EN ISO 20346:2004

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-oktober-2004
1DGRPHãþD
SIST EN 346:1996/A1:1998
Osebna varovalna oprema - Varovalna obutev (ISO 20346:2004)
Personal protective equipment - Protective footwear (ISO 20346:2004)
Persönliche Schutzausrüstung - Schutzschuhe (ISO 20346:2004)
Equipement de protection individuelle - Chaussures de protection (ISO 20346:2004)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN ISO 20346:2004
ICS:
13.340.50 Varovanje nog in stopal Leg and foot protection
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD
EN ISO 20346
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
August 2004
ICS 13.340.50 Supersedes EN 346:1992, EN 346-2:1996
English version
Personal protective equipment - Protective footwear
(ISO 20346:2004)
Equipement de protection individuelle - Chaussures de Persönliche Schutzausrüstung - Schutzschuhe (ISO
protection (ISO 20346:2004) 20346:2004)
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 2 January 2004.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European
Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national
standards may be obtained on application to the Central Secretariat or to any CEN member.

This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation
under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the Central Secretariat has the same status as the official
versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France,
Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

Management Centre: rue de Stassart, 36  B-1050 Brussels
© 2004 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN ISO 20346:2004: E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents page
Foreword.4
1 Scope.5
2 Normative references.5
3 Terms and definitions .5
4 Classification.10
5 Basic requirements for protective footwear .11
5.1 General.11
5.2 Design.14
5.2.1 General.14
5.2.2 Height of upper .14
5.2.3 Seat region.14
5.3 Whole footwear.14
5.3.1 Sole performance.14
5.3.2 Toe protection.14
5.3.3 Leakproofness.16
5.3.4 Specific ergonomic features.16
5.4 Upper.16
5.4.1 General.16
5.4.2 Thickness.16
5.4.3 Tear strength.17
5.4.4 Tensile properties.17
5.4.5 Flexing resistance.17
5.4.6 Water vapour permeability and coefficient .17
5.4.7 pH value.17
5.4.8 Hydrolysis.18
5.4.9 Chromium VI content .18
5.5 Lining.18
5.5.1 Tear strength.18
5.5.2 Abrasion resistance.18
5.5.3 Water vapour permeability and coefficient .18
5.5.4 pH value.18
5.5.5 Chromium VI content .18
5.6 Tongue.19
5.6.1 Tear strength.19
5.6.2 pH value.19
5.6.3 Chromium VI content .19
5.7 Insole and insock.19
5.7.1 Thickness.19
5.7.2 pH value.19
5.7.3 Water absorption and desorption .19
5.7.4 Abrasion resistance.19
5.7.5 Chromium VI content .20
5.8 Outsole.20
5.8.1 Thickness of non-cleated outsoles.20
5.8.2 Tear strength.20
5.8.3 Abrasion resistance.20
5.8.4 Flexing resistance.20
5.8.5 Hydrolysis.20
5.8.6 Interlayer bond strength.20
5.8.7 Resistance to fuel oil.21
6 Additional requirements for protective footwear.21
6.1 General.21
6.2 Whole footwear.22
6.2.1 Penetration resistance.22
6.2.2 Electrical properties.24
6.2.3 Resistance to inimical environments.24
6.2.4 Energy absorption of seat region .24
6.2.5 Water resistance.24
6.2.6 Metatarsal protection.25
6.2.7 Ankle protection.25
6.3 Upper.25
6.3.1 Water penetration and water absorption .25
6.3.2 Construction.25
6.3.3 Cut resistance.25
6.4 Outsole.26
6.4.1 Cleated area.26
6.4.2 Thickness of cleated outsoles .27
6.4.3 Cleat height.27
6.4.4 Resistance to hot contact.27
7 Marking.27
8 Information to be supplied .29
8.1 General.29
8.2 Electrical properties.29
8.2.1 Conductive footwear.29
8.2.2 Antistatic footwear.30
8.2.3 Electrically insulating footwear .31
8.3 Insocks.31
Annex ZA (informative) Clauses of this European Standard addressing essential requirements or
other provisions of EU Directives.32
Annex ZB (normative) Corresponding International and European Standards for which
equivalents are not given in the text .34
Bibliography.35

Foreword
This document (EN ISO 20346:2004) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 161 “Foot and leg
protectors”, the secretariat of which is held by BSI, in collaboration with Technical Committee ISO/TC 94
“Personal safety - Protective clothing and equipment”.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an identical
text or by endorsement, at the latest by February 2005, and conflicting national standards shall be withdrawn
at the latest by August 2005.
This document has been prepared under a mandate given to CEN by the European Commission and the
European Free Trade Association, and supports essential requirements of EU Directive(s).
For relationship with EU Directive(s), see informative Annex ZA, which is an integral part of this document.
In conjunction with EN ISO 20344:2004, this standard supersedes EN 346:1992 and EN 346-2:1996.
According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the following
countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
and United Kingdom.
1 Scope
This European Standard specifies basic and additional (optional) requirements for protective footwear.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
document (including any amendments) applies.

