ISO 17694-2016 PDF

Full title and description

St ISO 17694-2016 — Footwear — Test methods for uppers and lining — Flex resistance. Specifies a laboratory test method to determine the resistance to repeated flexing of shoe uppers and linings, irrespective of material, in order to evaluate suitability for intended end use and durability under service-like flexing conditions.

Abstract

ISO 17694:2016 defines a standardized procedure to cut, condition and flex specimens taken from footwear uppers and linings using a flexing apparatus that reproduces inward buckling stresses. The method covers dry, wet and low-temperature test conditions and gives requirements for apparatus, specimen preparation, conditioning, test execution and reporting to ensure repeatable comparison of flex resistance across materials and products.

General information

• Status: Published (current — edition confirmed on review).
• Publication date: May 2016 (Edition 2; confirmed in 2022).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 61.060 (Footwear).
• Edition / version: Edition 2 (2016).
• Number of pages: 6 (ISO edition document length).

Scope

This standard specifies a laboratory test for determining the flex resistance of footwear uppers and lining materials irrespective of material type. It applies to test pieces cut from shoe uppers or lining materials and describes apparatus, specimen dimensions and mounting, conditioning (including dry, wet and low-temperature), the flexing procedure that reproduces inward buckling damage, and the information to be recorded in the test report. The method is intended to assess material or component suitability for end use and to compare performance between materials and batches.

Key topics and requirements

• Apparatus — description and functional requirements for a flexing/fatigue tester capable of reproducing inward buckling flex cycles.
• Specimen preparation — location on the upper, cutting dimensions, orientation and mounting details to ensure consistent results.
• Conditioning — standard atmospheres for dry testing and procedures for wet and low-temperature conditioning where applicable.
• Test procedure — number of flex cycles, cycle rate, load/angle conditions and methods to detect failure or damage.
• Performance assessment — criteria and observations to report (cracking, delamination, open seams, visual ratings); the standard specifies reporting requirements rather than fixed pass/fail limits.
• Reporting — required test data and environmental/conditioning details to allow reproducibility and comparison (sample description, apparatus used, test parameters, results and observed failure modes).

Typical use and users

Used by footwear manufacturers, component suppliers, independent testing laboratories, quality control and R&D teams to assess and compare the flex durability of uppers and lining materials. Also used by standards bodies, procurement/technical specification authors and compliance personnel when defining performance requirements for footwear products.

Related standards

Commonly referenced and complementary standards include other ISO footwear and testing documents such as ISO 17709 (sampling and specimen preparation), ISO 5402‑1 (flexometer method for leather), ISO 18454 (standard atmospheres for conditioning and testing of footwear), ISO 17697 (seam strength for uppers and linings) and ISO 3696 (laboratory water quality). This ISO document is also published in harmonized/adopted forms as EN ISO 17694 and national adoptions (for example BS EN ISO 17694).

Keywords

flex resistance, flexing, uppers, lining, footwear testing, flexometer, conditioning, durability, fatigue, mechanical test, ISO 17694

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 17694:2016 is an international standard that specifies a laboratory test method to evaluate the flex resistance (resistance to repeated bending/flexing) of footwear uppers and linings.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers apparatus requirements, specimen selection and preparation, conditioning (dry, wet, low temperature), the flexing/test procedure that reproduces inward buckling damage, observation of failures and the information to be reported. It provides a repeatable method for comparing materials and components.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Footwear manufacturers, material and component suppliers, independent testing laboratories, quality assurance and R&D teams, and standards or procurement professionals specifying footwear performance.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: ISO 17694:2016 is the current edition (Edition 2) published in May 2016. The edition was reviewed and confirmed in 2022; it supersedes ISO 17694:2003.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: It forms part of the suite of ISO footwear test methods developed by ISO/TC 216 and is commonly used alongside related standards for sampling, conditioning and other mechanical tests (for example ISO 17709, ISO 5402‑1, ISO 17697, ISO 18454).

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Flex resistance, flexing, fatigue testing, uppers, lining, footwear testing, durability, flexometer, conditioning.