/D higher cycle counts than Class A)
  • ISO 17696 - Tear strength (minimum average tear force values per class)
  • ISO 17700 - Colour fastness (staining, colour change for inside/outside surfaces)
  • ISO 17698 - Delamination resistance (dry/wet adhesion thresholds for leather, patent leather and other materials)
  • ISO 17693 - Lastability (resistance to damage during lasting)
  • ISO 17697 - Seam strength
  • ISO 17702 / ISO 17704 - Water resistance and abrasion
  • ISO 17699 - Water vapour permeability and absorption (WVP/WVA thresholds)
• Quantified requirements: The specification includes numeric thresholds (e.g., tear force, flex-cycle counts, WVP ≥ 0.8 mg/cm2·h, penetration times for water resistance) and clearly defined test conditions and rounding rules.

Applications and practical value

• Quality control and incoming inspection of upper components from suppliers.
• Design validation and material selection during product development to meet intended use (casual, sport, heavy duty).
• Supplier agreements: defining whether additional requirements (bondability, abrasion, lastability) are required for specific models.
• Laboratory testing and certification: provides standardized methods to assess compliance and support claims.
• Optional product marking and labelling guidance when uppers meet essential requirements.

Who should use this standard

• Footwear manufacturers and brand product teams
• Upper component suppliers and material converters
• Testing laboratories and QA personnel
• Procurement and specification engineers in footwear supply chains

Related standards

Key referenced standards include ISO 17693, ISO 17694, ISO 17696, ISO 17697, ISO 17698, ISO 17699, ISO 17700, ISO 17701, ISO 17702, ISO 17704, ISO 17706 and ISO 17709, plus EN 1392 and EN 15307 for adhesive/bond testing.

Keywords: ISO/TS 20952, footwear uppers, performance requirements, test methods, flex resistance, tear strength, colour fastness, delamination, water resistance, upper components.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-maj-2026
Obutev - Zahtevane lastnosti za sestavne dele obutve - Zgornji del (ISO/TS
20952:2024)
Footwear - Performance requirements for components for footwear - Uppers (ISO/TS
20952:2024)
Schuhe - Anforderungen an das Gebrauchsverhalten von Schuhkomponenten -
Obermaterialien (ISO/TS 20952:2024)
Chaussures - Exigences de performance pour les composants des chaussures - Tiges
(ISO/TS 20952:2024)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: CEN ISO/TS 20952:2026
ICS:
61.060 Obuvala Footwear
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

CEN ISO/TS 20952
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
SPÉCIFICATION TECHNIQUE
March 2026
TECHNISCHE SPEZIFIKATION
ICS 61.060
English Version
Footwear - Performance requirements for components for
footwear - Uppers (ISO/TS 20952:2024)
Chaussures - Exigences de performance pour les Schuhe - Anforderungen an das Gebrauchsverhalten
composants des chaussures - Tiges (ISO/TS von Schuhkomponenten - Obermaterialien (ISO/TS
20952:2024) 20952:2024)
This Technical Specification (CEN/TS) was approved by CEN on 20 March 2026 for provisional application.

The period of validity of this CEN/TS is limited initially to three years. After two years the members of CEN will be requested to
submit their comments, particularly on the question whether the CEN/TS can be converted into a European Standard.

CEN members are required to announce the existence of this CEN/TS in the same way as for an EN and to make the CEN/TS
available promptly at national level in an appropriate form. It is permissible to keep conflicting national standards in force (in
parallel to the CEN/TS) until the final decision about the possible conversion of the CEN/TS into an EN is reached.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2026 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. CEN ISO/TS 20952:2026 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3

European foreword
The text of ISO/TS 20952:2024 has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 216 "Footwear” of
the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and has been taken over as
held by UNE.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards body.
A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of
North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and the
United Kingdom.
Endorsement notice
The text of ISO/TS 20952:2024 has been approved by CEN as CEN ISO/TS 20952:2026 without any
modification.
Technical
Specification
ISO/TS 20952
First edition
Footwear — Performance
2024-11
requirements for components for
footwear — Uppers
Chaussures — Exigences de performance pour les composants des
chaussures — Tiges
Reference number
ISO/TS 20952:2024(en) © ISO 2024

ISO/TS 20952:2024(en)
© ISO 2024
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii
ISO/TS 20952:2024(en)
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 2
4 Classification . 2
5 Requirements . 2
5.1 General .2
5.2 Performance requirements for uppers components for footwear class A .2
5.2.1 Essential requirements .2
5.2.2 Additional requirements .3
5.3 Performance requirements for uppers components for footwear class B, C and D .3
5.3.1 Essential requirements .3
5.3.2 Additional requirements .4
6 Marking and labelling . 5

iii
ISO/TS 20952:2024(en)
Foreword
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bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through
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ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a)
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rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO had not received notice of (a)
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This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 216, Footwear.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be d
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