EN ISO 20346:2022/A1:2024

Personal protective equipment - Protective footwear - Amendment 1 (ISO 20346:2021/Amd 1:2024)

Persönliche Schutzausrüstung - Schutzschuhe - Änderung 1 (ISO 20346:2021/Amd 1:2024)

Équipement de protection individuelle - Chaussures de protection - Amendement 1 (ISO 20346:2021/Amd 1:2024)

Osebna varovalna oprema - Varovalna obutev - Dopolnilo A1 (ISO 20346:2021/Amd 1:2024)

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 13-Feb-2024
• ICS: 13.340.50 - Leg and foot protection
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 161 - Foot and leg protectors
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 161/WG 2 - Specifications for footwear for professional use
• Current Stage: 6060 - Definitive text made available (DAV) - Publishing
• Start Date: 14-Feb-2024
• Completion Date: 14-Feb-2024
• Directive: 2016/425 - Regulation (EU) 2016/425 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on personal protective equipment and repealing Council Directive 89/686/EEC
• Mandate: M/571 - COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION of 19.11.2020 on a standardisation request to the European Committee for Standardization and the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization as regards personal protective equipment in support of Regulation (EU) 2016/425 of the European Parliament and of the Council
• Mandate: M/571 AMD 1 - Personal Protective Equipement
• Ref Project: SIST EN ISO 20346:2022/A1:2024 - Personal protective equipment - Protective footwear - Amendment 1 (ISO 20346:2021/Amd 1:2024)

Relations

• Amends: EN ISO 20346:2022 - Personal protective equipment - Protective footwear (ISO 20346:2021)
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2023

Overview

EN ISO 20346:2022/A1:2024 (Personal protective equipment - Protective footwear - Amendment 1) is a CEN-endorsed amendment to ISO 20346:2021 that updates test methods, material requirements and performance criteria for protective footwear used as personal protective equipment (PPE). This amendment aligns the European adoption with ISO updates and supports presumption of conformity with Regulation (EU) 2016/425 when cited in the Official Journal.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Normative references updated - References to ISO 20344:2021 are replaced with ISO 20344:2021+Amd.1:2024; related references throughout the standard are updated accordingly.
• Toecap testing - For non-metallic toecaps the impact test energy is (100 ± 2) J; clearance at impact must meet values in ISO 22568-2:2019, Table 3. Toecaps must not develop through-cracks or sharp edges; perforations are excluded from the “light-through” crack criterion.
• Crack wording clarified - Removal of the word “delamination” in several clauses focuses assessment on cracks that go through material (i.e., visible light through).
• Air leakage - Specified no-leakage requirement when tested per ISO 20344 (with an exception for design A of class II footwear).
• Chromium VI limit in leather - For each leather part tested per ISO 20344:2021+Amd.1:2024, chromium VI content shall be < 3.0 mg/kg.
• Hybrid footwear definition - Clarifies Areas A (foot section, class II) and B (extended section, class I) and measurement H as defined in the standard.
• Water vapour performance (WVP / WVC) - Two compliance routes:
  • If ≤ 10% of the upper is non‑permeable, remaining materials must have WVP ≥ 0.8 mg/(cm²·h) and WVC ≥ 15 mg/cm;
  • If ≤ 50% non‑permeable, remaining materials must have WVP ≥ 2.0 mg/(cm²·h).
• Outsole and flexing - Cut growth limits and acceptance criteria for cracks after flex cycles; bond strength between multi-layer outsole layers ≥ 4.0 N/mm (≥ 3.0 N/mm if tearing occurs).
• Inserts and scuff cap - Requirements for non-metallic inserts (no perforation, no layer separation/tent effect) and nomenclature updates (e.g., “Scuff cap”).

Applications and users

This amendment is essential for:

• PPE manufacturers and designers updating product specifications to meet current European/ISO benchmarks.
• Test laboratories performing conformity and type tests using ISO 20344+Amd.1 procedures.
• Safety managers, procurement officers and compliance teams who select or validate protective footwear for workplaces (construction, manufacturing, utilities, chemical handling).
• Notified bodies and regulators assessing conformity with Regulation (EU) 2016/425.

Related standards and legislation

• ISO 20344:2021 + Amd.1:2024 (test methods)
• ISO 22568-2:2019 (toecap clearance values)
• EN 13832-3:2018 (title updated: requirements for prolonged contact with chemicals)
• Regulation (EU) 2016/425 - Annex ZA maps clauses to essential health and safety requirements for PPE conformity.

This amendment refines protective‑footwear testing and material limits, improving clarity for manufacturers, test houses and compliance professionals responsible for safe, regulation-compliant footwear.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-maj-2024
Osebna varovalna oprema - Varovalna obutev - Dopolnilo A1 (ISO 20346:2021/Amd
1:2024)
Personal protective equipment - Protective footwear - Amendment 1 (ISO
20346:2021/Amd 1:2024)
Persönliche Schutzausrüstung - Schutzschuhe - Änderung 1 (ISO 20346:2021/Amd
1:2024)
Équipement de protection individuelle - Chaussures de protection - Amendement 1 (ISO
20346:2021/Amd 1:2024)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN ISO 20346:2022/A1:2024
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.

