Le 25 February 2022

What changes in 2022 for the EN ISO 20345 safety footwear standard?

The year 2022 sees the safety shoe standard EN 20345 evolve. Gradually, all new models will be certified according to the EN ISO 20345: 2022 standard instead of the EN ISO 20345: 2012 standard. This change should allow the introduction of several significant developments, particularly regarding requirement levels for puncture resistance. Manufacturers have the right, throughout 2022, to still use the old standard, but the transition must be completed within the next 5 years, before shoe models using the old certification are no longer compliant with the standard now in force.

Summary:

The new anti-puncture markings
Simplification of slip resistance
Optional hydrocarbon resistance
SC and LG: 2 new additional requirements
Addition of S6 and S7 standards

The new anti-puncture markings

Until now, the P marking encompassed all tests performed on anti-puncture plates, whether they were metallic, textile or composite material. From now on, it only concerns metallic anti-puncture plates. For the others, two new additional standards are introduced:

Marking [PS] ("small"): Anti-puncture for tests performed with a fine point of 3 mm
Marking [PL] ("large"): Anti-puncture for tests performed with a wide point of 4.5 mm

As before, the additional P standard (anti-puncture) is automatically included in the certification of S3 safety shoes. But it will now be necessary to distinguish S3S shoes (PS marking) from S3L shoes (PL marking), according to the type of point used for the test. The requirement level being higher for fine points (PS), this implies reinforcing anti-puncture soles with textile or composite plates that are heavier, denser and less flexible.

Generally speaking, if neither marking (S or L) is indicated, it means these are S1P shoes or S3 tested on metallic anti-puncture plates.

Simplification of slip resistance

The new standard implemented from 2022 sees the disappearance of the following 3 markings, usually used to evaluate a non-slip sole:

Old markings (abandoned):

[SRA] - Slip resistance on ceramic and soapy floors
[SRB] - Slip resistance on steel and oily floors
[SRC] - Slip resistance on ceramic, steel, soapy and oily floors

To meet the basic requirement [SB], all safety shoes will have to pass a slip resistance test on tiled floors with detergent (lauryl sulfate), which corresponded to the SRA level. Too rarely encountered, the SRB marking concerning steel and oily floors is abandoned in favor of a new additional SR marking. The difference between the two is that the SR marking test will indeed be used with oil, but on a tiled floor.

Basic requirements [SB]:

Toe cap resistance to impact (200 joules) and compression (1500daN)
Resistance, safety and performance of materials
Shoe ergonomics and comfort
Slip protection (ceramic floor/soapy water)

Additional requirement:

Marking [SR] - Slip resistance on ceramic and oily floors

Optional hydrocarbon resistance

This point mainly concerns professionals faced with an environment containing hydrocarbons. Indeed, the FO standard becomes additional and will no longer be required by default for safety shoes. A sole certified [FO] does not exceed 12% volume increase when it comes into contact with hydrocarbons.

Additional requirement:

Marking [FO] - Hydrocarbon resistance

SC and LG: 2 new additional requirements

In order to see more clearly the real effectiveness of toe guards, the new standard adds the optional SC marking. A pair of shoes can obtain this marking for stone guard toe caps if they achieve sufficient abrasion resistance. The second addition concerns dropped heels which, if they reach a certain size, can claim the LG requirement.

Marking [SC] - Abrasion resistance of stone guards
Marking [LG] - Grip system, dropped heel

Addition of S6 and S7 standards

To better highlight the waterproofing properties on all shoes (WR), or only on the upper (WRU), the S6 and S7 markings are introduced.

Marking [S6] = S2 WR (completely waterproof shoes, without anti-puncture soles)
Marking [S7] = S3 WR (completely waterproof shoes, with anti-puncture soles)
Marking [S7L] = S3L WR (completely waterproof shoes, with anti-puncture soles, wide point)
Marking [S7S] = S3S WR (completely waterproof shoes, with anti-puncture soles, fine point)

In practice, this will make it possible to distinguish between S3 shoes that are only WRU, S7 shoes that are WRU with a WR membrane, or S3 WR shoes (with a WR membrane but without WRU properties). Eventually, the use of WRU marking will be renamed WPA.

Back