The safety shoes are designed to ensure personal and workplace

safety. As a unique feature, these shoes can prevent cuts, bruises, and
abrasions that may occur in the workplace. The CE EN ISO 20345:
Safety Shoes Stanard is an extra protective shoe suitable for work
requiring high levels of protection.

In this article, we talk about the following; What is CE EN ISO 20345,

How to select safety boots standard, and the details of each safety
shoe class.

What does EN ISO 20345 mean?

EN ISO 20345:2011 is a European standard for personal
protective equipment. This standard specifies the requirements for
safety footwear. It applies to all safety footwear types, including steel
toecaps, composite toes, and ankle protectors.

EN ISO 20345:2011 was the old revision, followed by PPE Regulation

EU 2016/425, the latest version of this standard.

What does PPE EU 2016/425 mean?

PPE regulation EU 2016/425 is the latest version of the safety

shoe standard. It was released on December 31, 2016. The previous
version of this standard was EN 20345:2011. This standard applies to
safety shoes with a steel toe cap and applies to both men’s and
women’s shoes.

The fundamental changes in this version are:

 The term “safety footwear” has been replaced with “safety
footwear with a steel toe cap” throughout the standard;
  The EN ISO 20345:2011 test method for measuring friction has
been replaced by a new test method that uses a pendulum tester
to measure friction;
 A new test method for measuring the energy absorption capacity
of safety footwear has been added;
 New requirements for marking have been introduced;
 A new need for labeling has been raised;

EN ISO 20345 safety ratings explained

Safety shoes are divided into different safety rating classes according
to the protection they offer, such as SB, S1, S2, S1P, and S3. In the
table below, you can see an overview of what is included in each safety
class.

Safety boots made from leather and other materials Rubber or PVC (waterproof
(not rubber/polymeric) safety gumboots)

Rating SB SBP S1 S1P S2 S3 SB S4 S5

200 joules toe cap ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Penetration
resistant midsole ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Slip-resistant ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Antistatic
properties ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Water penetration
or waterproof ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Oil and acid-

resistant outsole ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Shock-absorbing ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
EN ISO 20345 SB
Safety footwear that is classified as SB only has a protective
toecap. It may have other safety features, but the standard does not
require them. The sole may be of any material, including leather or
plastic. The upper material must be non-conductive and protect
against contact with live electrical circuits.

Safety boots classified as SB have no requirement for resistance to

impact or penetration, but they must provide sufficient resistance to
abrasion. This means that they are suitable for use in areas with no
risk of falling objects or sharp objects that could cause foot injuries.

EN ISO 20345 SBP

Safety boots that are classified as SBP have a protective
toecap and midsole. This type of safety footwear is intended for
work in areas with a risk of falling objects. The protective toecap
protects things falling from above, and the midsole protects against
things falling from underneath.

SBP safety footwear must have a steel toe cap with a protection level
of 200 Joules (J) or an equivalent protection level and hardness values
greater than 20° HV. The midsole must be made from material that
meets one of the following standards: EN ISO 20345 S1 P2 SRC or EN
ISO 20345 S2 P2 SRC.

EN ISO 20345 S1
Safety footwear classified as S1 has a protective toecap and
antistatic function. The standard requires that footwear protect
against falling objects up to 100g.

The class S1 is specifically designed for use in environments with a risk

of damage from sharp objects and heavy objects weighing more than
100g. The protective toecap of the shoes protects against sharp
objects, while the antistatic feature prevents the accumulation of dust,
which can cause an explosion in case there are sparks.

EN ISO 20345 S1P

Safety footwear classified as S1P has a protective toecap,
midsole, and antistatic function. The protective toecap ranks the
footwear as safety footwear with impact protection of at least 200
Joules. The midsole appears between the insole and outsole, and the
antistatic function protects against static electricity discharge.

The protective toecap protects the toes from falling objects. It must
also be able to withstand heavy impact. The midsole is located
between the upper and outsole of the shoe. It protects the foot from
slipping or rolling off a slippery surface. It also prevents injuries caused
by falling objects or electric shock due to static electricity generated by
friction with other materials.

The antistatic function reduces the risk of personal injury from electric
shock caused by static electricity generated by friction when walking
on wet floors or climbing stairs.

EN ISO 20345 S2
EN ISO 20345 S2 is a standard for safety footwear that is classified as
S2. The S2 standard describes the requirements for safety footwear
with protective toecap, waterproof function and anti static function.

