Regulation (EU) 2016/425 & EN20345 standards for safety footwear for professional use

Footwear certification explained

REGULATION (EU) 2016/425

Regulation (EU) 2016/425 Conformity is used for footwear that meets the EN20345 tests, but cannot be certified because the construction of the product is not recognised by the European testing standards agencies. This means that due to the shape and height of certain elements of the footwear it cannot be categorised as a shoe, boot or a wellington boot. Such footwear products are unique and as such there is no classification system for this style yet. These products have toecaps resistant to 200J, a water resistant upper and are tested for slip rating on a smooth steel plate with glycerol and have also been tested for their thermal resistant properties.

EN20345

EN20345 is the standard protection for professional safety footwear.

There is a qualifying test which all safety footwear must pass, after which further tests relating to additional safety aspects of the boot can be tested and certified against.

These will vary depending on the specific requirements for the footwear. See below for an example and explanation of the footwear certification codes.

a. Optional categories (short codes)*

Rated using either SB, SB-P,S1, S1-P, S2, S3

b. Insulation against the cold

Where the upper is tested for it’s insulating properties. The standard test temperature is -17°C

c. Slip resistance**

Rated using Either SRA, SRB or SRC (SRC being the top rating)

d. Additional Safety Standards met

Specifies any additional tests performed and the rating which they receive

An explanation of marking codes used to define level of protection provided

EN ISO 20345:2011 - SB Toe protection tested with 200 J impact and 15 kN compression force

OPTIONAL CATEGORIES OF PROTECTION

HRO Heat resistant outsole compound tested at 300ºC
P Penetration resistant outsole tested at 1100 Newtons force
A Electrical resistance between foot and ground of between 0.1 and 1000 Mega Ohms
C Electrical resistance between foot and ground of less than 0.1 Mega Ohms §
CI Insulation against cold
HI Insulation against heat
E Energy absorption of the seat region tested at 20 joules
WRU Water resistant upper leather
IInsulating footwear
AN Ankle protection
WR Water resistant footwear
CR Cut resistant footwear
M Metatarsal protection 100J impact energy

* SHORT CODES

SB Toe protection to 200J
SB-P As above with a penetration resistant sole
S1 Upper from material other than all rubber or polymeric + Closed seat region + SB + A + E
S1-P As above with the eddition of a penetration resistant sole
S2 Has met all S1 Requirements with the addition of WRU (Waterresistant upper leather)
S3 Has met all requirements for both S1 & S2 and also includes P (penetration resistant sole) and has cleated outersoles

**SLIP RESISTANCE

Footwear Marked "SRA" has achieved a minimum CoF of 0.28 in the heel and 0.32 tested flat using a pressed clay tile floor surface with Sodium Lauryl Sulphate lubricant.
Footwear Marked "SRB" has achieved a minimum CoF of 0.13 in the heel and 0.18 tested flat using a stainless steel floor surface with Glycerol lubricant.
Footwear Marked "SRC" has met requirements of both SRA & SRB

NB:Footwear with these markings will offer some reduction to the risks of slipping; it will not remove the risk all together. Extra care should be taken in highly slippery environments.

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