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12785:2000
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Footwear Ð Test |
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methods for whole |
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shoe Ð Heel attachment |
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The European Standard EN 12785:1999 has the status of a |
British Standard |
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ICS 61.060 |
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NO COPYING WITHOUT BSI PERMISSION EXCEPT AS PERMITTED BY COPYRIGHT LAW
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Copyright British Standards Institution
 BS EN 12785:2000

National foreword
This British Standard is the official English language version of EN 12785:1999.
The UK participation in its preparation was entrusted to Technical Committee
TCI/69, Footwear and leather, which has the responsibility to:

Ð aid enquirers to understand the text;

Ð present to the responsible European committee any enquiries on the
interpretation, or proposals for change, and keep the UK interests informed;
Ð monitor related international and European developments and promulgate
them in the UK.

A list of organizations represented on this committee can be obtained on request to

its secretary.
Cross-references
The British Standards which implement international or European publications
referred to in this document may be found in the BSI Standards Catalogue under the
section entitled ªInternational Standards Correspondence Indexº, or by using the
ªFindº facility of the BSI Standards Electronic Catalogue.
A British Standard does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a
contract. Users of British Standards are responsible for their correct application.
Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity
from legal obligations.

Summary of pages
This document comprises a front cover, an inside front cover, the EN title page,
This British Standard, having pages 2 to 7 and a back cover.
been prepared under the
direction of the Sector The BSI copyright notice displayed throughout this document indicates when the
Committee for Materials and document was last issued.
Chemicals, was published under
the authority of the Standards
Committee and comes into effect Amendments issued since publication
on 15 May 2000
Amd. No. Date Comments
 BSI 05-2000

ISBN 0 580 34281 6

Copyright British Standards Institution

 EUROPEAN STANDARD EN 12785
NORME EUROPEÂENNE
EUROPAÈISCHE NORM February 2000

ICS 61.060

English version

Footwear Ð Test methods for whole shoe Ð Heel attachment

Chaussures Ð MeÂthodes d'essai applicables aÁ la Schuhe Ð PruÈfverfahren fuÈr den ganzen Schuh Ð
chaussure entieÂre Ð Fixation du talon Absatzbefestigung

This European Standard was approved by CEN on 1 January 2000.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations
which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a
national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical
references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to
the Central Secretariat or to any CEN member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German).
A version in any other language made by translation under the responsibility of a
CEN member into its own language and notified to the Central Secretariat has the
same status as the official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy,
Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and
United Kingdom.

CEN
European Committee for Standardization
Comite EuropeÂen de Normalisation
EuropaÈisches Komitee fuÈr Normung

Central Secretariat: rue de Stassart 36, B-1050 Brussels

 2000 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CEN national
Members.
Ref. No. EN 12785:2000 E

Copyright British Standards Institution

 Page 2
EN 12785:2000

Foreword Contents
This European Standard has been prepared by Page
Technical Committee CEN/TC 309, Footwear, the
Secretariat of which is held by AENOR. Foreword 2
This European Standard shall be given the status of a 1 Scope 3
national standard, either by publication of an identical 2 Normative references 3
text or by endorsement, at the latest by August 2000, 3 Definitions 3
and conflicting national standards shall be withdrawn
at the latest by August 2000. 4 Apparatus and material 3
According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations, 5 Sampling and conditioning 4
the national standards organizations of the following 6 Test method 5
countries are bound to implement this European
7 Expression of results 6
Standard: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, 8 Test report 7
Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal,
Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Copyright British Standards Institution

