Overview
EN ISO 17705:2018 - adopted from ISO 17705:2003 - specifies a laboratory test method for determining the thermal conductivity (thermal insulation) of footwear materials: uppers, linings and insocks. The method is material‑agnostic and is intended to assess suitability of footwear components for end use (for example, cold‑weather or insulated footwear). The standard describes sampling, conditioning, apparatus (Lees’ disc type), test procedure, result calculation and reporting.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and purpose: Measurement of thermal conductivity of uppers, lining and insocks irrespective of material to evaluate thermal insulation performance.
- Apparatus: A Lees’ disc thermal‑conductivity assembly comprising three matched brass cylindrical blocks, a circular heater element, and thermocouples (type K) inserted in blocks. Precise block dimensions and alignment are given in the standard.
- Specimen preparation & conditioning: Test specimens are cut to the block diameter and conditioned in a standard atmosphere (EN 12222) for at least 48 hours before testing. Complete upper assemblies can be tested when linings are permanently attached.
- Measurement procedure: A constant heat source is sandwiched between blocks with the specimen mounted concentrically. Temperatures of the blocks are allowed to reach steady state (typical target steady temperature ~35 °C ±5 °C) and recorded. Thickness is measured at the specimen centre using a dial gauge under a specified pressure.
- Data & calculations: Thermal conductivity is calculated from steady‑state temperatures, exposed block and specimen areas, thickness and supplied power. The standard specifies accuracy tolerances for temperature measurement and instrumentation.
- Reporting: Test report requirements include specimen identification, conditioning details, measured temperatures, thickness, calculated thermal conductivity and test apparatus description.
Practical applications and users
EN ISO 17705:2018 is used to:
- Validate thermal insulation properties of materials and assembled uppers for cold‑weather footwear.
- Support material selection in product development (manufacturers and designers).
- Provide laboratory test data for suppliers, certification bodies and compliance testing.
- Compare different lining, insock or upper constructions for R&D and quality control.
Typical users:
- Footwear manufacturers and product developers
- Material and component suppliers (linings, insocks, membranes)
- Independent test laboratories and conformity assessment bodies
- Technical specifications authors and procurement teams
Related standards
- EN 12222 - Standard atmospheres for conditioning and testing of footwear and components (normative reference in EN ISO 17705:2018).
- EN 13521:2001 - earlier European version superseded by this standard.
Keywords: EN ISO 17705:2018, thermal insulation, footwear testing, uppers lining insocks, Lees’ disc, thermal conductivity test, shoe thermal performance.
