This document specifies methods for the determination of seam maximum force of sewn seams when the force is applied perpendicularly to the seam. It describes the method known as the grab test.

The method defined in this document is applicable to woven textile fabrics, including fabrics which exhibit stretch characteristics imparted by the presence of an elastomeric fibre, mechanical or chemical treatment. It can be applicable to fabrics produced by other techniques. It is normally not applicable to geotextiles, nonwovens, coated fabrics, textile-glass woven fabrics and fabrics made from carbon fibres or polyolefin tape yarns.^{[2], [3], [4]}

This method is applicable to straight seams only (obtained from previously sewn articles or prepared from fabric samples) and not to curved seams (see Annex B for considerations on seams).

The method is restricted to the use of constant-rate-of-extension (CRE) testing machines.