Glossary

Standards and markings on workwear

In this industry, markings are not small print but a sales argument and a tender requirement. Here are the most important ones, explained without jargon.

EN ISO 20345	Safety footwear Footwear with a protective toe cap that withstands an impact of 200 J and compression of 15 kN. Classes SB, S1, S1P, S2, S3 define additional properties.
SB	Basic safety footwear Protective toe cap 200 J, sole resistant to oils and fuels.
S1	Closed heel area, antistatic, energy absorption at the heel For dry indoor working environments: manufacturing, warehousing, logistics.
S1P	S1 + penetration-resistant insole For environments with a risk of penetration: construction sites, metalworking, recycling.
S2	S1 + water resistance For damp environments: food industry, utilities, agriculture.
S3	S2 + penetration-resistant insole + profiled sole The most common choice for construction, heavy industry and outdoor work.
SRC	Slip-resistant sole Tested on ceramic tile with detergent (SRA) and on steel with glycerol (SRB). SRC means both.
EN ISO 20347	Occupational footwear without a protective toe cap Classes O1, O2, O3. For healthcare, hospitality, retail and light industry.
ESD	Electrostatic dissipative footwear For electronics, cleanrooms and environments with explosive atmospheres.
EN ISO 20471	High-visibility clothing Classes 1, 2 and 3 depending on the surface area of fluorescent and reflective material. Class 3 for roads and railways.
EN ISO 11612	Protection against heat and flame Flame-resistant clothing for welding, foundries, energy and petrochemical industries.
EN 388	Protective gloves against mechanical risks Four to six digits: resistance to abrasion, cut, tear, puncture, cut according to ISO 13997 and impact.
EN 343	Protection against rain Two digits: water penetration resistance and water vapour permeability.
EN 14058	Protection against cool environments Clothing for work at temperatures down to −5 °C, thermal insulation and air permeability.
EN 342	Protection against cold Sets and clothing for work below −5 °C: cold stores, winter outdoor work.
OEKO-TEX Standard 100	Textiles free of harmful substances Independent testing for harmful chemicals, important for clothing in contact with skin.

How to choose the footwear class

Ask yourself three questions: is the floor wet or dry, is there a risk of penetration (nails, shavings, glass), and do you work outdoors in cold conditions. Dry and no penetration risk: S1. Penetration risk: S1P. Wet: S2. Wet and penetration risk, outdoor work: S3. Healthcare, hospitality, retail without impact risk: O1/O2.

Need a declaration of conformity?

For tenders and internal safety assessments, we provide technical data sheets and declarations of conformity for every model in our range.

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