Changes in the safety footwear regulation UNE EN ISO 20345
Work shoes and boots must comply with the safety footwear standard UNE EN ISO 20345. This part of the clothing is intended to ensure the comfort and safety of workers.
However, not all jobs have the same needs and conditions. Therefore, footwear must be adapted to the possible situations and risks that may arise from them.
The new European standard governing safety footwear requirements is une EN ISO 20345:2022. Below, we will detail the modifications that this new standard entails compared to the previous one.
BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR SAFETY FOOTWEAR IN ISO 20345:2022
The basic requirements for safety footwear are:
- Supportive toe cap:
- 200J impact
- Compression of 15KN
- Slip resistance on soapy tile (old SRA marking but with the front part backwards, previously it was done forwards). This requirement will not be specially marked as it is compulsory for all safety footwear.
ADDITIONAL TESTS (OPTIONAL REQUIREMENTS)
Slip resistance
- SR when overlaying tile with glycerine. The heel slip shall be forward and the front shall be rearward. Disappearance of the steel with glycerine test (former SRB).
- indicates that the footwear has not undergone the slip test. Special purpose footwear with spikes, metal studs or similar elements for soft ground (sand, mud, wood…).
Anti-puncture insoles
- Metal stencils. The punch remains 4.5 mm in diameter and will continue to be marked with a P.
- Non-metallic insoles. – distinguishes between 2 classes:
- Punch 4.5 mm in diameter (as previously tested). They shall be marked PL (L for “large”).
- Punch 3 mm in diameter. To be marked as PS (S for small). Offers greater protection.
Water resistance
We have two options:
- WPA will be the new designation for footwear resistant to water penetration and absorption (footwear made of water repellent material, not waterproof). Previously it was marked WRU.
- WR: waterproof footwear, incorporating a waterproof membrane. This designation already existed, but now the specific levels S6 and S7 are added.
FO: Resistance to hydrocarbons
It is optional, previously it was a mandatory test from S1 onwards.
SC: abrasion of toe cap reinforcement
A new test to assess abrasion in the toe area for shoes with this reinforcement.
LG: grip on stairs
The soles must have a specific design in the shank area as defined in the EN 15090 standard for firefighters’ footwear.
ADDITIONAL NON-MANDATORY TESTS
| SYMBOL | REQUIREMENT |
| P | Puncture resistance (type P metallic insole) greater than or equal to 1100N. Punch 4,5 mm. |
| PL | Puncture resistance (non-metallic insole type PL) greater than or equal to 1100N. Punch 4,5 mm |
| PS | Puncture resistance (non-metallic insole Type PS) average greater than or equal to 1100N. no value less than 950N. Punch 3 mm |
| C | Partially conductive footwear (≤100kΩ) |
| A | Antistatic footwear (0.1MΩ and 1000MΩ) |
| HI / CI | Resistance to adverse environments: Insulation against heat from the sole. Insulation against the cold of the sole. |
| E | Energy absorption of the heel area ≥20J. |
| WR | Water resistant footwear |
| M | Metatarsal protection |
| AN | Ankle protection |
| CR | Cut resistance |
| SC | Toe cap reinforcement abrasion |
| SR | Slip resistance – on glycerine ceramic tiles |
| WPA | Resistance to water penetration and water absorption |
| HRO | Contact heat resistant sole |
| FO | Resistance to hydrocarbons |
| LG | Grip on stairs |
PROTECTION LEVELS
– In EN ISO 20345:2011, protection levels ranged from SB to S5. Now, with the new standard, they go from SB to S7 and different sub-levels are created according to the type of anti-puncture insole used.
– Levels SB to S3 and S6 to S7 belong to Class I footwear and S4 and S5 to Class II.
- (Class I footwear with leather or other materials.
- Class II footwear made of all polymer)
– At S1 level if an anti-puncture insole was added it was marked as S1+P. Now S1P will be for metallic insole and in the case of non-metallic insole it will be S1PL or S1PS depending on the type.
– The levels that include the anti-puncture insole, such as S3, are now subdivided into 3 depending on the type of insole, so we will have S3 for metallic insoles, S3L for PL non-metallic insoles and S3S for PS non-metallic insoles. Levels S5 and S7 work in the same way.
MEANING OF THE SYMBOLS OF THE DESIGNATION
| CATEGORY | BASIC REQUIREMENTS | ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS |
| SB | Class I or II | |
| S1 | Class I | As SB, plus: Closed heel area, Energy absorption in the heel Antistatic |
| S2 | Class I | As S1, plus: Water penetration and water absorption |
| S3 (metal sole type P) or S3L (non-metallic sole type PL) or S3S (non-metallic sole type PS) | Class I | As S2, plus: Puncture resistance depending on the type of sole with protrusions |
| S4 | Class II | As SB, plus: Closed back Energy absorption in the heel area Antistatic |
| S5 (metal sole type P) or S5L (non-metallic sole type PL) or S5S (non-metallic sole type PS) | Class II | As S4, plus: Puncture resistance depending on the type Embossed outsole |
| S6 | Class I | As S2, plus: Water resistance of the complete shoe |
| S7 (metal sole type P) or S7L (non-metallic sole type PL) or S7S (non-metallic sole type PS) | Class I | As S3, plus: Water resistance of the complete shoe |
CATEGORIES OF OCCUPATIONAL FOOTWEAR MARKING
| CATEGORY | BASIC REQUIREMENTS (Table 1 y Table 3) | ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS |
| OB | Class I or II | |
| 01 | Class I | As OB, plus Enclosed heel area Energy absorption in the heel Antistatic |
| 02 | Class I | As O1, plus Water penetration and absorption |
| O3 (metal sole type P) or O3L (non-metallic sole type PL) or O3S (non-metallic sole type PS) | Class I | As O2, plus Puncture resistance depending on type Sole with protrusions |
| 04 | Class II | As OB, plus Closed back Energy absorption in the heel area Antistatic |
EXPIRY DATE OF FOOTWEAR
The expiry date of the shoes during storage before use depends on the effects of time and environment and has to be stated by the manufacturer.
It is the responsibility of the manufacturer to determine all factors that may influence the time of use and/or the intended protection (e.g. UV radiation, heat, cold, water, salt, temporary factors of material properties…). The obsolescence date for footwear is usually set as follows:
- 10 years after the date of manufacture for footwear made of leather, rubber, thermoplastic materials and EVA.
- 5 years after the date of manufacture for footwear including PVC.
- 4 years after the date of manufacture for footwear including PU and TPU.
Expiry dates should be demonstrated by evidence (based on testing or experience). The manufacturer cannot predict the expiry date during use.