This Technical Report establishes the performance requirements for stiffener and toepuff components for footwear (not for finished footwear), irrespective of the material, in order to assess the suitability for the end use and/or fitness for purpose. It also establishes the test methods to be used to evaluate the compliance with the requirements.

This Technical Report applies to stiffeners and toepuffs for all kind of footwear as defined in Clause 3.

This Technical Report is intended to be used as a reference between the manufacturer and the supplier. It is not intended for third party certification of finished shoes destined for the consumer.

This Technical Report does not establish the degrees of hardness that have to be chosen by the manufacturer.