 BSI 05-2000
 Page 3
EN 12785:2000

1 Scope 3.2
This standard specifies a method for the determination rigidity
of the heel attachment of footwear. It applies to back part deformation measured under these test
woman's medium and high heeled footwear. conditions under a force of 200 N
This test method measures three related wear
3.3
properties:
Ð the rigidity of the shoe backpart during normal permanent deformation
walking; the permanent set of the backpart measured under
Ð the amount of permanent deformation of the these test conditions at a force of 400 N
backpart caused by a fairly large force applied to the
heel in a backward direction; 4 Apparatus and material
Ð the force required to detach the heel.
The following apparatus and material shall be used.
2 Normative references 4.1 Tensile machine
This European Standard incorporates by dated or The tensile-testing machine shall comply with the
undated reference, provisions from other publications. requirement of EN 10002-2 to an accuracy
These normative references are cited at the corresponding to grade B, with a constant rate of
appropriate places in the text and the publications are traverse of 100 mm/min ± 10 mm/min.
listed hereafter. For dated references, subsequent A low-inertia machine having autographic force
amendments to, or revisions of, any of these recording facilities is essential.
publications apply to this European Standard only
when incorporated into it by amendment or revision. 4.2 Devices for attaching the shoe heel
For undated references the latest edition of the Devices for attaching the shoe heel near its tip to the
publication referred to applies. upper clamp attachment of the tensile testing machine
EN 10002-2, Metallic materials Ð Tensile testing Ð so that the heel can pivot freely during the test.
Part 2.. Verification of the force measuring system of Different designs are needed for chunky and slender
the tensile testing machines. heels as described below.
EN 12222, Footwear Ð Standard atmospheres for 4.2.1 Device for chunky heels
conditioning and testing of footwear and components A suitable device is shown in Figure 1. The 6 mm
for footwear. diameter rod G is removable and may be inserted
through a 6 mm or 7 mm diameter pre-drilled hole in
3 Definitions the heel as shown in Figure 3. The block H at the
For the purposes of this standard the following opposite end of the device has a 13 mm diameter hole
definitions apply. which enables it to be fitted directly to a tensile testing
3.1 machine in place of the top clamp. Alternatively, where
a tensile testing machine is being used which does not
heel attachment strength
have removable clamps, the block H would be
the maximum force in newtons measured under these replaced by a part which can be gripped in the
testing conditions required to detach the heel from the machine clamps.
sole/insole assembly

NOTE Rod G can be inserted through the hole drilled in chunky heels or removed and replaced by the clamp shown in Figure 2 for
testing slender heels.
Figure 1 Ð Type 1 device for providing the connecting link between the tensile testing machine
and the heel stem

Copyright British Standards Institution

 BSI 05-2000
 Page 4
EN 12785:2000

4.2.2 Clamp for slender heels In the case of chunky heels, which are too large to be
The device shown in Figure 2 consists of a U-shaped fitted into a type 2 clamp, drill a 6 mm or 7 mm
part A which clamps against the front face of the heel diameter hole in the position shown in Figure 3 parallel
(the heel breast), and parts B and C which clamp to the heel breast and the heel/top piece interface, so
against the curved back of the heel. that its centre is 10 mm from the heel breast and
10 mm above the heel/top piece interface. It is best to
The distance between parts B and A is adjustable to
drill this hole from both sides inwards, as this
suit the heel tip dimensions, using the four screws D.
increases its positional accuracy.
Part C pivots in the two parts B, to allow for the
tapering of most slender heels near their tip. The two Minimum three test pieces are necessary.
screws E have pointed ends to dig into the heel and so
prevent the clamp slipping. The clamp is 20 mm deep.
At each end of part A are two spigots F of diameter
6 mm whose centres are 10 mm above the clamping
face of part A and 10 mm from each edge. These
spigots enable the clamp to be fitted into the
connecting device shown in Figure 2 in place of rod G.