EN ISO 20346:2022/A1
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
February 2024
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 13.340.50
English Version
Personal protective equipment - Protective footwear -
Amendment 1 (ISO 20346:2021/Amd 1:2024)
Équipement de protection individuelle - Chaussures de Persönliche Schutzausrüstung - Schutzschuhe -
protection - Amendement 1 (ISO 20346:2021/Amd Änderung 1 (ISO 20346:2021/Amd 1:2024)
1:2024)
This amendment A1 modifies the European Standard EN ISO 20346:2022; it was approved by CEN on 3 September 2023.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for inclusion of
this amendment into the relevant national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.
This amendment 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 CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the
same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2024 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN ISO 20346:2022/A1:2024 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3
Annex ZA (informative) Relationship between this European Standard and the essential
requirements of PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425 aimed to be covered . 4

European foreword
This document (EN ISO 20346:2022/A1:2024) has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 94
"Personal safety -- Personal protective equipment" in collaboration with Technical Committee CEN/TC
161 “Foot and leg protectors” the secretariat of which is held by BSI.
This Amendment to the European Standard EN ISO 20346:2022 shall be given the status of a national
standard, either by publication of an identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by August 2024, and
conflicting national standards shall be withdrawn at the latest by August 2024.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document has been prepared under a Standardization Request given to CEN by the European
Commission and the European Free Trade Association, and supports essential requirements of EU
Directive(s) / Regulation(s).
For the relationship with EU Legislation, see informative Annex ZA, which is an integral part of this
document.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards
body/national committee. A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of
North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and the
United Kingdom.
Endorsement notice
The text of ISO 20346:2021/Amd 1:2024 has been approved by CEN as EN ISO 20346:2022/A1:2024
without any modification.
Annex ZA
(informative)
Relationship between this European Standard and the essential
requirements of PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425 aimed to be covered
This European Standard has been prepared under a Commission’s standardization request M/571 to
provide one voluntary means of conforming to essential requirements of REGULATION (EU) 2016/425
OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 9 March 2016 on personal protective
equipment and repealing Council Directive 89/686/EEC.
Once this standard is cited in the Official Journal of the European Union under that REGULATION (EU)
2016/425, compliance with the normative clauses of this standard given in Table ZA.1 confers, within
the limits of the scope of this standard, a presumption of conformity with the corresponding essential
requirements of that Regulation, and associated EFTA regulations.
Table ZA.1 — Correspondence between this European Standard and Annex II of REGULATION
(EU) 2016/425
ESSENTIAL HEALTH AND SAFETY Clause(s)/sub-clause(s) of
REQUIREMENTS of REGULATION this EN ISO
Remarks/Notes
(EU) 2016/425
General requirements applicable to all PPE
1.1.1 Ergonomics 5.3.4
1.1.2.1 Optimum level of protection 5.3.4
1.2.1 Absence of inherent risks and 5.3.4
other nuisance factors
1.2.1.1 Suitable constituent materials 5.3.6,
1.2.1.2 Satisfactory surface condition of 5.3.4
all PPE parts in contact with the
user
1.2.1.3 Maximum permissible user 5.3.4
impediment
1.3.1 Adaptation of PPE to user 5.3.4
morphology
5.3.1.2, 5.4.3, 5.4.4, 5.4.5, 5.5.2,
1.3.2 Lightness and strength
5.6.2, 5.8.3, 5.8.4, 5.8.6, 6.2.7,
6.2.8
1.4 Manufacturer’s instructions and Clause 8
information
2.2 PPE enclosing the parts of the 5.4.6, 5.5.4, 5.7.3
body to be protected
2.4 PPE subject to ageing Clause 7 and Clause 8
2.6 PPE for use in potentially 6.2.2.1; 6.2.2.2
explosive atmospheres
2.12 PPE bearing one or more 6.1 Table 16, Clause 7
identification markings or
indicators directly or
indirectly relating to health and
safety
2.14 Multi-risk PPE 5.3.5, 6.2.1, 6.2.2, 6.2.3, 6.2.4,
6.2.5, 6.2.6, 6.2.7, 6.2.8, 6.2.10,
6.4.1, 6.4.2
3.1.1 Impact caused by falling or 5.3.2.6, 6.2.6, 6.2.7
ejected objects and collisions of
parts of the body with an
obstacle
3.1.2.1 Prevention of falls due to 5.3.5, 5.8.2, 6.4.3, 6.2.10,
slipping
3.2 Protection against static 5.3.2.7, 6.2.4
compression of part of the body
3.3 Protection against mechanical 5.5.2, 5.8.3, 6.2.1, 6.2.8, 6.2.9
injuries
3.6 Protection against heat and/or 6.2.3.1; 6.4.1
fire
3.7 Protection against cold 6.2.3.2
WARNING 1 — Presumption of conformity stays valid only, as long as a reference to this European
Standard is maintained in the list published in the Official Journal of the European Union. Users of this
standard should consult frequently the latest list published in the Official Journal of the European
Union.
WARNING 2 — Other Union legislation may be applicable to the product(s) falling within the scope of
this standard.
International
Standard
ISO 20346
Third edition
Personal protective equipment —
2021-12
Protective footwear
AMENDMENT 1
AMENDMENT 1
2024-01
Équipement de protection individuelle — Chaussures de
protection
AMENDEMENT 1
Reference number
ISO 20346:2021/Amd.1:2024(en) © ISO 2024

ISO 20346:2021/Amd.1:2024(en)
© ISO 2024
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii
ISO 20346:2021/Amd.1:2024(en)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through
ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee
has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations,
governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely
with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types
of ISO document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the
ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a)
patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent
rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO had not received notice of (a)
patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are cautioned that
this may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent database available at
www.iso.org/patents. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions
related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the W
...