Overview
CEN ISO/TR 18690:2012 (ISO/TR 18690:2012) is a technical report that provides guidance for the selection, use and maintenance of safety and occupational footwear and other PPE offering foot and leg protection. Prepared by CEN/TC 161 in cooperation with ISO/TC 94, it is intended to assist footwear manufacturers and suppliers, employers and self‑employed people, safety engineers and other users - and to support development of national guidance on footwear-based PPE.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and references: Aligns with ISO 20345 (safety footwear) and ISO 20347 (occupational footwear); refers to EN 50321 for electrically insulating footwear.
- Design, construction and classification: Defines Class I (leather and other materials) and Class II (all‑rubber or all‑polymeric) constructions and typical components of footwear.
- Marking and categories: Explains basic marking (SB) and additional symbols used to indicate protective features. Common symbols include:
- P - penetration resistance
- C - conductive footwear
- A - antistatic footwear
- HI / CI - insulation against heat / cold
- E - energy absorption of seat region
- WR / WRU - water resistance / water penetration & absorption
- M - metatarsal protection
- AN - ankle protection
- HRO / FO - hot contact resistance / fuel oil resistance
- CR - cut resistance
- Safety toecap performance: Safety toecaps are required to meet impact resistance (200 J) and compression resistance (15 kN) per ISO 20345 (as cited).
- Selection guidance: Emphasizes risk assessment, matching footwear features to workplace hazards (mechanical, slip, chemical, electrical, thermal), and ergonomic considerations.
- Usage guidance: Covers reducing slip hazards, managing exposure to chemical and electrical risks, job‑related and orthopaedic footwear use.
- Maintenance and care: Recommends tests, cleaning, routine care and maintenance to preserve protective properties and service life.
Applications and who uses it
- Employers & safety managers: For workplace PPE policy, selecting correct footwear per job‑site hazards and ensuring maintenance schedules.
- Footwear manufacturers & suppliers: To design, mark and describe protective footwear features consistently with international guidance.
- Safety engineers & occupational health professionals: For risk assessments and integrating footwear selection into broader PPE programs.
- Regulators & standards bodies: As a reference when preparing national guidance or aligning product conformity and marking schemes.
Related standards
- ISO 20345 - Personal protective equipment - Safety footwear
- ISO 20347 - Personal protective equipment - Occupational footwear
- EN 50321 - Electrically insulating footwear (referenced for electrical protection)
CEN ISO/TR 18690:2012 is a practical, standards‑based resource for ensuring the right footwear is chosen, used and maintained to protect workers’ feet and legs across industries. Keywords: safety footwear, occupational footwear, PPE, ISO/TR 18690:2012, selection, use, maintenance, marking, risk assessment.