Newson Gale

Sole-Mate™

Static dissipative footwear tester

Sole-Mate Features

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Learn more about Industry Standards and Guidelines relating to static electricity in explosive hazardous locations:

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  • Understand standards referenced in the industry.
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Industry Standards & Guidelines
Industry Standards and Guidelines

Getting Started: SD Footwear FAQs

What is an SD footwear tester?

An SD (static dissipative) footwear tester checks whether SD-safe shoes are within the required resistance range so personnel grounding remains effective. Sole-Mate™ is Newson Gale’s static dissipative footwear tester: it measures footwear resistance against common guidance (e.g., NFPA 77 and IEC TS 60079-32-1) and provides a clear PASS/FAIL indication with an audible alarm. It can also be interlocked with entry systems to help enforce compliance.

How to test static dissipative (SD) shoes?

To test SD shoes (static dissipative footwear), you measure their electrical resistance to confirm they’re providing the correct controlled path to ground. Newson Gale’s Sole-Mate™ tester makes this simple: step onto the test plate, follow your site procedure, and read an instant PASS/FAIL result with clear LEDs and an audible alarm. Different versions match common footwear resistance ranges and can be integrated with access control to support your ESD program.

Footwear standards for static dissipative footwear

International Standards recommend regular testing of static dissipative footwear. The Sole-Mate™ provides a time efficient and cost effective method of ensuring personnel operating in hazardous locations are wearing static dissipative shoes that are capable of mitigating electrostatic charge accumulation on their bodies.

Both NFPA 77, Clause 8.2.2. under Clause 8.2., “Conductive and Static Dissipative Flooring and Footwear”, and IEC TS 60079-32-1, Section 11.3 “Dissipative and conductive footwear” refer to an upper threshold of 100 meg-ohm (1 x 108 Ω) resistance through the shoes.

EN ISO 20345, which is another safety footwear standard, specifies a resistance range of 100 kilo-ohm up to 1000 meg-ohm (1 x 105 Ω up to 1 x 109 Ω).

When specifying footwear testers it is important to know what specification the shoes are manufactured to so that the applicable resistance range is tested on entry to the hazardous locations.

For example, if shoes manufactured in accordance with EN ISO 20345 are tested on a footwear tester designed to test shoes at NFPA 77 and IEC TS 60079-32-1 levels, there is a strong possibility that the tester will fail the shoes.

Footwear resistance testing

Footwear testers need to be used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, installed indoors in a safe area, for testing before entering the hazardous location. They are not designed to ensure 100% compliance with the relevant footwear standards. They can only indicate if the resistance through the shoes are below the maximum permitted resistance outlined in the relevant standard/s. It is the site operator’s responsibility to ensure adequate levels of training are in place to ensure people use such testers correctly and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are in place so that shoes not in the specified range do not get used in the HAZLOC classified locations. The Sole-Mate™ tests the resistance of static dissipative footwear to verify the resistance between the operator and the flooring meets specified safety standards/guidance like NFPA 77 2024ed Clause 8.2., IEC TS 60079-32-1, and EN ISO 20345.

How often should SD protective footwear be tested?

Testing frequency should follow your site’s SD control plan, risk level, and applicable guidance — but many facilities test SD protective footwear at the point of entry (daily or each time personnel enter the controlled area). That’s because shoes can drift out of range due to wear, contamination, or damage. Sole-Mate™ supports routine checks with quick PASS/FAIL indication and can be integrated with entry systems to help enforce testing consistency.

Easy to use

Designed for indoor installation in non-hazardous locations, the Sole-Mate™ is a user-friendly device designed to test the condition of static dissipative footwear before entering safety-critical hazardous locations exposed to potentially ignitable atmospheres. It provides a clear PASS or FAIL visual indication, offering a quick and easy verification of footwear compliance. The Sole-Mate™ tests the resistance of static dissipative footwear to verify the resistance between the operator and the flooring meets specified safety standards/guidance like NFPA 77 2024ed Clause 8.2., IEC TS 60079-32-1, and EN ISO 20345.

Permit and deny entry on PASS or FAIL

Interlock capability with audible alarm or entry doors into the hazardous location.

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Sole-Mate™ Static dissipative footwear tester

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Newson Gale has an extensive product range that can be tailored to your processes and the range of HAZLOC classifications at your location.

The most effective way to identify what is applicable for your operations is by speaking with our team. They will provide in-depth information on the products, features and how the range of options can be tailored to your needs.

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