IS 15298:2024 Part 2 & Part 3 Explained
Every ISI certified PU or rubber safety shoe in India must comply with IS 15298. But what do Part 2 and Part 3 actually require? This guide breaks down the standard clause by clause — the testing methods, performance thresholds, and what separates a genuinely certified shoe from one that merely claims to be. If you procure safety footwear for your organisation, this is the document you need to understand.
What IS 15298 Covers — and What It Does Not
IS 15298 is the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) specification for safety footwear made with leather and rubber/polymeric soles. It is divided into multiple parts, each covering a different construction method. The two parts most relevant to industrial procurement are:
Part 2 — Direct Moulded Sole
Covers safety shoes where the sole is directly moulded onto the upper during manufacturing. The sole material — typically polyurethane (PU) or rubber — is injected or poured into a mould containing the lasted upper, creating a chemical bond. This is the construction method used in double-density PU safety shoes like the Komisafe Aviator and Komisafe Knight. The direct moulding process eliminates the need for adhesives, producing a stronger, more consistent sole-to-upper bond.
Part 3 — Cemented Sole
Covers safety shoes where a pre-manufactured sole is bonded to the upper using adhesives (cemented construction). The sole is made separately, then glued and pressed onto the upper assembly. This is the traditional Goodyear-welt or cement-lasted method still used by many manufacturers. Because the bond is mechanical rather than chemical, Part 3 includes additional requirements for sole adhesion peel strength that Part 2 does not need.
Important distinction: IS 15298 does not cover PVC injection-moulded safety shoes. Those fall under IS 17043, a separate standard. So if you're evaluating Komico PVC safety shoes, the applicable standard is IS 17043 Part 2: 2024 — not IS 15298.
Core Testing Requirements Under IS 15298
Both Part 2 and Part 3 share the same fundamental safety tests. These are non-negotiable — every shoe bearing the ISI mark under IS 15298 must pass all of them at a BIS-recognised laboratory.
1. Steel Toe Cap Impact Test — 200 Joules
A 20 kg striker is dropped from a calibrated height onto the toe cap area. The impact energy is 200 joules — equivalent to a 20 kg object falling from approximately 1 metre. After impact, the internal clearance inside the toe cap must remain above the minimum threshold specified in the standard. This ensures that in a real-world incident — a dropped tool, falling material, or rolling object — the wearer's toes are protected from crushing injury.
2. Compression Resistance — 15 kN
The toe cap is subjected to a sustained compression force of 15 kilonewtons (approximately 1,530 kgf). This simulates scenarios like a vehicle wheel rolling over the toe area or heavy equipment resting on the foot. The toe cap must maintain minimum internal clearance after the test — a different failure mode than impact, testing the cap's resistance to slow, sustained crushing rather than sudden shock.
3. Sole Penetration Resistance
A standardised nail (truncated tip, 4.5 mm diameter) is driven through the outsole at a controlled rate. The force required to penetrate must exceed the minimum threshold defined in the standard — typically 1,100 N. This tests the sole's ability to stop nails, screws, sharp metal offcuts, and other puncture hazards commonly found on construction and industrial sites. Some shoes achieve this with an embedded steel or composite midsole plate.
4. Outsole Abrasion Resistance
The outsole material is rubbed against a standardised abrasive surface under controlled pressure and speed. The volume loss after a defined number of cycles must stay below the maximum limit. This predicts how long the sole will last under normal industrial wear — walking on concrete, steel grating, gravel, and other abrasive surfaces. PU soles generally exhibit lower abrasion loss than rubber, which contributes to their longer service life.
5. Flexing Endurance
The sole is repeatedly flexed over a mandrel for a defined number of cycles (typically 30,000) to simulate walking. After the test, the sole is inspected for cracks, splits, or delamination. This is critical for direct moulded soles (Part 2) because the sole-upper bond is stressed with every step. The Komisafe Rocky's double-density PU construction is specifically engineered to withstand this repeated flexing without degradation.
6. Oil Resistance
The outsole is immersed in reference oil at elevated temperature for a defined period. Volume change and hardness change are measured after extraction. Excessive swelling or softening indicates the sole material will degrade in oily industrial environments — machine shops, automotive plants, lubricant handling areas. IS 15298 sets strict limits on both parameters.
Part 2 vs Part 3: Key Differences
While the core safety performance requirements are shared, the two parts differ in construction-specific tests and quality parameters.
| Parameter | Part 2 (Direct Moulded) | Part 3 (Cemented Sole) |
|---|---|---|
| Sole Attachment | Chemically bonded during moulding | Adhesive bonded (cemented) |
| Sole Adhesion Test | Not required (integral bond) | Required — peel strength must exceed minimum N/mm |
| Typical Sole Material | PU (single or double density), rubber | Rubber, TPU, Nitrile rubber |
| Bond Durability | Superior — no adhesive to fail | Depends on adhesive quality & process control |
| Impact & Compression | 200J / 15kN | 200J / 15kN |
| Penetration Resistance | Required | Required |
| Manufacturing Complexity | Higher — requires injection moulding machinery | Lower — manual or semi-automated bonding |
| Example Products | Komisafe Aviator, Knight, Rocky | Various leather-soled industrial shoes |
The key takeaway: Part 2 (direct moulded) eliminates the weakest link in traditional safety shoes — the adhesive bond. This is why direct-moulded PU shoes like the Komisafe range have become the industry standard for premium safety footwear. Sole separation is the most common failure mode in cemented shoes, and direct moulding eliminates it entirely.
IS 15298 vs IS 17043: Which Standard for Which Shoe?
A common point of confusion: buyers often ask whether IS 15298 and IS 17043 are interchangeable. They are not. The standard depends entirely on the shoe's construction material and method.
