Revision of SATRA TM158 test method

The update of SATRA TM158 seeks to address modern low-temperature washing cycles.

The test method SATRA TM158:1992 – 'Washability of footwear' has been reviewed as a result of the increase in sales of washable slippers and the demands placed upon them.

SATRA TM158:1992 is intended to assess the colour and dimensional stability of footwear during washing. The method was primarily written for the testing of structured footwear – that is, manufactured using a last. A number of types of footwear are not manufactured in this way (including slippers) and the original method needed modifying to accommodate them. In addition, advances in modern domestic washing machines and detergents means that many products are now washed at low temperatures (30°C or 40°C). The original TM158:1992 method used a 60°C wash cycle which can be repeated up to six times.

The update of SATRA TM158 seeks to address these changes. The major technical change is in the washing cycles, and is contained within Annex A of the test method. For unstructured footwear (not manufactured on a last), a washing temperature of 30°C is now used. The number of wash cycles has also been reduced to three to reflect the disposable nature of these products. As part of this review, the SATRA guideline for this test has now also been updated. The new guideline is that there will be no more than one half-size shrinkage of the footwear.

Publishing Data

This article was originally published on page 4 of the July/August 2016 issue of SATRA Bulletin.

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