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SAFETY FOOTWEAR RE-DEFINED
Safety footwear is one of the most commonly used products in the field of personal protective equipment. However, standards are also evolving in this area—for example, EN ISO 20345, which defines the requirements for safety footwear throughout Europe.With the new version EN ISO 20345:2022, a number of key points have been revised, clarified, or supplemented. The aim is to achieve greater safety, better comparability, and greater transparency in protective functions. We show you the differences between the old standard (2011) and the new one (2022) in a compact and practical way.
THE NEW CLASSIFICATION: MORE DETAILS, MORE TRANSPARENCY
The most important change concerns the classification into protection classes. While the old standard (2011) used the categories SB to S3, EN ISO 20345:2022 supplements these with differentiated variants such as S3L, S3S, and S7S.These innovations make it easier to recognize the puncture resistance a shoe offers and whether the shoe is actually waterproof or merely delays water absorption. All categories listed are based on the binding basic requirements of the standard - e.g., toe protection, ergonomic design, and mechanical resilience. The table overview shows the additional protective functions that go beyond the basic requirements.
| Category | EN ISO 20345:2011 | EN ISO 20345:2022 |
| SB | Basic requirements (including slip resistance SRA) | Unchanged |
| S1 | + Closed heel, antistatic, energy absorption | Unchanged |
| S2 | + Water absorption/permeability | Unchanged |
| S3 | + Puncture resistance, profiled sole, fuel resistance | Now S3 (Type P) |
| S3L (Type PL) | - | Non-metallic penetration protection |
| S3S (Type PS) | - | Higher non-metallic protection |
| S7S (Type PS) | - | + Completely waterproof (WR tested) |
SYMBOLS & TEST CHARACTERISTICS: WHAT REMAINS, WHAT IS NEW?
Some of the familiar and proven markings from EN ISO 20345:2011 remain unchanged in the new version. The new standard introduces the following changes and additions:+ PL and PS are newly introduced symbols for non-metallic puncture protection. They differ in their protection class (PS = higher protection performance). Previously, there was no distinction based on material or performance level – only “P” for general puncture protection.
+ SR replaces the previous symbols SRA, SRB, and SRC. The new slip resistance now covers all test surfaces (ceramic + glycerin) in a standardized manner.
+ SC now stands for abrasion resistance of the toe cap – particularly relevant for activities involving high mechanical stress in the toe area.
+ LG indicates ladder rung slip resistance – a particularly practical feature, e.g., in construction or crafts.
The new standard creates greater transparency and more differentiated classifications – especially for puncture resistance and slip resistance. This allows areas of application to be addressed more specifically and protective functions to be communicated more clearly.
MORE TRANSPARENCY, BETTER PRODUCT SELECTION
EN ISO 20345:2022 creates a better basis for selecting suitable safety footwear - for manufacturers and users alike. Anyone buying safety footwear today can make a much more informed decision:+ What level of puncture resistance is required?
+ Is a splash-proof shoe sufficient, or does it need to be completely waterproof?
+ Is a metal-free design important?
Manufacturers benefit from clearer testing requirements and more differentiated product labeling. Users gain confidence in their selection—especially in sensitive areas of application such as construction, industry, or logistics.
