Footwear slip resistance testing: SATRA TM144 and ISO 13287 explained

First published: April 2026

Footwear slip resistance is one of the most important performance characteristics a shoe can possess. For footwear brands and manufacturers, delivering reliable anti-slip performance is a core design requirement that influences material selection, tread geometry, compound formulation, and ultimately, market access.

SATRA TM144 and ISO 13287 are two internationally recognised anti-slip footwear standards. Both provide detailed, reproducible methods for measuring the coefficient of friction (CoF) between a shoe's outsole and a test floor surface. 

This article provides an overview of SATRA TM144 and ISO 13287 and outlines what footwear brands need to know to achieve shoe safety compliance and bring compliant footwear to market.

If you are looking for footwear slip testing or a wider range of footwear testing services, please contact us here directly.

What is footwear slip resistance testing?

Footwear slip resistance testing quantifies how effectively a shoe's outsole resists sliding when it comes into contact with a floor surface under controlled conditions. The core metric is the coefficient of friction (CoF), the ratio of the frictional force resisting motion to the normal force pressing the shoe against the floor.

During a standard test, a shoe is mounted on a mechanical last, placed onto a reference floor surface (such as ceramic tile or stainless steel), and a controlled normal force is applied. The test platform then simulates a walking or slipping motion, and the resulting friction is measured.

Testing typically evaluates three contact scenarios that reflect real-world gait mechanics:

• Forepart only: Simulating the push-off phase of walking
• Heel only: Simulating the heel-strike phase
• Full sole contact: Simulating a standing or flat-foot scenario

In both forepart and heel tests, the shoe is inclined at a 7-degree angle to replicate the natural angle of foot contact during locomotion. The floor surface is typically contaminated with a standard lubricant (such as glycerol solution or sodium lauryl sulphate solution) to simulate wet or slippery conditions.

SATRA TM144 explained

SATRA TM144, formally titled "Friction (slip resistance) of footwear and floorings", was developed by the Shoe and Allied Trades Research Association (SATRA) and has become the benchmark anti-slip footwear standard for slip resistance testing in the safety footwear sector. It is also the foundation upon which newer standards, including ASTM F3445 in the United States, have been built.

Test procedure

The SATRA TM144 procedure follows these key steps:

1. The shoe is firmly mounted on a shoe last or mechanical foot, with measures taken to prevent any looseness (e.g. padding or double-sided tape).
2. An appropriate lubricant is applied uniformly to the outsole at approximately 1 mm thickness, and the test floor is positioned on the motion platform.
3. The shoe is lowered onto the test surface in the appropriate contact mode (forepart, heel, or full sole), inclined at 7 degrees where required.
4. A pre-load normal force of 50 N is applied, ramping to a full normal force of 500 N within 200 milliseconds (0.2 seconds). Sliding begins immediately upon reaching 500 N and there is no stagnation or dwell period.
5. The test platform moves at a speed of 0.3 m/s, with a minimum sliding distance of 40 mm.
6. The friction force and coefficient of friction are captured at a single data point: 0.1 seconds (±0.01 second) after the start of sliding.
7. The shoe is lifted, the floor is returned to its initial state, and the test is repeated five times. The average of the five readings constitutes the final result.

Contact us now to test your footwear products against SATRA TM144.

ISO 13287 explained

ISO 13287, officially titled "Personal protective equipment — Footwear — Test method for slip resistance", is published by the International Organization for Standardization. Its most recent edition (ISO 13287:2019) specifies a method of test for the slip resistance of PPE footwear and is widely used as the basis for European EN standards (BS EN 13287).

Test procedure

1. The ISO 13287 / BS EN 13287 procedure shares a similar overall structure to SATRA TM144, but with several important differences in timing and data acquisition:
2. The shoe is firmly mounted on a shoe last or mechanical foot, ensuring a secure and stable fit to prevent movement during testing.
3. A standard lubricant is applied uniformly to the outsole at approximately 1 mm thickness, and the test floor surface (e.g. ceramic tile or stainless steel) is positioned on the motion platform.
   The shoe is lowered onto the test surface in the appropriate contact mode (forepart or heel), inclined at a 7-degree angle to replicate natural gait mechanics.
4. A pre-load normal force of 50 N is applied, ramping to a full normal force of 500 N within 1 second.
   An allowable stagnation period of up to 0.3 seconds may occur before sliding begins.
5. The test platform slides at a speed of 0.3 m/s.
6. The frictional force is measured over an interval of 0.3 s to 0.6 s after the start of sliding and a 300 ms window. The average frictional force across this interval is used to calculate the coefficient of friction.
7. The shoe is lifted, the floor is returned to its initial state, and the test is repeated five times. The average of the five readings constitutes the final result.

Contact us now to test your footwear products against ISO 13287.

SATRA TM144 vs ISO 13287: Key differences at a glance

The table below summarises the major technical differences between the two standards:

How can Eurofins Softlines & Hardlines help you achieve footwear slip resistance compliance?

With a worldwide network of footwear testing laboratories, including two Technical Competence Centres dedicated to leather and footwear, Eurofins Softlines & Hardlines provides comprehensive footwear testing services covering:

• Slip resistance testing to SATRA TM144, ISO 13287 / BS EN 13287, and ASTM standards.
• Performance testing including abrasion resistance, flexing durability, heel fatigue, impact strength, and waterproofness.
• Chemical and analytical testing for restricted substances such as azo dyes, chromium VI, formaldehyde, phthalates, lead, and nickel. These substances are regulated under REACH, California Proposition 65, and other frameworks.
• Fault diagnosis to identify the root cause of field failures and customer complaints.
• On-site inspection and auditing services to evaluate product quality at the factory and assess supplier performance.

Whether you manufacture children's shoes, safety boots, athletic footwear, or fashion footwear, Eurofins Softlines & Hardlines can tailor a testing programme to your specific market requirements and regulatory obligations.

Contact us today to discuss your footwear testing needs and ensure your products meet the highest safety and compliance standards.