PROTECTING BEYOND EN ISO 20344,
GIVING YOU THE ADVANTAGE
Porelle® membranes are extensively used throughout the footwear industry to manufacture waterproof and breathable footwear linings. We have developed different options that can be used in 3 or 4 layered laminate constructions for the footwear upper for a range of market applications, including the military, institutional, industrial, firefighter, emergency services and police.
PROTECTIVE FOOTWEAR STANDARDS
​
The basic requirements for safety footwear are covered by EN ISO 20345. In terms of waterproof footwear that offers S2 and S3 level protection, key performance considerations are waterproof durability and comfort. The assessment of these two parameters is covered within EN ISO 20344, which covers the requirements for footwear component testing.
​
EXCEEDING EN ISO 20344 - COMFORT
​
One of the key challenges in passing EN ISO 20344 for waterproof footwear is meeting the requirements for the Water Vapour Coefficient (WVC) with a minimum value of 20 mg/cm².
The WVC is a parameter designed to assess wearer comfort and is a function of the Water Vapour Permeability (WVP) of the upper footwear laminate, according to:
WVC = WVP x 8 + WVA
Our membranes have footwear options with high vapour transmission rates which exceed EN ISO 20344. When tested in a 4-layer laminate construction, WVP values greater than 5 mg/cm²/hr are attainable. This enables you to achieve WVC values of more than 40 mg/cm². This is more than double the minimum requirement for EN ISO 20344.
​
BEYOND EN ISO 20344 - WATERPROOF DURABILITY
​
Porelle® membranes offer options designed to exceed waterproof levels beyond 20,000 mm (EN ISO 20811), ensuring the insulating layers within the footwear construction remain dry. This helps the wearer to remain comfortable in wet and cold weather conditions.
Our membranes footwear range has also been engineered for waterproof durability in use. When testing footwear featuring porelle®, they were subjected to 100,000 flexes dry and 100,000 flexes wet (200,000 flexes combined), and no leakage was detected.
​
BEYOND EN ISO 20344 - DURABLE PROTECTION
​
We offer options that can combine the requirements of EN ISO 20344/345 with other functionalities to go beyond the standard’s requirements. These help to ensure the wearer is protected in different situations they may encounter within the working environment. These could include:
​
-
Membrane options engineered to withstand extreme cold that can surpass flex testing beyond -40°C​
​​
-
Protection against common industrial chemicals​
​​
-
Protection against viral and blood borne pathogens
​​
In addition, porelle® membranes are assessed for hydrolysis aging that equates to over five years. Hydrolysis is the chemical breakdown of materials that can lead to cracking or crumbling.
​