Footwear
What you should know about safety footwear
You must wear safety footwear if there is a risk of heavy objects falling over the feet or stepping on, for example, a nail through the sole.
Category overview
Category SB
Basic requirements
Category S1
SB
+ Toe cap
+ Antistatic properties
+ Shock absorption in heel
+ Closed heel cap
Category S1P
S1
+ Anti-puncture midsole
Category S2
S1
+ Water-resistant
Category S3
S2
+ Anti-puncture midsole
+ Heavy tread pattern
Category S4
S1
Footwear made of rubber and polymer materials for indoor and outdoor use with comfort
Category S5
S4
+ Anti-puncture midsole
+ Deep tread pattern
Footwear made of rubber and polymer materials especially for the construction industry with comfort
How to choose the right safety footwear
A safety shoe with a toe cap protects the foot against falling objects or crushing. If there is a risk of stepping on sharp objects, choose one with a anti-puncture midsole.
Additionally, consider whether you have a risk of twisting your foot so you can benefit from a safey boot. Should it be waterproof/water-resistant? If you often take the shoe on and off, a wire closure instead of laces might be advantageous.
It is important that you choose a shoe that fits snugly on the foot and feels comfortable, as you often wear the shoe for many hours each day.
All safety shoes are shock-absorbing and slip-resistant, but there can be significant differences from model to model.
Basic requirements
Footwear must at least meet the SB basic requirements:
- Free height under the toe cap after testing; 14.5 mm (for sizes 43 and 44) in footwear (21 mm in the free version)
- Ergonomic requirements
- Slip resistance requirements (SRA or SRB or SRC)
- Strength of upper, midsole, and outsole
- Breathability
- If the upper is made of leather, there is no measurable content of chromium VI
EN ISO 20345 INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING
SB | Basic requirement |
A | Antistatic footwear with a minimum electrical resistance of 100 kΩ – maximum 1000 kΩ |
ESD | ESD footwear with a minimum electrical resistance of 100 kΩ – 35 MΩ |
E | Footwear with energy absorption in the heel of more than 20 J |
WRU | Water-resistant material in the upper |
P | Steel toe cap, resistance to penetration min. 1100 N |
FO | Outsole resistant to oil and gasoline |
SRA | Slip resistance tested on tile floor |
SRB | Slip resistance tested on steel floor |
SRC | Slip resistance tested on tile and steel floors (SRA + SRB) |
HI | Insulation against heat | CI | Insulation against cold |
HRO | Tested and approved for contact heat up to 300° C |
- EN ISO 20345:2012 Safety footwear with toe cap (200 joules)
- EN ISO 20346:2014 Safety footwear with toe cap (100 joules)
- EN ISO 20347:2012 Work footwear without toe cap
Guidelines
This guide is prepared by
Nordic Safety Alliance
Specialists in safety equipment for industry and construction for 80 years.