ISO 18639-6:2018

Overview

ISO 18639-6:2018 - "PPE ensembles for firefighters undertaking specific rescue activities - Part 6: Footwear" sets the principles for developing incident‑type and hazard‑specific test methods and minimum performance requirements for firefighter safety footwear. The standard defines footwear classification (Class I: leather/other materials; Class II: all‑rubber/all‑polymeric), permitted designs and heights, sampling and conditioning, and the test‑based performance criteria required for specific rescue activities such as Road Traffic Crash (RTC) and Urban Search and Rescue (USAR). It expressly excludes structural firefighting footwear and comprehensive chemical/biological/electrical/radiation protection (except limited accidental exposures).

Key topics and technical requirements

• Classification & design: Class I and II footwear, allowed designs (ankle, half‑knee, knee, thigh) and upper height requirements.
• Sampling & conditioning: Test-piece selection and standard atmospheric conditioning prior to testing.
• Performance requirements - footwear must meet mandatory, activity‑specific criteria including:
  • Mechanical protection: toe impact/compression resistance, penetration resistance, cut resistance (including hand‑held chainsaw hazards), metatarsal and ankle protection.
  • Sole and construction: outsole construction, upper/outsole bond strength, slip resistance (SRC tests on ceramic tile with NaLS and steel with glycerine; see Annex D).
  • Thermal & flame behaviour: insulation against heat and limited flame resistance (tests referenced such as ISO 15025).
  • Environmental & electrical properties: water resistance, antistatic and electrically insulating options (EN 50321 referenced).
  • Biological/chemical: limited resistance to liquid penetration and accidental exposure to contaminants (ISO 13994 referenced).
  • Visibility, marking & user information: mandatory marking and detailed information to be supplied to users about limitations and maintenance.
• Testing references: ISO 20344 (test methods for footwear) and ISO 20345 (safety footwear) are normative foundations.

Practical applications and who uses it

• Fire and rescue services: specifying appropriate footwear for RTC, USAR and other rescue tasks.
• PPE manufacturers: designing and certifying firefighter footwear to meet ISO 18639‑6 performance classes.
• Test laboratories & conformity assessors: performing sampling, conditioning and referenced tests.
• Procurement officers & safety managers: selecting footwear based on risk assessments and documented performance limits.
• Trainers & occupational health staff: educating wearers about PPE limitations and care.

Related standards

• ISO 18639‑1 (General)
• ISO 20344, ISO 20345 (Footwear test methods and safety footwear)
• ISO 15025 (Flame spread)
• ISO 13994 (Liquid penetration resistance)
• EN 50321 (Electrically insulating footwear for low voltage)

ISO 18639‑6:2018 helps ensure firefighter footwear is fit for specific rescue hazards - but always use a formal risk assessment to choose the right PPE ensemble.