Overview
ISO/TR 20573:2006 - "Footwear - Performance requirements for components for footwear - Heels and top pieces" defines performance criteria and test methods for heel and top-piece components (not finished shoes). It applies to heels and top pieces for all kinds of footwear and is intended as a technical reference between component suppliers and footwear manufacturers. It is informative in nature and not intended for third‑party certification of finished consumer footwear.
Key topics and requirements
The Technical Report sets out essential (mandatory between supplier and manufacturer) and additional (optional, agreed) performance parameters and specifies standard test methods. Core test topics include:
- Heel pin holding strength (EN/ISO 19957) - typical values in the Report range around 70–80 N/mm depending on footwear type.
- Slip resistance (EN 13287) - specified minimum coefficients: 0.30 (flat) and 0.28 (heel); tests use ceramic tiles with water and detergent as lubricant.
- Top-piece retention strength (EN/ISO 19958) - typical requirements range ~120–150 N depending on category.
- Abrasion resistance (EN 12770) - mass loss thresholds and sample dimensions differ by footwear type and material density.
- Fatigue resistance (EN/ISO 19956) - e.g., 14 000–15 000 blows for certain heel classes.
- Resistance to lateral impact (EN/ISO 19953) - impact energy requirements (for example 5 J) apply for some heel types.
The Report covers multiple footwear categories (general sports, school, casual, men’s and women’s town, cold weather, fashion, infants, indoor) and lists corresponding component thresholds. It also includes sampling, conditioning and rounding rules per referenced standards.
Applications and users
ISO/TR 20573:2006 is primarily useful for:
- Footwear component manufacturers specifying performance limits for heels and top pieces.
- Footwear brands and OEMs establishing supplier contracts and acceptance criteria.
- Product engineers and QA teams selecting materials and designs to meet durability, slip and retention requirements.
- Test labs conducting component-level evaluations using the referenced EN/ISO methods.
This Report helps ensure component fitness for intended end use (durability, safety, slip performance) before assembly into finished shoes.
Related standards
ISO/TR 20573 references and aligns with multiple test and vocabulary standards commonly used in footwear engineering:
- EN/ISO 19957, 19956, 19953, 19958 (heels/top piece test methods)
- EN 13287 (slip resistance)
- EN 12770 (abrasion resistance)
- EN 13400 (sampling/conditioning)
- EN/ISO 19952 (footwear vocabulary)
Marking and labeling
Marking is optional. When used, only components meeting all essential requirements may be marked and should include manufacturer ID, footwear type code (SP, SC, CS, MT, CW, WT, FS, IF, IN) and a reference to the Technical Report (ISO/TR 20573:2006).