This European Standard specifies a test method for determining the impact strength of the heels of ladies' shoes. The result provides an assessment of the liability to failure under the occasional heavy blows received during wear. NOTE While the test method is applicable to all types of high heels, of whatever construction, it is particularly useful for injection-moulded plastics heels which incorporate a steel dowel reinforcement, giving information on the suitability of the dowels' hardness or softness. Normally, heels which by virtue of their shape have a high lateral impact resistance do not need to be tested in this way.