22 INTERNATIONAL FIRE FIGHTER
By Jorg Linssen
FEELING SAFE IN SAFETY EQUIPMENT
MUNICIPAL
I
n the EU, the answer is simple, in principle: Stan-
dards exist, which apply to individual protection
classes in all 27 member states. If, for example, a
manufacturer brings a new protective boot to the
European market, it must first submit the boot for
testing to a recognised test centre, such as T�V or
PFI. These test procedures are standardised and are
precisely logged and evaluated by the test centre.
If the shoe passes the tests, the manufacturer is
issued a so-called model certificate. The test centre
signs this model certificate, which must always
indicate the exact name of the tested products.
Since the test centre is also answerable for the test
by dint of its own registration, its ID code is
printed on the model certificate and applies
throughout Europe. The model test certificate
must also indicate the registration and log
numbers of the test centre. Fake model test certifi-
cates are frequently detected because these three
numbers are inconsistent.
Customers sometimes doubt the validity of a
model certificate that was issued some years
earlier. These concerns are, however, unfounded,
since a model certificate retains its validity for as
long as a shoe continues to be manufactured
without modification. The same applies if a stan-
dard is amended. EN 345-2, for example, is the
standard that governs the properties of firefighter
boots, and was replaced in 2006. So while shoes
that comply with the former standard do not lose
their old model certificate, they do not, however,
comply with the new standard, EN 15090:2006.
Official bodies, such as the district governments in
German federal states and the state governments
in Austria, forbid the wearing of firefighter boots
during assignments if these do not comply with
the latest standard. As far as work safety is
concerned, however, each individual company is
responsible for ensuring that the staff wear safety
shoes that comply with the latest standard. The
current applicable standard for safety shoes is
EN ISO 20345:2004 + AC:2007+A1:2007 and
for work shoes EN ISO 20347:2004 +
AC:2007+A1:2007 (see box).
Explanation, certification, standard �
what to look out for with certificates
Firefighters, miners, police officers or avalanche experts � anyone who needs
personal protective equipment for their work needs to be able to rely 100
percent on the quality of the same. And yet there are always some
manufacturers who turn out to be black sheep. So how do I recognise
whether a safety shoe complies with the standards?
Feeling safe in saf
EN ISO 20345:2007 for safety shoes
The following individual points are tested and
confirmed:
SB � Basic requirements according to the
standard � e.g. toe cap
S1 � same as SB, but also includes: closed heel
area, antistatic properties, energy absorption
capacity in heel area S2 � same as S1 but also
includes: compliance with the requirement for
water penetration and water absorption
S3 � same as S2 but also includes: puncture
resistance and profile sole
Meanings of additional requirements (excerpt)
P � Penetration protection
HI � Thermal insulation of sole complex
CI � Cold insulation of sole complex
E � Energy absorption capacity in heel area
WR � Water resistance of shoes
WRU � Water penetration and absorption of
shoe upper part
HRO � Behaviour of sole with regard to contact
heat
EN ISO 20347:2007 for work shoes
The following individual points are tested and
confirmed:
OB � Basic requirements and an additional
requirement from the supplementary requirements
O1 � closed heel area, antistatic properties,
energy absorption capacity in heel area
O2 � same as O1, but also includes: compliance
with the requirement for water penetration and
water absorption
O3 � same as O2, but also includes: puncture
resistance and profile sole
Meanings of additional requirements (excerpt)
P � Penetration protection
A � Antistatic shoes
HI � Thermal insulation of sole complex
CI � Cold insulation of sole complex
E � Energy absorption capacity in heel area
WR � Water resistance of shoes
WRU � Water penetration and absorption of
shoe upper part
HRO � Behaviour of sole with regard to contact heat
FO � Fuel resistance of sole
Currently applicable standards for safety shoes in the European Union

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