New PPE standard for safety footwear – the 7 most important changes

What does the new EN 20345:2021 cover?

The new EN ISO 20345:2021 standard for safety footwear sets out basic and additional (optional) requirements relating to safety and occupational footwear used for general purposes. For example, this standard includes:

• protection from mechanical and thermal risks
• slip resistance
• ergonomic behaviour
• requirements for safety/occupational footwear fitted with customised insocks

Because of the interaction with clothing, for example when footwear is covered by clothing or by dirt or mud, the standard does not cover the function of high visibility.

1. “P” perforation protection classification extended to include “PL” and “PS” codes

The “P” classification code in the previous version indicated that the safety footwear protected against perforation, regardless of the material used for it.

The new standard makes a distinction between metallic and non-metallic perforation protection.

2. Revised slip resistance requirements

The markings “SRA”, “SRB” and “SRC” have been removed and replaced with “SR” and “Ø”.

The standard slip resistance test – similar to the original “SRA” test method – consisting of a test on a ceramic tile with an aqueous solution remains part of the certification process.

“SR” is a higher level of slip resistance. Shoes with the “SR” marking perform excellently on slippery wet surfaces, when the sole is tested on a ceramic tile with glycerine.

3. Two new levels of protection: S6 and S7

The SB, S1, S2, S3, S4 and S5 safety protection levels, which define the level of protection provided by safety footwear, have been joined by two additional levels of protection for footwear water resistance:

• S6 has the same protection requirements as S2, but with additional water resistance (WR) requirements.
• S7 corresponds to S3, but also has additional water resistance (WR) requirements.

  

4. Water resistance and waterproofing: WRU replaced by WPA

The WRU (water-resistant upper) classification code has been replaced by WPA, which describes water penetration and absorption. If a shoe has the new WPA code, this means that the entire upper material of the shoe is resistant to water.

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5. Optional FO requirement

FO – a classification code concerned with a shoe’s resistance to petrol, oil, etc. It is no longer a mandatory requirement for the S1 and S5 categories.

6. New SC scuff cap abrasion requirement

In testing under the new standard, the cap must not exhibit any damage throughout its entire thickness before 8,000 cycles of the abrasion test have been carried out.