1 Heel breast
2 6 or 7 mm hole
3 Top piece
Figure 3 Ð Horizontal hole drilled through a
chunky heel for insertion of rod G (Figure 1)

To fix the clamp for slender heels (Figure 2) to the

1 Top piece
shoe heel proceed as follows. Retract the two screws
E until their tips do not protrude through part C.
NOTE This clamp may be fitted into the connecting link Unscrew the four screws D until there is sufficient
shown in Figure 1 in place of the removable rod G.
space between parts A and C to insert the heel stem.
Figure 2 Ð Type 2 pivoting clamp for the Position the heel so that its forward face is in contact
stems of slender heels with part A and the interface of heel and top piece is
in line with the edge of part A (see Figure 2). However,
where this forward face is markedly curved, it is often
4.3 Dividers better first to grind away some of the plastic near the
Dividers which can be opened to measure a distance top of the heel where it sits at the top part of the
of about 100 mm. These are needed to measure the clamp. Tighten the four screws evenly until part C
amount of movement of the heel tip during the test. pivots to fit the back of the heel. Sometimes it is also
better to grind away some of the back curve of the
5 Sampling and conditioning heel first so as to reduce the amount part C needs to
be pivoted to fit it. This reduces the risk that the clamp
For most purposes it is not necessary to condition the might slip during the test when attached to a markedly
footwear in a controlled atmosphere before testing it. tapering heel tip. Tighten the two screws E until their
Cut off the shoe upper in the forepart level with the tips dig into the heel sufficiently to prevent the clamp
insole, so that the shoe bottom here is easier to fit into being pulled off. The clamp will now be fixed to the
the clamping jaw of the tensile strength machine. heel as shown in Figure 2.
Where the shoe upper construction includes a long
stiffener in the waist region, make sure this is not cut.
Leave the top piece, heel cover and heel breast flap, if
used, intact. Should the shoe not have a top piece
attached, it can still be tested.

Copyright British Standards Institution  BSI 05-2000

 Page 5
EN 12785:2000

6 Test method Clamp the forepart of the shoe in the lower clamp of
the tensile testing machine so that the shoe bottom
6.1 Principle faces outwards, the longitudinal axis of the shoe
The basis of the test is that the forepart of the shoe is backpart coincides with the axis of the testing machine
clamped in one jaw of a tensile testing machine. The as viewed from the front, and the edge of the clamp
heel, near the top piece, is attached in a specified grips the forepart a little forward of the end of the
manner to the other jaw of the machine and pulled shank (see Figure 5). (Note that the forepart will not
backwards from the forepart at a specified rate of jaw be gripped centrally relative to its clamping jaw.)
separation. A general purpose laboratory tensile testing Check that the clamping operation has not produced
machine with suitable attachments may be used. any tension or compression in the load measuring
The following three quantities are measured: system. If it has, move the cross-head just sufficiently
to eliminate this.
a) the amount of movement of the tip of the heel
relative to the forepart at a force of 200 N;
NOTE 200 N is two or three times larger than the backward
force which is applied to the heel during normal walking but
the amount of deformation it produces in the test is believed to
be a valid way of distinguishing between those shoes which
have adequate backpart rigidity in wear and those which do
not.
b) the amount of permanent deformation produced
by a force of 400 N;
c) the force required to detach the heel completely.
The mode of failure is also noted.
6.2 Procedure
Fit the device shown in Figure 1 in place of the top
clamp of the tensile testing machine or, where this
cannot be done, clamp block H or its equivalent in this
clamp. If necessary reset the force reading to zero, to
allow for the mass of the device or for any difference
in mass between the device and the clamp.
In the case of a shoe with a chunky heel which has 1 Upper clamp attachment of tensile testing machine
been pre-drilled, as described under ªPreparation of 2 Backpart of upper left on
the shoe for testº, partially withdraw rod G (Figure 1) 3 Cut to remove upper in forepart
4 Lower clamp of tester
and insert it through the heel and then through the
second bar J. Chunky heels fixed to the device in this Figure 4 Ð Side view of shoe with chunky
way are shown in Figures 4 and 5. Wherever possible heel clamped in a tensile testing machine
fix the shoe so that the shoe bottom faces towards the using the link shown in Figure 1
operator.
In the case of a shoe with a slender heel which has
had the type 2 clamp shown in Figure 2 attached to it,
remove rod G from the connecting device and insert
the clamp in its place as shown in Figure 6.

