ISO 11393-3:2018

Overview

ISO 11393-3:2018 specifies test methods for assessing the resistance of footwear to cutting by hand‑held chainsaws. It applies only to footwear with integral protection (protective material is part of or permanently attached to the footwear). The standard is part of the ISO 11393 series addressing personal protective equipment (PPE) for users of hand‑held chainsaws and defines how to mount, fill and test boots and gaiter‑type footwear to determine cut‑through performance.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and applicability: Test methods exclusively for footwear with integral chainsaw protective material; other foot/leg protection (gaiters) are covered in other parts of ISO 11393.
• Test specimens: Number of samples depends on toecap type - four pairs for footwear with steel toecaps, five pairs for non‑steel toecaps; three sizes (smallest, medium, largest) represented.
• Test rig and calibration: Uses the ISO 11393‑1 test rig with modified parameters (e.g., load (30 ± 0.5) N and horizontal contact distance (300 ± 2) mm). Calibration follows ISO 11393‑1.
• Mounting and filling: Footwear is mounted on a base and on a hardwood test mount with a 14 ± 2 mm cellular layer; internal filling uses dry peas plus an air piston (or equivalent) applying (40 ± 2) N to ensure no voids under test positions.
• Test positions and number of cuts: Defined cut locations - vamp, throat, leg front and (for non‑steel toecaps) toecap. Typical test counts are eight cuts (ten for non‑steel toecaps), with no more than one cut per sample unless additional cuts are needed for non‑homogenous protection.
• Performance levels and chain speed: Three performance levels determine chain speed during testing: Level 1 = (20 ± 0.2) m/s, Level 2 = (24 ± 0.2) m/s, Level 3 = (28 ± 0.2) m/s.
• Assessment criteria: After each cut, specimens are inspected for cut‑through - any visible change on the underside of the innermost layer caused by the saw chain.

Applications and who uses it

ISO 11393‑3 is used by:

• Footwear manufacturers designing chainsaw‑protective boots and integrated protective systems.
• Independent testing laboratories performing standardized cut resistance testing for product development and compliance.
• Certification and conformity assessment bodies evaluating PPE performance claims.
• Workplace safety managers, PPE buyers and forestry/logging equipment specifiers who need objective data on chainsaw cut resistance. This standard helps ensure consistent, repeatable evaluation of chainsaw protective footwear for safer product design and procurement.

Related standards

• ISO 11393‑1:2018 - Test rig for testing resistance to cutting by a chainsaw
• ISO 17249 - Safety footwear with resistance to chainsaw cutting
• ISO 20344:2011 - Personal protective equipment - Test methods for footwear

Keywords: ISO 11393-3, chainsaw protective footwear, test methods, cut resistance, PPE, safety footwear testing, ISO 11393 series.