The new EN ISO 20345:2022 standard defines the basic and additional (optional) requirements for general purpose safety footwear. It includes mechanical hazards, slip resistance, thermal hazards and ergonomic behaviour, among others.
What impact do the new standards for safety shoes have in practice?
In 2022, the new norm for safety shoes, called EN 20345:2022 was published. As well as adjustments to existing requirements, this norm also imposed new requirements.
The arrival of this new norm, however, does not mean that safety shoes approved according to EN 20345: 2011 can no longer be sold. They may still be sold until the current certificate for the product expires. This means that safety shoes under both norms are permitted until 2027.
What is new in the standard EN ISO 20345: 2022?
The standard defines the basic and additional (optional) requirements for general purpose safety footwear. It includes mechanical hazards, slip resistance, thermal hazards and ergonomic behaviour, among others.
1. Requirements for non-slip safety
SRA, SRB and SRC disappear. Slip testing similar to SRA will instead be included in the basic requirement for certification and therefore has no special marking.
In addition to the basic certification, you can perform another slip test, which is then marked SR (Slip Resistance).
For shoes with, for example, studs, which in practice can be difficult or impossible to test according to standard, you can mark the shoe with the following symbol: .
The test methods are slightly adjusted to mimic reality better, for example, all slip tests are done on tiles.
2. Requirements for perforation resistance
A shoe fitted with protection for nail penetration has previously had the marking P.
However, that marking does not say what material the nail protection consists of. The new standard clarifies somewhat what material the protection consists of and what size of test nail was used in the tests. A smaller diameter gives a higher pressure and thus higher requirements for protection.
P: Nail protection made of steel with, diameter of test nail 4.5 mm.
PL: Nail protection of "non-metal" with, diameter of test nail 4.5 mm.
PS: Nail protection of "non-metal" with, diameter of test nail 3 mm.
3. Levels of protection
The number of protection levels has increased from SB - S5 to SB - S7 with associated sublevels. The previous protection levels were divided as follows: SB, S1, S2, S3, S4 and S5 where SB is the only protection level that allows open heel. S1 has sometimes been seen with nail protection as an addition and has then been called S1P. S4 and S5 are so-called class II products (rubber boots).
The new main division is: SB, S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6 and S7. Protection level S1 will still be visible with the suffix P, i.e. S1P. However, since the tests for nail protection have been extended to P, PL and PS, the protection level S1 will therefore be able to be specified with these additions; S1P, S1PL and S1PS.
Other protection levels that already includes requirements for nail protection are not stated as before, as the protection level itself already states that the product meets these requirements. However, it is interesting to know what type of nail protection that is included in the product. For example, protection class S3 (requirement for nail protection is included in that protection class) is therefore divided into the following three levels - S3, S3L and S3S. S3 is tested with a steel nail, S3L "non-metal" nail protection with a large nail (L = Large) and S3S "non-metal" nail protection with a small nail (S = Small). In the same way, the protection levels S5 and S7 are divided, as these protection levels also have requirements for nail protection.
4. Specific requirements
The additional requirements has gone from being 12 to 18. Some have been removed and has instead become a part of the basic certification while others have been added. The new list of 18 possible additional requirements look like this:
Codes and requirements:
PL - Perforation resistance (non metal insert)
PS - Perforation resistance (non metal insert)
C - Partly conductive footwear
A - Anti-static footwear
HI - Heat insulation of outsole complex
CI - Cold insulation of outsole complex
E - Energy absorption of seat region
WR - Water resistance
M - Metatarsal protection
AN - Ankle protection
CR - Cut resistance
SC - Scuff cap abrasion
SR - Slip resistance (ceramic tile floor with glycerine)
WPA - Water penetration and absorption
HRO - Resistance to hot contact
FO - Resistance to fuel oil
LG - Ladder grip
5. Ladder grip
This is a new feature that was not covered in previous versions of the norm. It is not a mandatory basic requirement but an optional test.
The ladder grip (LG) indicates whether a shoe is safe to wear when using ladders. The heel of the shoe prevents the foot from sliding through a rung, thus helping to prevent you falling from the ladder.
6. FO is no longer mandatory
There are two types of waterproofing: WR and WPA. WPA is the new description of WRU. WRU is no longer used. The waterproof capacity of the overall shoe is still tested and has the coding WR.An extra feature that can be tested is WPA. This indicates the extent to which the shoe’s upper or shaft is waterproof. These letters only apply to shoes. Boots are expected to always be waterproof and the leak test is therefore a basic requirement (without letters).
7. Toe-cap resilience
A toe-cap did not used to be tested. In the future, there must be evidence that the toe-cap effectively ensures that the toe of the shoe is less susceptible to wear and tear. This is given the code SC (Scuff Cap).
8. Fuel oil
Unlike the latest version of EN ISO 20345, fuel oil is no longer a mandatory test for S classification.If you are likely to come into contact with fuel regularly, you should check the version of the norm:
EN ISO 20345:2011 S1 is tested on fuels.
EN ISO 20345:2022 S1 is not tested on fuels.
If you come into contact with hydrocarbons, your shoes must have the FO label.
