Overview
ISO 20345:2021 - Personal protective equipment - Safety footwear is the international standard that defines basic and optional requirements for general-purpose safety footwear. The third edition (2021) updates the 2011 version and covers mechanical risks, slip resistance, thermal and ergonomic behaviour, and requirements for customized or individually manufactured insocks and footwear. It excludes high-visibility properties and job-specific hazards that are addressed by complementary standards (e.g., firefighters, electrical insulating footwear, chainsaw protection, chemical or molten metal splash protection).
Key topics and technical requirements
ISO 20345:2021 organizes requirements by design, component and performance. Major technical topics include:
- Classification and designs - footwear categories and design features.
- Whole-footwear performance - construction, toe protection (referencing ISO 22568‑1 and ISO 22568‑2), leakproofness, ergonomic features and seat-region energy absorption.
- Slip resistance - revised requirements and marking changes (marking “SRA/SRB/SRC” removed; “SR” and “Ø” introduced).
- Outsole and upper requirements - tear, abrasion and flexing resistance; hydrolysis resistance and outsole thickness/design updates.
- Perforation (puncture) resistance - optional requirement with referenced test methods (see ISO 22568 series).
- Electrical properties - antistatic and partially conductive footwear provisions.
- Innocuousness and chemical safety - pH value and chromium VI tests added to protect wearer health.
- Additional optional features - metatarsal protection, ankle protection, water resistance, cut resistance, scuff-cap abrasion and ladder grip.
- Customized safety footwear - Annex A covers footwear adapted or manufactured for individual users.
- Marking and user information - required manufacturer instructions and obsolescence guidance.
Practical applications and who uses it
ISO 20345:2021 is essential for:
- Manufacturers and designers developing compliant safety shoes and boots.
- Test laboratories and conformity assessment bodies performing performance and marking tests.
- Purchasing/procurement and safety managers selecting PPE for construction, manufacturing, warehousing, logistics and other general-industry environments.
- Regulators and certification bodies referencing harmonized international criteria.
Note: For hazards beyond general-purpose risks (electrical insulation, fire, chainsaw, chemical splash), consult the specific job-related standards referenced in the ISO 20345 scope.
Related standards
- ISO 22568 series (toe protection and perforation resistance test methods)
- Job-specific standards for special risks (firefighting, electrical insulating footwear, chainsaw protection, chemical and molten metal protection)
Keywords: ISO 20345:2021, safety footwear, PPE standard, slip resistance, toe protection, puncture resistance, antistatic footwear, metatarsal protection, customized safety footwear.
