Protected Area Type of Protection Code

Basic Impact 200 joules including compression 15,000 newtons SB
200 joule toecap protection. Closed seat region (fully enclosed
S1
heel). Antistatic properties. Energy absorption of seat region.
200 joule toecap protection. Closed seat region (fully enclosed
Steel Toe heel). Antistatic properties. Energy absorption of seat region. Water S2
penetration and water absorption resistance.
200 joule toecap protection. Closed seat region (fully enclosed
heel). Antistatic properties. Energy absorption of seat region. Water
S3
penetration and water absorption resistance. Sole penetration
resistance. Cleated outsole.
Outsole resistance to hot contact: up to 300 °C HRO
Penetration resistance offered by a steel midsole: 1100 newtons P
Additional protections
Heel energy absorption: 20 joules E
Water penetration-resistant uppers WRU
Conductive: Maximum resistance 100 kΩ O
Electrical resistance
Antistatic: Range of 100 kΩ to 1000 MΩ A
Insulation against cold CI
Hostile environments
Insulation against heat HI

Rating Features Key Description

SB P A Antistatic footwear
SB-P A + FO + E C Cut resistance of upper
S1 A + FO + E + P CI Cold insulation of sole complex
S1-P A + FO + E + WRU E Energy absorption of heel region
S2 A + FO + E + WRU + P FO Resistance to fuel oil of outsole
S3 A + FO + E + Waterproof HI Heat insulation of sole complex
S4 A + FO + E + P + HRO Resistance to hot contact of outsole
S5 Waterproof M Metatarsal Protection
P Penetration resistance
WR Water resistant
WRU Water resistant upper

SAFETY CLASS S1 (A + FO + E)
All shoes of the S1 type meet the basic demands for safety shoes:
  The height of the upper fabric
 Protective nose (with a minimum length and width)
 Upper fabric needs to be leather or equivalent synthetic material
 Needs to have inner lining
 Upper fabric can be open on low shoes
and additionally have the following characteristics:
 Closed zone on the heel
 Antistatic features
 Energy absorption in the heel
 Sole is resistent to hydrocarbons

SAFETY CLASS  S1P (A + FO + E + P)

Safety shoes of the S1P type do not have their own safety class, but because they are used so
frequently, they get a separate mention here. These safety shoes are all based on the S1 safety
class with an anti-perforation sole as additional feature.
This means that S1P safety shoes have the following features:
 All basic features for safety shoes
 All extra features in safety class S1 (A+FO+E)
SAFETY CLASS S2 (A + FO + E + WRU)
Safety shoes of the S2 type have the same features as the shoes in safety class S1 with the
addition of an extra quality: 
 resistance of the upper material against penetration by foreign objects and absorption of
water.
This means that S2 shoes have the following features:
 All basic features for safety shoes
 All extra features in safety class S1 (A+FO+E)
 The extra WRU feature

SAFETY CLASS S3 (A + FO + E + WRU + P)

Safety shoes of the S3 type have the same features as the shoes in safety class S2 with the
addition of an extra quality:
 Anti-perforation sole
This means that S3 shoes have the following features:
 All basic features for safety shoes
 All extra features in safety class S2 (A + FO + E + WRU)
 The extra P feature

SYMBOL & DESCRIPTION

P: Anti-perforation sole
E: Energy absorption in the heel
C: Conductive footwear
A: Antistatic features
I: Electrically insulating
AN: Extra ankle protection
FO: Sole has resistance to hydrocarbons
HI: Heat-isolating sole
CI: Cold-isolating solel
WRU: Upper material is resistant against penetration by foreign objects and absorption of water
HRO: Sole is resistant against heat during contact
ORO: hydrocarbon resistent sole
SRO: Weerstand van de zool tegen slippen
WR: Waterproof attachment of the sole to the shoe
M: Extra protection of the middle part of the foot
CR: Upper fabric is cut-proof
The safety footwear standard is referred as EN345, EN ISO 20345:2004, EN ISO 20345:2007 and EN ISO
20345:2007.
All footwear designed before 2004 and still manufactured up to today carries EN ISO 20345:2004. EN ISO
20345:2007 standard for footwear designed or retested after 2007 the new standard is the EN ISO
20345:20011 and un like the previous standards all foot wear manufactured after the 31st of July 2013
must meet that standard, now that doesn't mean that footwear made before that date is now of no use
what it means is that footwear produced after that date will meet the new tougher standard.
The EN ISO 20345:2007 standard sets out minimum requirements that safety footwear must be
successfully tested against.
The EN ISO 20345:2011 standard sets out new tougher minimum requirements that safety footwear
must be successfully tested against.
The standard specifies all safety footwear must have toe protection. In addition to different protective
features footwear can be represented by a combination of letters.
All Safety Footwear in this standard is at least SB which means it has toe protection against a 200 Joule
impact

