Overview - EN ISO 24415-1:2009 (Tips for assistive products for walking - Friction of tips)
EN ISO 24415-1:2009 specifies requirements and test methods for the friction between tips used on assistive products for walking (canes, crutches, walking frames, rollators, walking tables). The standard covers frictional performance on a dry, flat walking surface for ordinary gait and is not applicable to tips manufactured for special purposes (for example, ice/snow). It has been adopted by CEN and is intended to help ensure consistent, safe traction of tips in everyday use.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Minimum friction requirement: The measured frictional force shall be not less than 25 N when tested per this standard.
- Test conditions: Tests are performed on the air side of float glass (test track) at (23 ± 2) °C and (50 ± 10) % RH.
- Loading geometry: Tip is mounted at an angle of (70 ± 2)° and subjected to an axial loading force of (50 ± 1) N along the loading shaft.
- Test velocity: Relative motion between tip and track at (500 ± 25) mm/min, reached within 0.3 s.
- Sample preparation: Tips washed with neutral detergent, conditioned at test environment for ≥3 hours; three test samples per model.
- Measurement and recording: Frictional force recorded as waveforms (accuracy ±2 %), five recorded runs after three conditioning runs; the average of five values is calculated and the lowest average from the three samples is the final result.
- Apparatus elements: test track (float glass), loading mechanism, pulling mechanism, load cell/data recorder, rigid frame (examples and diagrams provided in annexes).
- Test report: Must include product identification, dimensions (outer/inner diameters), photographs, measurement system accuracy and sampling, test date and compliance outcome.
Applications - who uses this standard
- Manufacturers of tips and assistive walking devices - to design and validate tip traction.
- Test laboratories and QA teams - to perform standardized friction testing and produce compliant test reports.
- Procurement and regulatory bodies - to set acceptance criteria for assistive products used in healthcare, rehabilitation and eldercare.
- Rehabilitation professionals and product designers - to understand safe tip performance for ordinary gait and select appropriate tip types.
Related standards
- ISO 24415 (series) - Part 2 (durability of tips for crutches) noted as under development.
- ISO 9999 - classification and terminology for assistive products for persons with disability (referenced normative document).
This standard is essential for ensuring consistent friction performance and user safety of walking-assist tips in everyday dry, flat-surface conditions. Keywords: EN ISO 24415-1:2009, friction of tips, test methods, tips for assistive products for walking, assistive device safety.