Copyright British Standards Institution

 BSI 05-2000
 Page 6
EN 12785:2000

Resume the deformation of the backpart without delay

until a force of 400 N is reached. Reverse the tensile
testing machine drive until the applied force drops to
zero. Immediately re-measure and record the distance
between the front edge of the top piece and the edge
of the forepart clamp. Finally deform the backpart
again until the heel becomes detached or some other
failure occurs. Record the maximum load that was
reached and the type of failure corresponding to this
load.
In some cases when the shank is weak, untempered,
or badly positioned, the backpart may bend a
considerable amount at the front of the heel without
the heel becoming detached. When this happens a high
load will be reached without there being a maximum
which can be measured. However, such shoes usually
give an unsatisfactorily large amount of permanent set
at the 400 N measurement, so normally there is no
need to continue the test above 1 000 N in an attempt
to produce heel detachment or some other type of
1 Upper clamp attachment of tensile testing machine complete failure.
2 Centre line of backpart
3 Lower clamp of tester
NOTE This figure shows how the centre line of the backpart is
7 Expression of results
aligned with the centre line of the machine. The points X and Y Calculate the backpart deformation under a force
for measuring heel deformation are marked. of 200 N by subtracting the initial measured
Figure 5 Ð Front view of shoe bottom with heel/forepart distance in millimetres from the
chunky heel attached clamped in a tensile equivalent distance measured under a force of 200 N.
testing machine using the link shown in Calculate the permanent set of the backpart at a force
Figure 1 of 400 N by subtracting the initial measured
heel/forepart distance in millimetres, from the
equivalent distance at zero force following the
Draw a line on the shoe bottom parallel to and a few application and release of a force of 400 N.
millimetres away from the rear (top) edge of the
Record, as the heel attachment strength of the
forepart clamp. Mark the centre point of the line,
footwear, the maximum force in newtons
i.e., the point where the longitudinal axis of the tensile
corresponding to failure of the heel attachment or
testing machine crosses it. This is point X in Figure 5.
backpart. Also record the mode of failure
Using pointed dividers measure and record the
corresponding to the heel attachment strength.
distance between this point on the sole and the centre
of the lower front edge of the top piece (point Y in Measure and record the heel height of the footwear,
Figure 5) to the nearest half millimetre. Should it not i.e., the vertical distance in millimetres between the top
be possible to measure to a reference mark on the rear edge of the heel and the ground with the top
sole, take the equivalent measurement between the piece flat on the ground. (Where the shoe has no top
centre of the edge of the forepart clamp and the centre piece assume it would have been 6 mm thick.)
of the lower front edge of the top piece. Should the
shoe not have a top piece attached, take the reading to
the centre of the lower front edge of the heel.
Operate the machine at a rate of jaw separation
of 100 mm/min ± 10 mm/min. Stop the machine when a
force of 200 N is reached. Immediately re-measure and
record the distance between the front edge of the top
piece (or heel) and the reference mark on the sole or
the edge of the forepart clamp, without releasing the
force.

Copyright British Standards Institution  BSI 05-2000

 Page 7
EN 12785:2000

1 Top piece
2 Heel breast
Figure 6 Ð Side view of the clamp shown in Figure 2 fixed to a slender heel and inserted in
part J of the connecting link shown in Figure 1

8 Test report
The test report shall include the following information:
a) the heel attachment strength;
b) rigidity (the backpart deformation under a force
of 200 N);
c) deformation (the permanent set of the backpart at
a force of 400 N);
d) full description of the samples tested including
commercial styles codes, colours, nature, etc.;
e) details of any deviation from the standard
procedure;
f) date of testing.

Copyright British Standards Institution

 BSI 05-2000
 BS EN |
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12785:2000 |
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