Safety Shoes Standard Guide

ISO 20345 is an international standard that sets the requirements for safety footwear, providing guidelines and specifications to ensure that safety shoes offer adequate protection in various work environments. This standard is widely recognized and used globally, influencing the design and manufacturing of safety footwear.

OVERVIEW OF ISO 20345 AND ITS KEY COMPONENTS

• Purpose and Scope: ISO 20345 focuses on occupational safety footwear and aims to standardize the features that contribute to protection against specific workplace hazards. The standard covers a range of safety aspects, including toe protection, sole puncture resistance, and more.
• Toe Protection: One of the primary features addressed by ISO 20345 is toe protection. The standard classifies safety shoes into different categories based on the level of protection they provide against impact and compression. Common toe protection options include steel, composite materials, and alloy toe caps.
  • SB: Basic safety footwear with toe protection against impact (200 Joules) and compression.
  • S1: Adds antistatic properties, energy absorption of the heel region, and closed heel design to SB.
  • S2: Like S1 but with additional water-resistant upper materials.
  • S3: Combines S2 features with penetration-resistant midsoles (sole puncture resistance) and cleated outsoles.

• Additional Requirements: ISO 20345 includes additional requirements for safety footwear that go beyond toe protection. Some of these requirements include:
  • Antistatic Properties (A): Safety shoes designed to reduce static electricity buildup.
  • Energy Absorption of the Heel Region (E): Specifies the ability of the footwear to absorb and dissipate energy in the heel area.
  • Water Resistance (WR): Indicates that the safety shoes are water-resistant, providing protection against water penetration.
  • Penetration Resistance (P): Specifies that the safety shoes have a penetration-resistant midsole to protect against punctures.
• Markings: Safety shoes complying with ISO 20345 are marked with specific codes to indicate the features and protection they offer. For example, a safety shoe might be labelled as “SB P E FO” to signify that it provides basic protection (SB), has penetration resistance (P), offers energy absorption in the heel (E), and has a fuel oil-resistant outsole (FO).
• Compliance: Paton Safety Shoes / footwear are in accordance with ISO 20345 and meets the standard’s required and undergo testing to ensure their products provide the specified levels of protection. Compliance with this standard is essential to guarantee that safety shoes offer the expected safety features in the workplace.

In summary, ISO 20345 serves as a comprehensive standard for safety footwear, providing a structured approach to ensuring protection against various workplace hazards. When selecting safety shoes, individuals and employers should look for products that comply with ISO 20345 to ensure the footwear meets the necessary safety standards.