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Edition and amendment to check
Genorma lists EN ISO 20345:2022 as published and EN ISO 20345:2022/A1:2024 as a separate published amendment. The EVS consolidated catalogue record confirms the amended document set. The European base reference adopts ISO 20345:2021; the different years do not mean the European record is an unrelated subject.
The public scope addresses basic and additional requirements for general-purpose safety footwear. It also identifies limits: high visibility is outside this subject, and some specialised risks require complementary documents. Ask the responsible safety reviewer to select the complete set for the work rather than treat the general-purpose reference as a universal protection claim.
Separate hazard selection from supplier comparison
| Question | Role of the standard | Buyer's next step |
|---|---|---|
| Which footwear properties are required? | Provides a technical framework for general-purpose safety footwear. | Obtain a task-specific brief from the responsible reviewer. |
| Does this exact model have those properties? | The reference helps interpret product claims. | Match claims and supporting evidence to the offered model. |
| Is there a specialised hazard? | Some risks need complementary documents. | Ask which additional assessment is appropriate. |
| Will the supplied options fit the users? | Technical conformity is one part of selection. | Resolve sizing, insocks, compatibility and practical use before the order. |
A useful request for quotation has two layers. First, describe the work, environment and properties selected by the competent reviewer. Second, ask each supplier to identify the exact model, construction, size range and options that it proposes. That makes competing offers comparable without asking the purchaser to select safety properties from a marketing category.
Do not let a broad brand name stand in for a model identity. Footwear sold under a similar name can have different uppers, soles or optional insocks. Ask which variants the evidence covers and which options the manufacturer permits for the claimed configuration. For customised footwear, obtain an explanation of the evidence relevant to the actual adaptation. This guide is not advice on prescribing orthotics or assessing an individual's medical needs.
Preserve the evidence when the product changes
Agree how substitutions will be proposed. A supplier may offer a replacement model when stock is unavailable, or revise a component while retaining a commercial product name. The purchasing file should make the difference visible so the responsible reviewer can decide whether the original selection remains appropriate.
Also distinguish the manufacturer's instructions from local purchasing preferences. Ask for the instructions that apply to the ordered configuration and keep them associated with the delivery. If a distributor suggests an accessory or replacement component, request confirmation of its compatibility with the footwear's claims. A convenient stock substitution can otherwise become an undocumented change to the product being used.
Questions worth asking before ordering
- Which exact model and options correspond to the selected protective properties?
- Does the supporting evidence identify the offered construction and the applicable edition set?
- Are optional insocks or customised versions covered by the manufacturer's explanation?
- Are specialised workplace risks outside the general-purpose assessment?
- How will changes, substitutions and discontinued models be reviewed during the supply contract?
The answer should distinguish a technical claim from a sales assurance. Have the responsible reviewer examine the product evidence and the workplace brief together; buying the standard itself does not certify the footwear or decide its suitability.
A fictional footwear-contract decision
A warehouse buyer renews a footwear contract. The supplier offers a boot with the same commercial family name but a revised sole and an optional comfort insock. The previous approved-model list does not distinguish those options. The buyer asks to retain the old approval because the standard reference on the offer looks familiar.
The safety reviewer requests the new model identification and an explanation of the two changes. The purchaser separates the variants in the quotation and confirms the relevant evidence before accepting the substitute. This fictional example gives no recommended protection category or assessment result.
Buy the document set
Separately listed amendment: EN ISO 20345:2022/A1:2024. Confirm the required base and amendment contents, language, licence and seller's checkout terms.
Common buying questions
Does the standard number prove suitability for every workplace?
No. The selected properties and exact product evidence need to be compared with the actual tasks and hazards.
Does it address high visibility?
The public scope excludes that subject. Do not infer high-visibility performance from this footwear reference.
Can a supplier replace an insock without further questions?
Ask how the offered configuration and manufacturer's permitted options relate to the product claims. Avoid assuming that every accessory is interchangeable.
Public catalogue sources checked on 7 October 2026. See the standards directory for other product guides.
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