EN 12568:1998, Foot and leg protectors – Requirements and test methods for toecaps and metal penetration
resistant inserts
EN ISO 20344: 2004, Personal protective equipment - Test methods for footwear (ISO 20344:2004)
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this European Standard, the following terms and definitions apply.
NOTE The component parts of footwear are illustrated in figures 1 and 2.
3.1
protective footwear
footwear, incorporating protective features to protect the wearer from injuries which could arise through
accidents, fitted with toecaps, designed to give protection against impact when tested at an energy level of at
least 100 J and against compression when tested at a compression load of at least 10 kN
3.2
leather
3.2.1
full grain leather
hide or skin tanned to be imputrescible having conserved the totality of its grain
3.2.2
corrected grain leather
hide or skin tanned to be imputrescible which has been subjected to mechanical buffing to modify its grain
structure
3.2.3
leather split
flesh or middle part of a hide or skin tanned to be imputrescible obtained by splitting a thick leather
3.3
rubber
vulcanized elastomers
3.4
polymeric materials
for example polyurethane or polyvinylchloride
3.5
insole
non-removable component used to form the base of the shoe to which the upper is usually attached during
lasting
3.6
insock
removable or permanent footwear component used to cover part or all of the insole
3.7
lining
material covering the inner surface of the upper
NOTE 1 The wearer’s foot is in direct contact with the lining.
NOTE 2 Where an upper is split at the forepart to house the toecap, or if an external piece of material is stitched to the
upper to form a pocket to house the toecap, the material under the toecap acts as a lining.
3.7.1
vamp lining
material covering the inner surface of the forepart of the upper
3.7.2
quarter lining
material covering the inner surface of the quarters of the upper
3.8
cleat(s)
protruding part(s) of the outer surface of the sole
3.9
rigid outsole
sole which, when the complete footwear is tested in accordance with EN ISO 20344: 2004, 8.4.1, cannot be
bent through an angle of 45° under a load of 30 N
3.10
cellular outsole
outsole having a density of 0,9 g/ml or less with a cell structure visible under 10x magnification
3.11
penetration-resistant insert
footwear component placed in the sole complex in order to provide protection against penetration
3.12
safety toecap
footwear component built into the footwear designed to protect the toes of the wearer from impacts up to an
energy level of at least 100 J and compression at a load of at least 10 kN
3.13
seat region
back part of the footwear (upper and sole)
3.14
conductive footwear
footwear whose resistance, when measured according to EN ISO 20344: 2004, 5.10, lies in the range of
0 to 100 kΩ
3.15
antistatic footwear
footwear whose resistance, when measured according to EN ISO 20344: 2004, 5.10, lies above 100 kΩ and
is less than or equal to 1 000 MΩ
3.16
electrically insulating footwear
footwear which protects the wearer against electrical shocks by preventing the passage of dangerous current
through the body via the feet
3.17
fuel oil
aliphatic hydrocarbon constituent of petroleum
3.18
specific job related footwear
safety, protective or occupational footwear relating to a specific profession, e.g. footwear for firefighters,
footwear with resistance to chain saw cutting, etc.
4 2
A
A
9 13
Key
1 Facing 6 Insock 11 Penetration-resistant insert
2 Tongue 7 Toecap 12 Insole
Edge covering,
3 Collar 8 13 Heel
e.g. foam strip
4 Upper 9 Outsole 14 Strobel stitching
5 Vamp lining 10 Cleat 15 Quarter
16 Vamp
Figure 1a) Parts of footwear of Strobel construction
Key
1 Upper 3 Rigid sole 5 Outsole
2 Toecap 4 Reinforcing welt 6 Wooden sole
with nails
Figure 1b) Parts of footwear of conventional construction

Key
1 Upper 3 Outsole
2 Vamp 4 Heel
Figure 2 — Parts of all-rubber (i.e. vulcanized) or all polymeric (i.e. entirely moulded) footwear
4 Classification
Footwear shall be classified in accordance with table 1.
Table 1 — Classification of footwear
Code designation Classification
I Footwear made from leather and other materials,
excluding all-rubber or all-polymeric footwear
II All-rubber (i.e. entirely vulcanized) or all-polymeric
(i.e. entirely moulded) footwear

AB C
D
E
Key
1 Variable extension which can be
adapted to the wearer
A Low shoe B Ankle boot D Knee-height boot
C Half-knee boot E Thigh boot

