Overview
SIST EN ISO 19956:2005, titled Footwear - Test methods for heels - Fatigue resistance, is an international standard established by CEN for assessing the durability of high-heeled footwear. Specifically, it provides a systematic method to determine a heel's ability to withstand the repeated minor impacts typical of normal walking. The procedure is particularly relevant for injection-moulded plastic heels with steel dowel reinforcements, but it is applicable to heels of any material or construction, including stand-alone steel dowels.
This standard is key in ensuring consistent quality and safety in ladies’ shoes, helping manufacturers, testing laboratories, and quality assurance professionals evaluate heel fatigue resistance objectively.
Key Topics
- Purpose of the Test: Measures fatigue resistance, or a heel’s capacity to withstand repeated loading cycles simulating walking impact.
- Applicability: Designed for all types of high heels, regardless of construction, with special utility for plastic heels with steel reinforcement.
- Test Apparatus: Utilizes a pendulum-based fatigue-testing machine delivering controlled energy impacts at set intervals.
- Sampling and Preparation: Requires three heel samples, securely mounted using a low-melting-point metal alloy to ensure consistency during testing.
- Testing Procedure:
- Heels are subjected to continuous pendulum strikes, each with a specified energy.
- The number of blows until failure or up to a threshold (20,000 cycles) is recorded.
- Observations are made at intervals to detect and log any visible damage.
- Special reporting if damage results directly from the test striker's action rather than normal use.
- Results Expression and Reporting: Documents onset of damage, complete failure, or resilience through maximum cycles. Detailed findings must be included in each test report, encompassing sample details and deviations from the standard method.
Applications
SIST EN ISO 19956:2005 is crucial for various segments of the footwear industry, including:
- Footwear Manufacturers: Used to design and validate the durability of ladies' heels before market release, minimizing product returns and enhancing brand reputation.
- Testing Laboratories: Provides a clear, reproducible protocol for third-party quality control and certification for both plastic and metal-constructed heels.
- Quality Assurance & Compliance: Assists in meeting both regulatory and customer performance requirements in key international markets.
- Product Development: Guides R&D teams in material selection-particularly for injection-moulded plastic heels with steel inserts-by benchmarking fatigue resistance early in the design process.
- Retail and Procurement: Ensures suppliers provide products that comply with fatigue resistance standards, reducing the risk of defective products and associated liabilities.
Related Standards
To ensure robust quality management in footwear production and testing, the following standards are commonly referenced alongside SIST EN ISO 19956:2005:
- EN ISO 20344: Personal protective equipment - Test methods for footwear
- EN ISO 20885: Test methods for heels - Attachment strength
- ISO 19953: Footwear - Test methods for outsoles - Abrasion resistance
- ISO 19952: Footwear - Test method for insoles - Resistance to repeated flexing
Integrating SIST EN ISO 19956:2005 with these related standards creates a comprehensive testing regime, enhancing product safety, durability, and consumer satisfaction in the footwear sector.
Keywords: SIST EN ISO 19956:2005, footwear test methods, heel fatigue resistance, high heel testing, shoe quality testing, CEN footwear standards, injection-moulded plastic heels, heel durability, steel heel dowel testing, ladies’ shoes standards.
