You are a firefighter and you need to change your fire intervention safety boots? You are a safety manager and you need some fire intervention safety boots for your fire brigade? You are a forest rescuer and you need fire intervention safety boots?
Which one should you use? Which level of protection do you need? Are there different types of fire intervention safety boots? Do you need additional features, besides flame protection, for your feet?
In this article I will talk to you about fire intervention safety boots.
Fire intervention safety boots = this type of boot follows the standard UNI EN 15090.
There are 3 different types of fire intervention safety boots for different conditions:
- rescue (basically in forests)
- structural intervention
- structural intervention with chemical risk
In this article I will describe these three different types shortly.
For any type of fire intervention there is a standard to follow and corresponding boots to choose. Fire intervention safety boots are special safety footwear.
Toe caps and puncture resistant plates are generally needed (but not always in rescue boots), thicker fireproof leathers, “HRO” outsoles, flame resistant laces and stitching, flame resistant reflecting stripes, heat insulation are the basis of this footwear.
For the hardest rescues which involve chemical contaminations only polymeric boots are allowed. Side zippers are mostly requested.
The norms are helping also:
UNI EN 15090 = Footwear for firefighters. This standard specifies minimum requirements and test methods for the performance of three types of footwear for use by firefighters for general purpose rescue (F1), fire rescue (F2), hazardous materials emergencies (F3).
Let’s describe shortly some of the most important features of the three types of fire intervention safety boots:
Contents
Type 1 (F1): Forestry fire intervention:
-
Toe cap protection is optional
-
Perforation resistant plate is optional
-
Can be class I and Class II (rubber or polymers)
-
Chemical resistance is optional, can comply only if the boot is class II (polymeric materials)
-
Heat resistance at least HI1
Type 2 (F2): Structural fire intervention:
-
Toe cap protection
-
Perforation resistant plate
-
Can be class I and Class II
- Chemical resistance is optional, can comply only if the boot is class II (polymeric materials)
-
Heat resistance at least HI2
Type 3 (F3): Structural fire intervention with chemical risk:
- Toe cap protection
- Perforation resistant plate
- Chemical resistance
- Can be only Class II (polymeric materials)
- Heat resistance at least HI2
The fire intervention safety boots can have optionally:
- CI (outsoles with Cold Insulation)
- M (Metatarsal protection only if toe cap protection is present)
- AN (Ankle Protection)
- CR (Cut Resistance)
-
Chainsaw resistance
Markings for fire intervention safety boots:
-
F1 = For intervention in open areas (rescue boots), for forest fires, without chemical resistance, can be class I or II. Has to be WR. Cannot be design A. Has to be at least HI1. Toe cap protection and puncture resistant plate are optional. CI property is optional. Metatarsal protection M (if toe cap is present) and ankle protection AN are optional.
- F1A = F1 boots with antistatic properties
-
F1I = F1 boots with isolating properties
- F1PA = F1 boots with antistatic properties and puncture resistant plate
- F1PI = F1 boots with isolating properties and puncture resistant plate
- F2 = For all the structural fire interventions where toe cap and puncture resistant plate protection are necessary, but chemical protection is not; can be class I and II. Has to be WR. Cannot be design A and B. Has to be at least HI2. CI property is optional. Metatarsal protection M and ankle protection AN are optional.
- F2A = F2 boots with antistatic properties
-
F2I = F2 boots with isolating properties
-
F2IS = F2 boots with high isolating properties
- F3 = For all the structural fire interventions where it is necessary a toe cap, a puncture resistant plate protection and a chemical protection, can be only class II. Chemical resistance CH. Cannot be design A and B. Has to be at least HI2. CI property is optional. Metatarsal protection M and ankle protection AN are optional.
-
F3A = F3 boots with antistatic properties
-
F3I = F3 boots with isolating properties
-
F3IS = F3 boots with high isolating properties
Additional markings for fire intervention safety boots:
-
CH = Chemical resistance of fire resistant boots.
- CR = Cut resistance of the upper (≥ 2,5). Cut protection is provided by working several layers of Kevlar between the lining and the upper. This type of footwear shall have a permanently attached protective material at least 3cm high, going from the toe cap to the heel at the end of the footwear
-
HI1 = Heat resistance, after being tested at 150 Celsius degrees for 30 minutes the internal temperature inside of the footwear shall be less than 42 Celsius degrees. The degradation of the footwear is then tested in the same 30 minutes test and has to comply with the standard.
- HI2 = Heat resistance, after being tested at 250 Celsius degrees for 10 minutes the internal temperature inside of the footwear shall be less than 42 Celsius degrees. The degradation of the footwear is then tested in the same 10 minutes test plus 10 more minutes and has to comply with the standard.
- HI3 = Heat resistance, after being tested at 150 Celsius degrees for 30 minutes the internal temperature inside of the footwear shall be less than 42 Celsius degrees. The degradation of the footwear is then tested in the same 10 minutes test plus 30 more minutes and has to comply with the standard.
- I = Electrically insulating footwear, footwear that protects the user against electrical shocks in low voltage installations by preventing the passage of dangerous current through the body via the feet (to the ground). The electrical resistance is > 1000 MΩ (> 1 GΩ). “I” footwear can contain have metallic parts.
- IS = High isolating properties, optional test only for firefighters boots. The electrical resistance is > 1000 MΩ (> 1 GΩ) in dry and wet conditions.
- R = Compression resistance (50 ± 10N) of toe caps for rescue fire resistant boots (it is optional)
- T = Compression (15 ± 0,1 kN) and impact (200 ± 4 J) resistance of toe caps for rescue fire resistant boots (it is optional)
The choice of the right fire intervention safety boots is not easy, so I recommend to you to ask your safety manager to choose the best fire intervention safety boots for your needs.
These are the general characteristics I suggest to you to look for, when you’re looking for the best fire intervention safety boots for your needs.
Best EN 15090 firefighter boots selected by SafetyShoesToday
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.co.uk
When you’ll have selected the right fire safety boots you’ll be more protected at work.
I guarantee that if you use the right fire safety boots you’ll live a better working experience.
What do you think about fire intervention safety boots?
Do you have points to add?
Write your comments below!