NOTE Design E can be a knee-height boot (design D) equipped with a thin impermeable material which extends the
upper and which can be cut to adapt the boot to the wearer
Figure 3 — Designs of footwear
5 Basic requirements for protective footwear
5.1 General
Protective footwear shall comply with the basic requirements given in table 2 and one of the 5 options given in
table 3.
Footwear without both an insole and insock or without an insole but with a removable insock is non-compliant
with this standard.
Table 2 — Basic requirements for protective footwear
Requirement Clause Classification
I II
Design Height of upper 5.2.1 X X
Seat region: 5.2.2
Design A X
Design B, C, D, E X X
Whole Sole performance: 5.3.1
footwear
Construction 5.3.1.1 X
Upper/outsole bond strength 5.3.1.2 X
Toe protection: 5.3.2
General 5.3.2.1 X X
Internal length of toecaps 5.3.2.2 X X
Impact resistance 5.3.2.3 X X
Compression resistance 5.3.2.4 X X
Behaviour of toecaps 5.3.2.5 X X
Leakproofness 5.3.3 X
Specific ergonomic features 5.3.4 X X
Upper General 541 X X
Thickness 5.4.2 X
Tear strength 5.4.3 X
Tensile properties 5.4.4 X X
Flexing resistance 5.4.5 X
Water vapour permeability and
5.4.6 X
coefficient
pH value 5.4.7 X
Hydrolysis 5.4.8 X
Chromium VI content 5.4.9 X
Vamp Tear strength 5.5.1 X
lining
Abrasion resistance 5.5.2 X
Water vapour permeability and 5.5.3 X
coefficient
pH value 5.5.4 X
Chromium VI content 5.5.5 X
Quarter Tear strength 5.5.1 O
lining
Abrasion resistance 5.5.2 O
Water vapour permeability and 5.5.3 O
coefficient
pH value 5.5.4 O
Chromium VI content 5.5.5 O
Tongue
Tear strength 561 O
pH value 5.6.2 O
Chromium VI content 5.6.3 O
Outsole
Thickness of non-cleated outsoles 581 X X
Tear strength 5.8.2 X
Abrasion resistance 5.8.3 X X
Flexing resistance 5.8.4 X X
Hydrolysis 5.8.5 X X
Table 2 — Basic requirements for protective footwear (concluded)
Clause Classification
Requirement
I II
Outsole Interlayer bond strength 5.8.6 O O
Resistance to fuel oil 5.8.7 X X
NOTE The applicability of a requirement to a particular classification is indicated in this table by the following:
X the requirement shall be met. In some cases the requirement relates only to
particular materials within the classification - e.g. pH value of leather components. This does not mean that
other materials are precluded from use.

O if the component part exists, the requirement shall be met.
The absence of X or O indicates that there is no requirement.

Table 3 — Basic requirements for insoles and/or insocks
Requirements to fulfil
Water
Component
absorp-
Thick- Chrom- Abras-
a)
Options to be
pH Abrasion
a)
tion
ness ium VI ion
assessed
desorp-
5.7.2 5.7.4.1
5.7.1 5.7.4.2
5.7.5
tion
5.7.3
No insole or if
Non-
present not
1 removable Insock X X X X X
fulfilling the
insock
requirements
No insock
2 Insole X X X X X
Seat sock
present
Insock and
Full insock,
insole X X
3 non-
together
removable
Insock X  X X
Insole present
Full insock,
Insole X X X X X
removable
and water
b)
permeable
Insock X  X X
Full insock,
Insole X X X X X
removable,
not water
b)
Insock X X X X
permeable
Note 1: X means that the requirement shall be met.
Note 2: For removable insocks see clause 8.3.
a
) those requirements are only for leather
b)
a water permeable insock is one that, when tested in accordance with EN ISO 20344: 2004, 7.2, lets water through in
60 s or less
5.2 Design
5.2.1 General
Footwear shall conform to one of the designs given in figure 3.
5.2.2 Height of upper
The height of the upper measured in accordance with EN ISO 20344: 2004, 6.2, shall be as given in table 4.
Table 4 — Height of upper
Footwear size Height
Design A Design B Design C Design D
French English
mm mm mm mm
min. min. min.
36 and below up to 3 ½ < 103 103 162 255
37 and 38 4 to 5 < 105 105 165 260
39 and 40 5 ½ to 6 ½ < 109 109 172 270
41 and 42 7 to 8 < 113 113 178 280
43 and 44 8 ½ to 10 < 117 117 185 290
45 and above 10 ½ and < 121 121 192 300
above
5.2.3 Seat region
The seat region shall be closed.
5.3 Whole footwear
5.3.1 Sole performance
5.3.1.1 Construction
When used an insole shall be present in such a way that it cannot be removed without damaging the footwear.
5.3.1.2 Upper/outsole bond strength
When footwear, other than with a stitched sole, is tested in accordance with the method described in
EN ISO 20344: 2004, 5.2, the bond strength shall be not less than 4,0 N/mm, unless there is tearing of the
sole, in which case the bond strength shall be not less than 3,0 N/mm.
5.3.2 Toe protection
5.3.2.1 General
Toecaps shall be incorporated in the footwear in such a manner that they cannot be removed without
damaging the footwear.
With the exception of all-rubber and all-polymeric footwear, footwear fitted with internal toecaps shall have a
vamp lining or an element of the upper that serves as a lining, and in addition the toecaps shall have an edge
covering extending from the back edge of the toecap to at least 5 mm beneath it and at least 10 mm in the
opposite direction.
Scuff resistant coverings for the toe region shall be not less than 1 mm in thickness.
5.3.2.2 Internal length of toecaps
When measured in accordance with the method described in EN ISO 20344: 2004, 5.3, the internal toecap
length shall be in accordance with table 5.
Table 5 — Minimum internal length of toecaps
Size of footwear Minimum internal length
French English mm
36 and below up to 3 ½ 34
37 and 38 4 to 5 36
39 and 40 5 ½ to 6 ½ 38
41 and 42 7 to 8 39
43 and 44 8 ½ to 10 40
45 and above 10 ½ and above 42