IS 15298 — PU & Rubber Safety Shoes
Applies to safety shoes with polyurethane or rubber soles and leather or synthetic uppers. Part 2 for direct moulded, Part 3 for cemented construction. All Komisafe PU safety shoes are certified under IS 15298 Part 2.
IS 17043 — PVC Safety Shoes
Applies specifically to PVC injection-moulded safety footwear where the entire sole-upper assembly is moulded in a single process. Part 2: 2024 is the current revision. All Komico PVC safety shoes — from the Komico Eco at ₹799 to the Komico Xpert at ₹999 — are certified under IS 17043 Part 2: 2024.
When evaluating a supplier, check which standard appears on the ISI mark. A PU shoe marked under IS 17043 or a PVC shoe marked under IS 15298 would indicate a mismarked product — a serious red flag. Read our complete guide to ISI certification for safety shoes for step-by-step verification instructions.
How to Verify IS 15298 Compliance
Verifying genuine compliance requires more than spotting an ISI mark. Here is a systematic approach for procurement officers and safety managers:
Step 1: Check the ISI Mark
Look for the ISI mark on the shoe — typically on the sole, tongue, or shaft. It must display "IS 15298" followed by the part number (Part 2 or Part 3) and the BIS licence number with a CM/L- prefix.
Step 2: Verify the Licence Online
Visit the BIS portal (manak.bis.gov.in) and search the manufacturer's licence number. The database shows which standard the licence covers, the validity period, and the manufacturer's name and address.
Step 3: Request Test Reports
Ask the manufacturer for the latest BIS surveillance test report. Certified manufacturers undergo periodic factory and product audits by BIS. JMDi Safezone maintains current certification for both IS 15298 Part 2 (Komisafe) and IS 17043 Part 2: 2024 (Komico).
Step 4: Cross-Check Construction vs Standard
Ensure the standard matches the construction. A direct-moulded PU shoe should cite Part 2. A cemented-sole leather shoe should cite Part 3. A PVC shoe should cite IS 17043, not IS 15298.
Step 5: Physical Inspection
The ISI mark should be moulded or permanently printed — not a removable sticker. Check the steel toe cap is present (use a magnet if uncertain). Verify the sole is genuinely the construction type claimed (direct moulded soles have no visible seam between sole and upper).
How Komisafe Shoes Meet IS 15298 Part 2
Every Komisafe PU safety shoe — the Aviator (₹1,499), Knight (₹1,399), and Rocky(₹1,799) — is manufactured using direct injection moulding at JMDi Safezone's factory in Sonipat, Haryana.
The double-density PU sole is injected in two stages: a softer, shock-absorbing inner layer first, followed by a harder, abrasion-resistant outer layer. Both layers bond chemically to the buff leather upper during the moulding cycle. This process produces a sole-to-upper bond that is inherently stronger than any adhesive — which is exactly why IS 15298 Part 2 does not require a sole adhesion peel test. The bond cannot be peeled because there is no glue line.
With a daily production capacity of 7,000+ pairs and BIS surveillance audits, JMDi Safezone ensures every pair leaving the factory meets IS 15298 Part 2 requirements. The same manufacturing discipline applies to the Komico PVC range under IS 17043 — giving procurement teams the confidence to source both PVC and PU from a single, fully certified manufacturer. Compare the two ranges in our PVC vs PU safety shoes guide.
Related Reading
ISI Certification for Safety Shoes Explained: IS 15298 vs IS 17043
What the standards cover, how to verify the ISI mark, and why it matters for procurement.
PVC vs PU Safety Shoes: Which One for Which Workplace?
Complete comparison of sole types, industries, comfort, durability, and cost per pair.
Komisafe PU Safety Shoes: 3 Years of R&D, One Uncompromising Range
The story behind Komisafe Aviator, Knight, and Rocky — India's premium PU safety range.
Safety Shoe Ratings Decoded: SB, S1, S3, S5 Made Simple
What SB, S1, S2, S3, S4, and S5 mean and how Indian standards map to international ratings.
Need IS 15298 or IS 17043 Certified Safety Shoes?
JMDi Safezone manufactures both Komisafe (IS 15298 Part 2) and Komico (IS 17043 Part 2: 2024) ranges. Tell us your requirements — we'll supply the right certified shoes for your operation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is IS 15298 Part 2?
IS 15298 Part 2 is the BIS specification for safety footwear with direct moulded soles — where the sole is chemically bonded to the upper during manufacturing. It covers PU and rubber direct-attach safety shoes, specifying requirements for 200J steel toe impact, 15kN compression, sole penetration resistance, outsole abrasion, and flexing endurance.
What is the difference between IS 15298 Part 2 and Part 3?
Part 2 covers direct moulded sole construction (sole fused to upper during manufacturing). Part 3 covers cemented (glued) sole construction. Both share the same core safety tests, but Part 3 adds a sole adhesion peel strength test since the bond is adhesive-based rather than chemical.
Is IS 15298 the same as IS 17043?
No. IS 15298 covers PU and rubber sole safety shoes. IS 17043 covers PVC injection-moulded safety shoes. Komisafe PU shoes are certified under IS 15298 Part 2, while Komico PVC shoes are certified under IS 17043 Part 2: 2024.
How do I verify if a safety shoe is IS 15298 certified?
Check for the ISI mark displaying IS 15298 and the BIS licence number (CM/L- prefix). Verify the licence on manak.bis.gov.in. Request the manufacturer's latest BIS surveillance test report. Ensure the standard matches the construction type.
What tests does IS 15298 require for steel toe caps?
IS 15298 mandates a 200-joule impact test (20kg striker dropped from calibrated height) and a 15kN compression test (sustained crushing force). The internal toe clearance must remain above minimum thresholds after both tests.