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Operations

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING BOOT/

BINDING COMPATIBILITY

BY IRV SCHER, PHD, GUIDANCE ENGINEERING & APPLIED RESEARCH, & EARL SALINE, NSAA DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION PROGRAMMING

WHILE SHOPS AND CUSTOMERS can choose from a wide variety • ASTM F1064 – 11(2016) Standard Practice
of ski/binding/boot systems for alpine and backcountry for Sampling and Inspection of Complete and
skiing, using boots and bindings that are not designed to be Incomplete Alpine Ski/Binding/Boot Systems in
compatible increases the risk of injury to the customer and the Rental Applications
potential liability exposure for the shop.
Using a properly adjusted ski/binding/boot system with Based upon information presented at the recent International
compatible components can provide a significant degree of Society for Skiing Safety conference in May 2017 and at the
protection, although it must be remembered that the forces ASTM F27 Snow Skiing Committee meeting in July 2017,
generated by skiing are variable, and even the best system might the following recommendations are proposed for shops:
not always retain when retention is desired, or release under
potential injury-producing loads. Using incompatible components 1. Unless the ski boot manufacturer and binding
can increase the risk of unwanted release or retention. manufacturer state that the specific boot and
Due to the large number of categories and varieties of binding are compatible, it is recommended that
products available, the compatibility of specific ski/binding/ boots (e.g., Alpine, Alpine Touring, Walk-to-Ride,
boot combinations can be difficult to assess without proper GripWalk) and bindings (e.g., Alpine, Walk-to-Ride,
training. Ski/binding/boot compatibility means that a specific GripWalk, Multi-norm, AT, Tech) from different
boot and specific binding are designed to work together, and categories not be combined for use.
they can provide the best skiing performance. Ski/boot/ 2. Prior to purchasing, renting, demoing, mounting,
binding combinations from different categories should not be adjusting, testing, and/or servicing any boot
assumed compatible simply because they appear to fit with one and binding combination that is not explicitly
another, and current shop test procedures might not be able to identified as compatible by both boot and binding
determine if a specific ski/binding/boot system is compatible manufacturer(s), it is recommended that the shop (a)
when combining equipment from different categories. inform the customer of the potential risks of using
Shops following the ASTM standards listed here are incompatible equipment, and (b) obtain a signed
directly impacted by this issue: release statement from the customer indicating
that they recognize, understand, acknowledge, and
• ASTM F939 – 12 Standard Practice for Selection of accept the increased risks associated with the use of
Release Torque Values for Alpine Ski Bindings incompatible equipment, and release the shop and all
• ASTM F1061 – 08(2013) Standard Specification for manufacturers and distributors of this equipment, as
Ski Binding Test Devices well as their owners, agents, employees and affiliates,
• ASTM F1062 – 97(2013) Standard Test Method for from all responsibility and liability associated with the
Verification of Ski Binding Test Devices purchase, rental, demoing, installation, adjustment,
• ASTM F1063 – 09(2014) Standard Practice for testing, servicing and use of the equipment. It is
Functional Inspections and Adjustments of Alpine recommended that you consult legal counsel for
Ski/Binding/Boot Systems appropriate release language.

70 | NSAA JOURNAL | EARLY WINTER 2017