BLC Leather Technology Centre
BLC shoe testing B
LC offers testing services and support to all branches of the leather industry. To ensure compliance with legal and social requirements, and ultimately brand protection, a compre-
hensive chemical and physical testing package has been created for whole shoe testing. A full shoe test includes
fingerprinting, chemical and physical testing. Fingerprinting is carried out on the leather components only, to determine how the product should be labelled. Chemical testing mostly consists of the restricted substance list which is built into individual retailer specifications. The restricted substance list includes routine
leather tests such as Chrome VI, PCP, Azo dyes, Formaldehyde, as well as:
•Heavy metals testing –in accordance with EN71-3, which can be modified when working with adult
footwear, including CPSC lead testing.
•Phthalates – for soling materials, to determine whether any of the six banned phthalates are
present.
•Nickel release – for any metal component which could come into skin contact, this method mimics
two years worth of wear and tear in seven days.
•Organotin compounds – although these are only legislated against in water systems and paints
intended for the maritime industry, they should also be tested for in all materials as a safety measure.
Physical testing is carried out to ensure the footwear will not fail in the marketplace both for consumer safety and for brand protection. A few of the many tests included in this specification are outlined below:
•Slip resistance – a standardised surface is used to make sure that all footwear is within safe limits.
These limits will differ according to the end user (adult or child).
•Tear strength – force is applied to the most vulnerable areas to make sure they do not tear
under certain pressures.
•Abrasion resistance – The finish of the upper should stay intact under most everyday conditions, giving
the best appearance for the longest period of time.
•Perspiration fastness –the linings of the shoe are tested to make sure that the dyes used will not be
transferred under predetermined conditions.
RAPID RESPONSE TIMES BLC prides itself on delivering a fast and accurate testing service with 98% of testing delivered in 5 days or less. With UKAS accreditation for a
range of tests and CPSC approval for lead testing, BLC offers a comprehensive service to meet your testing needs. BLC Leather
Technology Centre Ltd. CPSC Identification Number for this Laboratory: 1049
If a failure occurs BLC has the in-house knowledge and experience to identify the reason behind the failure and make recommendations to resolve it. Shoe fit assessment service –BLC also offers a
comprehensive, technical and commercially focused fit assessment service for both children’s and adult footwear. Developed in response to market demand, this service is provided by qualified shoe fitters and adds to the extensive range of footwear testing services available from BLC.
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•For further information visit
www.blcleathertech.com or contact
info@blcleathertech.com MAY 2009 • FOOTWEAR TODAY • 17
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