5.3.2.3 Impact resistance of protective footwear
When protective footwear is tested in accordance with the method described in EN ISO 20344: 2004, 5.4, at
an impact energy of at least 100 J ± 2 J, the clearance under the toecap at the moment of impact shall be in
accordance with table 6. In addition, the toecap shall not develop any cracks on the test axis which go through
the material, i.e. through which light can be seen.
Table 6 — Minimum clearance under toecaps at impact
Size of footwear Minimum clearance
French English mm
36 and below up to 3 ½ 12,5
37 and 38 4 to 5 13,0
39 and 40 5 ½ to 6 ½ 13,5
41 and 42 7 to 8 14,0
43 and 44 8 ½ to 10 14,5
45 and above 10 ½ and above 15,0

5.3.2.4 Compression resistance of protective footwear
When protective footwear is tested in accordance with EN ISO 20344: 2004, 5.5, the clearance under the
toecap at a compression load of 10 kN ± 0,1 kN shall be in accordance with table 6.
5.3.2.5 Behaviour of toecaps
5.3.2.5.1 Corrosion resistance of metallic toecaps
When classification II footwear is tested and assessed in accordance with EN ISO 20344: 2004, 5.6.1, the
metallic toecap shall exhibit no more than five areas of corrosion, none of which shall exceed 2,5 mm in area.
When metallic toecaps to be used in classification I footwear are tested and assessed in accordance with
EN ISO 20344: 2004, 5.6.2, they shall exhibit no more than five areas of corrosion, none of which shall
exceed 2,5 mm in area.
5.3.2.5.2 Non-metallic toecaps
Non-metallic toecaps used in safety footwear shall comply with the requirements of EN 12568:1998, 4.3.
5.3.3 Leakproofness
When tested in accordance with EN ISO 20344: 2004, 5.7, there shall be no leakage of air.
5.3.4 Specific ergonomic features
The footwear shall be considered to satisfy the ergonomic requirements if all the answers are positive in the
questionnaire given in EN ISO 20344: 2004, 5.1.
5.4 Upper
5.4.1 General
For designs B, C, D and E the area which shall fulfil the upper requirements shall have a minimum height
measured from the horizontal surface beneath the sole in accordance with table 7.
Table 7 — Minimum height below which the upper requirements shall be
completely fulfilled
Design
Size of footwear Minimum height
mm
French English B C D E
36 and below up to 3 ½ 64 113 172 265
37 and 38 4 to 5 66 115 175 270
39 and 40 5 ½ to 6 ½ 68 119 182 280
41 and 42 7 to 8 70 123 188 290
43 and 44 8 ½ to 10 72 127 195 300
45 and above 10 ½ and above 73 131 202 310

When collar and insert materials are present above the heights given in table 7, such materials shall meet the
tear strength, 5.5.1, and abrasion resistance, 5.5.2, requirements for lining. In the case of leather materials
they shall meet in addition the requirements for the pH value, 5.4.7, and for the chromium VI content, 5.4.9.
5.4.2 Thickness
When determined in accordance with EN ISO 20344: 2004, 6.1, the thickness of the upper of classification II
footwear at any point shall be in accordance with table 8.
Table 8 — Minimum thickness of upper
Type of material Minimum thickness
mm
Rubber 1,50
Polymeric 1,00
5.4.3 Tear strength
When determined in accordance with EN ISO 20344: 2004, 6.3, the tear strength of the upper of classification
I footwear shall be in accordance with table 9.
Table 9 — Minimum tear strength of upper
Type of material Minimum force
N
Leather 120
Coated fabric and textile 60
5.4.4 Tensile properties
When determined in accordance with EN ISO 20344: 2004, 6.4, table 7, the tensile properties shall be in
accordance with table 10.
Ta
...