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Publish Time: 2026-10-22 Origin: Site
Slip-and-fall incidents account for a substantial percentage of workplace injuries across warehousing, commercial kitchens, oil refining, and heavy manufacturing. In safety footwear design, an aggressive tread appearance does not inherently guarantee real-world traction. When an outsole encounters liquid contamination—such as soapy wash-down water on glazed tile or viscous machine oil on flat steel—the physical behavior of the rubber compound and tread channeling determines whether the wearer remains upright or experiences catastrophic traction loss.
To quantify slip resistance objectively, global testing bodies developed rigorous mechanical protocols. While the European norm EN ISO 13287 and American standard ASTM F2913 are widely cited, SATRA TM144 (Friction (Slip Resistance) of Footwear and Floorings) remains the foundational biomechanical benchmark for evaluating the Dynamic Coefficient of Friction (COF) between whole footwear outsoles and controlled walking surfaces.
Evaluating footwear under SATRA TM144 protocols requires advanced lab instrumentation that replicates true gait biomechanics, moving beyond static friction to quantify dynamic contact behavior under contaminated conditions.
Static friction measures the force required to initiate motion between two stationary bodies. However, human slip accidents rarely occur when standing motionless; they happen during the transition phases of walking when the foot makes initial contact with the floor or prepares to push off.
SATRA TM144 focuses strictly on Dynamic Coefficient of Friction (COF), defined as the ratio of horizontal frictional resistance ($F_h$) to normal vertical load ($F_v$) during active sliding:
$$\text{Dynamic COF} = \frac{F_h}{F_v}$$
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| SATRA TM144 DYNAMIC TRACTION DIAGNOSTIC PHASES |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| [Phase 1: Heel Strike Contact] ---> 7° contact angle, 500 N vertical load (high slip risk)|
| [Phase 2: Full Flat Contact] ---> Horizontal sole contact, 500 N vertical load |
| [Phase 3: Forefoot Push-Off] ---> 7° reverse toe-off angle, 500 N vertical load |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Under actual gait kinetics, the forward heel strike represents the most dangerous phase:
As the heel makes initial contact at an angle of roughly 7°, body weight rapidly transfers forward.
If fluid contamination cannot be channeled away instantly through tread sipes, hydrodynamic aquaplaning occurs. The fluid film supports the contact load, dropping friction to near zero and causing an uncontrolled forward slip.
SATRA TM144 evaluates this critical 7° heel contact alongside flat horizontal contact and forefoot push-off modes.
A core strength of SATRA TM144 and EN ISO 13287 testing is the use of standardized, calibrated floor surfaces paired with specific chemical lubricants to replicate real-world industrial environments:
Test Flooring Surface | Applied Contaminant / Lubricant | Simulated Operational Environment |
Standard Eurotile (Ceramic) | 0.5% Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) solution | Commercial kitchens, food processing plants, washrooms |
Stainless Steel Plate | Industrial Glycerol solution (calibrated viscosity) | Machine shops, engine bays, oil platforms, greasy factory floors |
Quarry Tile / Concrete | Clear demineralized water / Dry | Construction sites, outdoor walkways, municipal logistics |
During the test cycle, the machine applies a precise normal force of 500 N (or 400 N for smaller sizing). As the flooring surface moves horizontally beneath the shoe at a calibrated velocity of 0.3 m/s, multi-axis load cells continuously sample both vertical force and horizontal resistance across a predefined measurement window (typically between 0.2 and 0.5 seconds post-contact).
Maintaining reproducible COF values across varying ambient temperatures and test batches demands exceptional mechanical rigidity. Loose mechanical linkages or sensor lag will introduce false spikes into dynamic friction curves.
The Great Win GW-026B Whole Shoe Slip Resistance Tester is built to satisfy the multi-standard requirements of SATRA TM144, EN ISO 13287, and ASTM F2913:
Mechanical System | Specification Requirement | GW-026B Engineering Capability |
Normal Vertical Load | Up to 1,000 N steady force | Closed-loop pneumatic/servo actuator with precision load cell |
Sliding Speed | 0.3 ± 0.03 m/s relative motion | Variable-speed motor with linear guide rail system |
Gait Angle Presets | 7° heel, 7° toe, flat horizontal | High-rigidity rigid shoe-holding jig with micro-angle calibration |
Data Acquisition | High-frequency continuous sampling | Industrial touchscreen PLC capturing dynamic COF curves |
Surface Bed | Interchangeable standard platens | Quick-clamp mounting for Eurotile, polished steel, and custom floors |
By capturing high-frequency force readings, the system eliminates human calculation errors and immediately flags whether a footwear batch meets target procurement specifications (e.g., European SR certification criteria).
Deploying the GW-026B tester in factory laboratories enables development engineers to isolate why certain outsole prototypes fail traction audits despite premium raw materials:
Compound Viscoelasticity & Glass Transition ($T_g$):
Pure hardness (durometer) does not determine grip. Traction relies on rubber hysteresis—the material's ability to deform microscopically over surface asperities and absorb kinetic energy. Formulators must verify that rubber compounds retain elasticity at low operational temperatures without hardening into low-friction surfaces.
Channel Drainage and Siping Depth:
Under wet ceramic testing with SLS solution, solid continuous tread blocks trap water, creating lubrication cushions. Incorporating multi-directional micro-siping and open perimeter evacuation grooves allows water to escape within milliseconds, restoring rubber-to-surface mechanical interlock.
Contaminant Viscosity vs. Contact Area:
While softer compounds often improve wet ceramic scores, heavy glycerol on steel demands a balanced approach. If the compound is too soft, tall tread lugs bend under 500 N heel strike forces, wiping away contact edges and lowering effective friction.
For over two decades, Great Win Instrument Co., Ltd. has supplied physical testing instruments to safety shoe brands, outsole molders, and certified testing laboratories worldwide. In addition to dynamic traction systems, our comprehensive catalog includes whole shoe flexing equipment, outsole abrasion testers, and automated safety footwear testing solutions.
Bringing standardized slip resistance testing in-house eliminates external laboratory backlogs, accelerates prototype validation, and ensures export consignments consistently exceed regulatory safety marks.
For technical datasheets, machine customization, or laboratory installation guidance:
Official Portal: https://www.greatwin-test.com/
Direct Engineering Support: Vincent-zhong@greatwin-test.com
WhatsApp / Direct Support: +86 13296639265
The safety footwear industry requires specialized testing equipment to ensure that safety footwear products meet the required safety standards and provide adequate protection for workers.