What are the new features introduced by EN ISO 20344:2021?

As a reference tool, every ISO standard reflects the state of an industry at a given time: the time at which it is published. However, technological advances, the development of new products, changes in the market and professional practices mean that standards need to be revised and adapted.

Standards relating to footwear are no exception. Whether it is ISO 20345:2022, which specifies the basic and additional requirements for safety footwear, or ISO 20347:2022, which concerns occupational footwear, all follow this trend. The same applies to the EN ISO 20344:2021 standard, whose new version cancels and replaces the previous version published in 2012.

What does this fundamental standard for Shoes For Crews regulate? What does it bring to the safety and occupational footwear sector? After defining its scope, our experts will compare an essential point between these two versions before looking at the test results achieved by our shoes featuring patented slip-resistant outsoles.

What is EN ISO 20344:2021?

The European standard EN ISO 20344:2021 specifies test methods for safety and occupational footwear designed as personal protective equipment (PPE). It therefore presents test methods for  :

• the complete footwear;
• the upper, lining and tongue;
• the insole, insock and orthopaedic insole;
• the outsole.

These tests make it possible to distinguish the performance level of each component.

EN ISO 20344:2011 vs EN ISO 20344:2021: simplifying slip resistance

Published in 2021 and implemented in 2022, this new version introduces several significant changes, particularly regarding slip-resistance requirement levels, essential criteria for our brand that we would like to explain.

The standard simplifies the labels that were traditionally used to measure the slip resistance of safety and occupational footwear outsoles—in other words, to assess a slip-resistant outsole. There used to be three of them, now discontinued: 

• SRA which defined slip resistance on ceramic floors covered with a water-based lubricant.
• SRB which defined slip resistance on steel floors covered with a greasy lubricant.
• SRC which combined the previous requirements.

Each shoe tested was assigned a coefficient of friction that had to be greater than or equal to the minimum expected values shown in this table in order to obtain the corresponding label:

Surfaces	Lubricant	Foot position	Standard requirement	Label symbol
Ceramic floor	Sodium lauryl sulfate	Forward flat slip	0,32	SRA	SRC
		Forward heel slip	0,28
Steel floor	Glycerine	Forward flat slip	0,18	SRB
		Forward heel slip	0,13

From now on, all occupational footwear must undergo a slip-resistance test on ceramic floors with a water-based lubricant.

An additional SR label has been introduced to measure slip resistance on ceramic floors with an oily, glycerine-based lubricant.

In addition, the test for forward flat slip is replaced by an analysis of backward forefoot slip.

The previous table therefore becomes: 

Surfaces	Lubricant	Foot position	Standard requirement	Label symbol
Ceramic floor	Sodium lauryl sulfate	Backward forefoot slip	0,36
		Forward heel slip	0,31
Ceramic floor	Glycerine	Backward forefoot slip	0,22	SR
		Forward heel slip	0,19

Shoes For Crews footwear test results under EN ISO 20344:2021

As a leader in safety and occupational footwear, compliance with standard requirements is essential to us. After years of research and development, we have created a cutting-edge, patented slip-resistant technology used in our outsoles. They therefore offer the grip, durability and safety features required by professionals working in a variety of environments.

Furthermore, we strive to ensure that our footwear delivers performance beyond the required level, providing styles that help eliminate up to 80% of falls and slips, the main causes of workers’ compensation claims.

As demonstrated by the results obtained by our Carrig Low 62201 shoe model in the tests required by EN ISO 20344:2021, our products exceed the standard's slip-resistance and grip requirements.

Surfaces	Lubricant	Foot position	Standard requirement	Shoes For Crews test results
Ceramic floor	Sodium lauryl sulfate	Backward forefoot slip	0,36	0,68
		Forward heel slip	0,31	0,69
Ceramic floor	Glycerine	Backward forefoot slip	0,22	0,44
		Forward heel slip	0,19	0,42

Would you like more information about our footwear catalogue? We invite you to contact our Shoes For Crews team of experts, who will answer all your questions and can provide a tailored proposal for your business.