FIREFIGHTER FOOT PROTECTION ACCORDING TO THE RECENT STATE OF THE ART

The German committee for firefighters work field standards has updated the standards for foot protection for firefighters. The norm for firefighter boots has been converted from DIN EN 345-2 to DIN EN 15090 which puts much higher demands on material.

DIN EN 15090 defines minimum standards and test procedures for the utilisation of 3 types of firefighter boots. Type 1: Shoes for general utilisation, type 2: shoes for firefighting, type 3: shoes for efforts in accidents with hazardous substances. The choice of the right type has to be made after a comprehensive risk analysis and according to the particular application.

ELTEN produces firefighter boots of type 2 – the heavy basic protection models, suitable for inside attacks and other burnings of every description.

Beside the basic requirements as water resistance, slip resistance, energy absorption, antistatic, penetration resistance and toe protection cap etc., these boots also meet the additional demands of DIN EN 15090. These are e.g. thermal insulation HI₃ , resistance against flames and resistance against radiant heat.

The following specifications have to be taken into consideration for the labelling according to the new standard:

• The previous symbol FPA will be replaced by the new symbol F2A.
• The previous additional requirement HRO will be replaced by the comprehensive labelling HI₃.
• The previous labelling S3 has been dropped, but the new labelling type 2 includes the penetration resistance of the boots.

To learn more about the new firefighter boots please click here.