Rating
Features
SB
SB-P
P
S1
A + FO + E
S1-P
A + FO + E + P
S2
A + FO + E + WRU
S3
A + FO + E + WRU + P
S4
A + FO + E + Waterproof
S5
A + FO + E + P + Waterproof

Key
Description
A=Antistatic footwear
C=Cut resistance of upper
CI=Cold insulation of sole complex
E=Energy absorption of heel region
FO=Resistance to fuel oil of outsole
HI=Heat insulation of sole complex
HRO=Resistance to hot contact of outsole
M=Metatarsal Protection
P=Penetration resistance
WR=Water resistant
WRU=Water resistant upper

Toe protection (SB)

Your toes are a very vulnerable part of your body, especially in a work place. Toe protection must
withstand a 200 joule impact. Joule is the unit of energy and this standard is purposefully specific.
Something heavy falling from a low height could have a lot less energy than something lighter from a
much higher height. As well as impacts the toe area must withstand a resting mass of well over 1000kg.
Most people have heard of steel toe cap boots but the protection doesn't have to be steel. In fact there
are advantages to alternatives. Non-metallic protection can be equally as strong but lighter.

Antistatic protection (A)

Clothing, seating materials, and climate factors can cause a build up a static charge of electricity in the
body. Some materials in footwear can over insulate the body causing the charge to be held. When you
then touch something the charge can rush from your body quickly causing a spark and a small
uncomfortable shock. Antistatic footwear will significantly reduce this effect but does not offer full
protection for exposure to electronics and explosives work. You will need Electro-Static Protection (ESD)
for this.

Midsole penetration protection (P) - SB-P, S1-P, S3, S5

Sharp objects where we walk and stand are significant risk not only in the workplace but also outdoors
and at home. Midsole protection will guard against nails and other objects. To meet this standard the
footwear must be able to resist a penetration force of 1100N. Midsole protection is provided in one of
these methods: a stainless steel insert in the sole, aluminium insert in the sole, or by Kevlar insole. The
Aluminium and Kevlar solutions are the most flexible and lightest and cover the greatest area of the
foot. Kevlar insoles also offer much higher thermal insulation.

Energy Absorption (E)

Energy Absorption in the heel region

Water Resistant Upper (WRU)

Water resistant upper, not used on all rubber or polymeric footwear.

Heat Resistant (HRO)

Heat resistant Outsole: To resist 300°C for 60 seconds

Insulation against Cold (CI)

Insulation against cold: tested for 30 minutes at 1 -20°C

Insulation against heat (HI)

Insulation against heat: tested for 30 minutes at 150°C

Electro-Static Discharge (ESD)

ESD footwear is designed for the electronics and explosives industry and has to meet ESD CEI EN61340-
5-1 standard.

Non-metallic footwear
Safety footwear containing no metal parts are ideal for workplaces with metal detectors like airports
eliminating the hassle of removing them.

The Safety Ratings Explained.....

SB
The rating SB indicates that the safety footwear has a 200 joule toe protection, it can have additional
features but it is the most basic of safety footwear.
SB-P
SB-P has the same features as the SB rating with the addition of the midsole penetration protection this
can be a stainless steel insert in the sole, aluminium insert in the sole or by Kevlar insole.
S1
S1 in addition to 200joule toe cap, is classed as antistatic footwear the sole is also resistant to fuel oil
and has energy absorption in the heel area.
S1-P
S1-P has the same features as the S1 rating with the addition of the midsole penetration protection this
can be a stainless steel insert in the sole, aluminium insert in the sole or by Kevlar insole.
S2
S2 in addition to 200joule toe cap, is classed as antistatic footwear the sole is also resistant to fuel oil
and has energy absorption in the heel area it also has a water resistant upper.
S3
S3 has the same features as the S2 rating with the addition of the midsole penetration protection this
can be a stainless steel insert in the sole, aluminium insert in the sole or by Kevlar insole.
S4
S4 in addition to 200joule toe cap, is classed as antistatic footwear the sole is also resistant to fuel oil
and has energy absorption in the heel area it is waterproof none as leak proof.
S5
S5 has the same features as the S4 rating with the addition of the midsole penetration protection this
can be a stainless steel insert in the sole, aluminium insert in the sole or by Kevlar insole.

All safety footwear can have more features than are listed above but these are the minimum
requirements to meet each of the safety ratings, This means you could have a S1 CI or S1 HI.