Overview
ISO 20349-1:2017 - Personal protective equipment - Footwear protecting against risks in foundries and welding - Part 1: Requirements and test methods for protection against risks in foundries - defines performance requirements and test methods for PPE footwear used in foundry environments. The standard focuses on footwear that resists molten metal splash, contact heat and other hazards typical in casting and metal‑working operations. Footwear conforming to ISO 20349-1:2017 also provides the general protections given in ISO 20345.
Key technical topics and requirements
- Scope and classification
- Applies to Class I footwear (manufactured from leather and other materials; excludes all‑rubber or all‑polymeric footwear).
- Sampling and conditioning
- Tests are carried out on smallest, one middle and largest sizes; material samples allowed where full pieces cannot be obtained.
- Footwear design to reduce trapping
- No features on the front two‑thirds of the upper that could trap molten metal (no upward‑facing seams or exposed fittings); vamp must be a single piece covering at least one third of footwear length.
- Resistance to molten metal (Annex A)
- Acceptance criteria: no penetration to inner surface, after‑flame ≤ 5 s, and no melting or ignition of inner surface.
- Contact heat transmission (EN 702 procedure)
- Contact temperature 500 °C; threshold time ≥ 6 s; no melting of inner surface.
- Burning behaviour
- Compliance with EN 15090:2012 (firefighting footwear burning criteria).
- Heat insulation of sole complex
- Modified ISO 20344 test: sand bath at 250 °C for 40 minutes; internal temperature ≤ 42 °C after 10 minutes.
- Leather surface shrinkage
- ISO 17227 method at (180 ± 5) °C for 5 min: area change ≤ 10%.
- Additional requirements
- Toe protection, slip resistance, perforation resistance, antistatic/electrically insulating footwear, water resistance and marking/information to be supplied by the manufacturer (many requirements cross‑referenced to ISO 20345 and ISO 20344).
Practical applications and users
- Who uses this standard
- PPE manufacturers designing foundry or welding footwear, test laboratories performing conformity testing, occupational safety managers, procurement teams specifying safety footwear, and regulatory or certification bodies.
- Why it matters
- Ensures footwear reduces risks from molten metal splash, contact heat, and heat‑related damage to soles and uppers - critical for worker safety in foundries, metal casting, and related operations.
Related standards
- ISO 20345 (safety footwear general requirements)
- ISO 20344 (footwear test methods)
- ISO 17227 (leather dry heat resistance)
- EN 702 (contact heat transmission)
- EN 15090 (footwear burning behaviour for firefighters)
- ISO 11612 (protective clothing/gaiters for molten metal)
Keywords: ISO 20349-1:2017, foundry footwear, PPE footwear, molten metal protection, safety footwear test methods, contact heat resistance.
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