EN 20347:2011 – Personal protective equipment (PPE): Occupational footwear

(EN 20347:2011 supersedes NEN-EN-ISO 20347:2004.)

This standard details basic and additional (i.e., optional) requirements for occupational footwear that will not be exposed to mechanical risks (e.g., impact or compression) and for footwear designed for specific professions and worksite conditions (e.g., footwear for firefighters, electrical insulating footwear, protection against chainsaw injuries, protection against chemicals and against molten metal splash, protection for motorcyclists).

Occupational footwear that complies with EN 20347 does not include toecaps that ensure protection against impact forces and compression loads. These types of footwear are designed for workplaces and activities in which both hazards to feet and toes are not identified during risk assessments.

Footwear is classified according to the following classes:
• Class I – footwear made from leather and other materials, excluding all-rubber and all-polymeric footwear (O1, O2, and O3)
• Class II – all-rubber (i.e. entirely vulcanised), all-polymeric (manufactured in one piece), and hybrid (O4, O5, and OBH = polymeric footwear with another material that extends the upper) footwear

Marking categories for occupational footwear:

Category Class Additional requirements
OB I or II Basic requirements for occupational footwear. No toe protection against mechanical hazards.
O1 I No toe protection against mechanical hazards. With closed heels, antistatic properties, energy absorption in heel region and fuel oil-resistant outsole. Use in dry working conditions.
O2 I Same as O1 plus water penetration and water absorption (waterproof shaft up to 60 minutes). For use in humid/wet working conditions.
O3 I Same as O2 plus penetration resistance and cleated outsole.
O4 II Boots with basic requirements plus antistatic properties, energy absorption in heel region and liquid-tight.
O5 II Same as O4 plus penetration resistance and cleated outsole.
OBH II Same as O4 and O5.

 

Additional requirements:

Symbol Requirement related to Description additional safety requirements
P Whole footwear Penetration resistance
C   Conductive footwear
A   Antistatic footwear
I   Electrically insulating footwear
HI   Heat insulation of sole complex (footwear with soles resistant to hot environmental conditions).
CI   Cold insulation of sole complex (footwear with soles resistant to cold environmental conditions)
E   Energy absorption of seat region
WR   Water resistance
AN   Ankle protection
CR   Cut resistance
WRU Upper Water penetration and water absorption
HRO Outside Resistance to hot contact
ORO   Outsole resistant to fuel oil

 

Requirements for slip-resistant footwear (e.g. resistance to slip, trips, and falls):

Symbol Description additional safety requirements
SRA Slip resistance on ceramic tile flooring with NaLS solution (sodium lauryl sulfate)
SRB Slip resistance on steel flooring with glycerin
SRC Slip resistance on ceramic tile flooring with NaLS and steel flooring with glycerin