The EN ISO 20345 S2-standard is divided into two parts: Part 1 covers
the requirements for safety footwear with protective toecap and
waterproof function, while Part 2 covers the requirements for safety
footwear with protective toecap and anti static function.

EN ISO 20345 S3
Safety footwear that is classified as S3 has anti-static, made with a
protective toecap and midsole. The upper of the shoe must be made
from leather or leather substitute (non-porous material). The sole
should be slip resistant and have a non-slip texture. There are also
specific requirements for the heel height, heel stiffness and toe cap
shape.

S3 shoes provide protection against physical hazards such as sharp

objects, falling objects, electrical shock, heat and cold. They also
protect against chemicals such as acids and alkalis.

EN ISO 20345 S5
EN ISO 20345 S5 is a safety footwear standard from the International
Organization for Standardization (ISO). The EN ISO 20345 S5 rating is
the highest level of protection that can be achieved by safety footwear.
It combines the protective properties of ratings S1-4, and hence
protects against a wide range of hazards, including electrical hazards.

S5 is used for rubber or plastic soled boots for industrial use or for use
in laboratories and pharmaceutical facilities where extreme chemical
resistance is required.

The EN ISO 20345 standard also covers footwear with non-slip and
anti-skid properties as well as shoes with electrical hazard protection.

EN ISO 20345 slip resistance ratings explained

Slip resistance ratings are a measure of the coefficient of friction
between two surfaces. If the coefficient of friction is less than 0.6, a
floor can be considered slippery.

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has developed

a standard called ISO 20345:2011 to help manufacturers and designers
assess and compare slip resistance ratings. Slip resistance ratings are
measured using either the American Society for Testing and Materials
(ASTM) E18 or the International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
TR12402 standard test methods.
ISO 20345:2011 is broken down into three categories of slip resistance:

SRA: This rating is used to measure the coefficient of friction between

a shoe sole and a surface such as a tile or concrete. The result is
expressed as a value between 0 and 1, with 1 being the best. SRA is
typically tested on ceramic tile with sodium lauryl sulfate (a diluted
soap solution).

SRB: This rating measures the coefficient of friction between steel

plates under dry conditions with glycerol added to simulate moisture
on the surface. SRB results are expressed as values between 0 and 4,
with 4 being the best.

SRC: This measurement combines SRA and SRB measurements into

one value that reflects how well an

EN ISO 20345 Additional Ratings Explained

The following are some of the additional ratings explained:

C – Conductive

Conductive means that the material has a low resistance to electricity.

If you have a static charge on your body, it can be dissipated through
this material. This is especially important when working with
computers and other electronics.

A – Antistatic

An antistatic material has a low level of static electricity buildup on its

surface between 0.1 and 1000 Mega Ohms . This allows an object to be
handled without fear of static discharge (small sparks) causing damage
or injury.
I – Insulation against electricity

Insulation against electricity is used in applications where workers may

be exposed to electric shock hazards. Commonly used for use when
working with high voltage (relative term) equipment or inside power
tools or equipment that may not be connected to a ground wire.

HI – Insulation against heat

Insulation against heat is used in applications where workers may

come into contact with hot surfaces or materials that could cause
burns or other injuries if touched by bare skin (such as molten metal).

CI – Insulation against cold

Insulation against cold is used for applications where workers may

come into contact with cold surfaces or materials that could cause
frostbite if touched by bare skin (such as ice).

E – Energy absorbing seat region

The energy absorbing seat region absorbs impact energy in case of a

fall. It reduces the risk of injury and allows for a longer working life for
your safety shoes.

AN – Ankle protection

It is important that your safety shoes protect not only your feet but
also your ankles from injuries. AN stands for ankle protection, which
means that the soles have extra protection in this area to prevent
injuries due to falls or slips.

HRO – Heat resistant outsole

This rating indicates that the outsole material has been tested against
temperatures up to 300 degrees Celsius (572 degrees Fahrenheit). This
rating is especially important when working with hot machinery or
welding equipment as it prevents burning or melting of the sole
material.

WR – Water resistant
This means that the material can withstand water dripping onto it. It
will not absorb water and will keep you dry in wet conditions.

