This guide explains what the safety classes and markings on safety footwear mean, and how to choose the right shoe for your job.
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A safety shoe has a toe cap that protects the toes against falling and crushing objects. The requirement is set out in EN ISO 20345, the European standard for safety footwear.
At least 200 joules of impact and 15 kilonewtons of compression. That is what the toe cap in a safety shoe must withstand.
Everything else the shoe protects against is shown by a safety class and additional markings. Shoes without a safety toe cap are occupational shoes and are certified to EN ISO 20347. We explain the difference further down.
A safety class is a set of requirements. S1, S2 and S3 build on each other. S4 and S5 apply to rubber or polymer boots. S6 and S7 add that the whole shoe is water-resistant.
The letter after the class shows which penetration-resistant midsole the shoe has. S3 without a letter has a metal midsole. S3L and S3S have a metal-free midsole, type PL and PS respectively.
The marking consists of the standard, the safety class and additional markings. This is how it reads for Umeå 949:
EN ISO 20345:2022+A1:2024 S7S CI HI SC HRO FO SR
Umeå 949 is also ESD-approved. ESD is covered by a different standard and is therefore stated separately.
Start from the risks in the job, not the job title. The choice should be based on a risk assessment of the workplace.
In our range: S1PS is available in Umeå and A-Series. S3S in Umeå, Chelsea Pro, Tech and A-Series. S7S in Umeå, Kiruna, Tech and A-Series.
Both have a toe cap, penetration-resistant midsole, cleated outsole and a water-resistant upper. The difference is that S7 is also tested as a whole shoe against water penetration. S3 tests the upper material, S7 the whole shoe including seams and sole. If you work a lot in water or wet terrain, S7 is worth choosing.
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Both types are tested in a lab with a standardised nail. A thinner nail or a higher load increases the risk of penetration, whatever the type.
Choose based on your risk assessment. Read more about the penetration-resistant midsole Tech Weave.
All safety footwear is slip-tested on ceramic tiles with a soap solution. This gives no marking of its own. SR means the shoe has also passed a tougher test with glycerine, which represents oily and greasy contamination.
No shoe is slip-proof. Slip resistance is measured on a new shoe and changes as the sole wears, and the tests do not replicate loose terrain such as mud and gravel. Studded shoes that cannot be slip-tested are marked Ø.
Three different things that are often confused:
EN ISO 20345:2022 replaced the 2011 edition, and amendment A1 followed in 2024. The main changes:
Footwear certified to the 2011 edition is still on sale, so you may see both SRC and SR.
Check your shoes before you use them. Replace them if you see:
Only replace the insole with the same one or an equivalent from the manufacturer, because the shoe was tested with its own insole. You will find care tips in our shoe care guide.
Occupational footwear has no safety toe cap and is certified to EN ISO 20347. The classes are OB to O7 and correspond to SB to S7, but without a toe cap. An occupational shoe is therefore not a safety shoe. See our occupational footwear.
S1P also has a metal penetration-resistant midsole. S1PS has a metal-free midsole, type PS.
Safety class S3 with a metal-free penetration-resistant midsole, type PS.
No. S3 has an upper that resists water penetration and absorption. If you want the whole shoe tested against water, choose S6 or S7.
No. They reduce static build-up but are not electrically insulating.
SRC belongs to the 2011 edition. Footwear certified to the 2022 edition is marked SR, and the tests are not the same.
It depends on how it is used. Check it regularly and replace it according to the list above.
Arbesko develops all its shoes in Kumla, home to Sweden's only safety footwear factory. Find the right model in our safety footwear range, or see where to buy Arbesko from a dealer near you.
Additional markings show protection beyond the safety class and are written after the class, for example S3S SR HRO. Anything already included in the class is not repeated.
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