EN ISO 20346:2021 Latest European Safety Standard

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Key Terms and Definitions for Footwear Protection

SCOPE

This document gives the mandatory and other (optional) requirements for protective footwear used in general purpose. It includes, for example, mechanical risks, slip resistance, thermal risks, ergonomic behaviour. For instance, mechanical risks are also addressed here as well as slip resistance to avoid accidents from slipping off on wet surfaces. In addition to this; ergonomics of protective footwear have been taken into account under various aspects that define comfort at work. Also it covers requirements for such types of protective footwear as those with individual customized insocks or custom-made boots of any type.

High visibility factor is not regulated by this standard due to interplay with clothing such as trousers that cover shoes and environment at work like dirt.

Additional specific workplace standards apply to special hazards (fire-fighting footwear, electrical insulating safety footwear protecting against chainsaw injuries; protection against chemical and molten metal shedding onto a foot and protection for bike riders).

NORMATIVE REFERENCES

Normative references contained in this text include standards whose contents are partly or fully stipulated herein. Only the edition cited applies to dated references. The latest edition of a document referred to without a date specifies all amendments hereto.

The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document.

• ISO 20344:2021, Personal protective equipment — Test methods for footwear
• ISO 22568-1:2019, Foot and leg protectors — Requirements and test methods for footwear components — Part 1: Metallic toecaps
• ISO 22568-2:2019, Foot and leg protectors — Requirements and test methods for footwear components — Part 2: Non-metallic toecaps
• EN 13832‑3:2018, Footwear protecting against chemicals — Part 3: Requirements for footwear highly resistant to chemicals under laboratory conditions

Leather
Leather is a material derived from hide or skin that has been tanned to be imperishable, providing durability and resilience.

Leather Split
This term refers to the flesh or middle part of a hide or skin, obtained by splitting a thick leather. The split is tanned to ensure long-lasting quality.

Rubber
Rubber is an elastic polymeric material that can be vulcanized, making it ideal for various applications including footwear.

Polymeric Material
Polymeric materials consist of large molecules made up of repeating structural units, or monomers, connected by chemical bonds. Common examples include Polyurethane (PU) and Polyvinylchloride (PVC).

Insole
An insole is a non-removable component that forms the base of a shoe, typically to which the upper part of the shoe is attached during the lasting process.

Insock
An insock is a footwear component that covers the insole, which can either be removable or non-removable.

Seat Sock
A seat sock is a component used to cover the insole specifically in the heel area. It can be either removable or non-removable.

Footbed
A footbed is a type of insock designed to match the contour of the foot, with or without the purpose of correcting posture.

Lining
The lining is the material that covers the inner surface of the footwear, coming into direct contact with the wearer’s foot. In some cases, it also refers to the material under a toecap if the upper part of the shoe is split or stitched to form a pocket for the toecap.

Cleat
A cleat is a protruding part of the outer surface of the outsole, providing additional traction.

Outsole
The outsole is the outermost part of the shoe, providing necessary traction and protection against floor surfaces.

Rigid Outsole
A rigid outsole can be bent less than 45 degrees under a load of 30 N, indicating its stiffness.

Multi-layer Outsole
This type of outsole is composed of two or more material layers that cover the entire surface, excluding tread covers of less than 0.5 mm thickness.

Perforation Resistant Insert
This component, used in the outsole or as an insole, offers protection against perforation.

Protective Toecap
A protective toecap is a built-in component designed to shield the toes from impacts and compression.

Scuff Caps
Scuff caps are materials or components used to prevent abrasion and scuffing in the upper external toe region, especially during kneeling activities.

Heel Area
The heel area refers to the counter or stiffener located at the rear part of the footwear.

Partially Conductive Footwear
This type of footwear has low electrical resistance, allowing it to dissipate some static electricity.

Antistatic Footwear
Antistatic footwear maintains certain electrical resistance, enabling it to dissipate static electricity while preventing excessive buildup.

Fuel Oil
Fuel oil is an aliphatic hydrocarbon derived from petroleum.

Customized Protective Footwear
This category encompasses all individually customized footwear designed to accommodate specific foot conditions or requirements. It includes:

• Type 1 — Equipped with Customized Insocks: Footwear incorporating customized insocks tailored to the wearer’s needs.
• Type 2 — Modified Protective Footwear: Protective footwear modified from its original construction to suit an individual user.
• Type 3 — Bespoke Protective Footwear: Custom-made footwear constructed as a single unit to fit an individual user.