WRU – Water resistant upper

This means that the upper portion of the shoe is made with a material
that can withstand water dripping on it. It will not absorb water and will
keep you dry in wet conditions. This rating is especially important
when working around large amounts of standing water, such as oil
tanks or shipyards.

M – Metatarsal protection

A metatarsal pad protects your foot from the impact on hard surfaces
by absorbing some of the shock waves before it reaches your bones.
This is especially important for workers who spend long periods of time
on their feet doing repetitive tasks like walking or climbing stairs.

CR – Cut resistant upper

The CR rating is used to indicate that the material offers good cut
resistance. This rating is not as common as the others because it is not
required by ISO 20345-1:2011. It is primarily used in Europe and
Australia where it is a requirement for safety footwear.

Which features should you choose in safety

shoes?
Safety shoes can be made from a variety of materials and provide
different levels of protection. Here we look at the most common types
of safety footwear, what they offer and how you can work out which
ones best suit your needs.

Toe protection (SB)

This is the most basic level of protection in safety shoes. A steel toe
cap must be present to protect against impact injuries such as
stubbing your toes or falling objects. The cap may be steel or
composite material, but this level of protection is not enough if you are
working on heavy machinery that could cause serious foot injuries.

Antistatic protection (A, S1, S1P, S2, S3)

Antistatic protective footwear is designed to prevent the build-up of

static electricity on the surface of the shoe, which can cause a spark
and lead to an explosion or fire. It’s particularly important for people
working in areas where flammable liquids are stored, handled and
transported, such as oil refineries and chemical plants.

Midsole penetration protection (SBP, S1P, S3, S5)

Footwear with midsole penetration protection is designed to stop sharp

objects from penetrating through the sole. This is especially important
for firefighters and police officers who may be required to walk over
dangerous debris or through puddles of water that could contain
broken glass or metal fragments.

Safety shoes with this kind of protection are usually constructed from
an anti-static material such as vulcanized rubber or nitrile-coated
leather. They typically have additional layers of material on top of
these materials to protect against cuts and lacerations caused by studs
or other sharp objects embedded in the ground below.

Energy absorption (E, S1, S1P, S2, S3)

This refers to energy absorption in the heel region. This is an important

consideration if you’re working on concrete floors or walking over
uneven terrain as it will help reduce injuries that occur when one foot
strikes unexpectedly while another remains planted on the ground. The
European Standard EN ISO 20345-1 requires footwear energy
absorption values between 1-5J depending on the type of protection –
E for electrical hazard; S1 for impact protection; S1P for both impact
protection and electrical hazard; S2 for impact protection only; and S3
(the highest level) for electrical hazard only.

Water resistance (WR, WRU, S2, S3)

These shoes are designed to offer protection against water and

moisture. They’re ideal for wet environments such as manufacturing,
construction and agriculture.

Water-resistant footwear offers some protection against water ingress

but isn’t designed to keep your feet dry. It’s suitable for light rain or
other precipitation, but not immersion in water or high humidity
conditions.

Heat resistance (HRO)

Safety shoes that have been designed with heat resistance offer
protection against heat damage. This can be caused by hot surfaces or
direct exposure to flames – either of which can cause serious burns. An
HRO safety shoe will help protect your feet from the effects of these
hazards by offering insulation against heat transfer. Safety boots with
this feature are typically black in color so that they don’t reflect too
much heat from the sun’s rays.

Insulation against cold and heat (CI, HI)

Cold-insulated safety shoes are made from a breathable material that

keeps the foot warm in winter conditions. The material is usually
waterproof, meaning it won’t soak up water like regular boots and
shoes. Cold-insulated footwear is ideal for cold conditions where
there’s snow or ice on the ground.
Hot-insulated safety shoes have an inner lining that helps to keep your
feet cool in the summer months by absorbing sweat from within the
shoe. They’re often worn with socks to prevent damage from heat
build-up inside the shoe. Hot-insulated safety shoes are ideal for hot
conditions where there’s no snow or ice on the ground (such as
construction sites).
Additional Resources
 What are safety shoes?
 What is steel toe cap?
 What is composite toe?
 Composite toe vs Steel toe vs Alloy toe
 Steel toe vs Aluminum toe vs Carbon toe
 CE EN20345: Safety shoes standard
 What is the function of safety shoes?
 Top brands of safety shoes
 Safety shoes size chart
 Best safety shoes for construction

S3 + HRO (Heat-resistant Outsole )

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