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SR? S3? S5? These are some of the codes that often appear when we are looking for safety footwear, but what do they mean?

SR, O4, or S5. These are some of the codes that often appear when we are looking for safety footwear. But what do they mean? Are they important? How can they help me decide which footwear to buy?

These are some of the questions we will answer today. We will also provide you with a list of safety codes and their meanings. This way, when choosing your safety footwear, you will know exactly what to look for.

Firstly, you need to know that these codes represent the safety level of the respective footwear and assure the user that the footwear meets all the requirements for that level.

PPE REGULATIONS

In the European Union(EU), the regulation that defines the legal obligations of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) is Regulation (EU) 2016/425 of 9 March 2016 on personal protective equipment. It is very easy to know if PPE complies with this regulation by checking if it has a CE marking.

EN ISO 20345:2022 and EN ISO 20347:2022

There are two main standards:

EN ISO 20345, which refers to requirements for safety footwear.
EN ISO 20347, which refers to requirements for occupational footwear that does not expose the user to any mechanical risks, such as impacts or compression.

These standards specify additional basic requirements for safety footwear. You can see if the footwear complies with these standards by checking its technical data sheets or product description.

Códigos de Calçado de Segurança

Now that you know what each standard means, you need to understand the meaning of the codes. Each standard has different codes that indicate the level of protection of the respective footwear.

Let's start with the codes in the EN ISO 20345 standard, which are the codes for safety footwear. These standard divides footwear into two types. The first includes all safety footwear, excluding footwear with rubber or polymer uppers. The second type includes only footwear made entirely of rubber or polymer materials.

TThere are four codes that correspond to the first type: SB, S1, S2, and S3. The second type has two codes in addition to SB, which are S4 and S5.

SB - SB stands for basic safety, and as such, it is the lowest safety level in this standard. Footwear classified as SB has toe cap impact resistance (200 joules), compression resistance (15 kN) and slip resistance (ceramic floor/soapy water).
S1 - S1 footwear has all the characteristics of SB, has a closed heel area, as well as energy absorption in the heel and is antistatic.
S2 - Has all the characteristics of S1 and prevents water penetration and absorption.
S3 - Has all the characteristics of S2 and has a protective insole that prevents sharp objects from penetrating the sole. It also has a treaded sole.
S4 - Has all the characteristics of S1, but the uppers of the footwear must be made of rubber or polymeric materials.
S5 - Has all the features of S4, plus a protective insole and embossed sole.
- S5L - Same as S5 but features a non-metallic insole with puncture resistance tested with a 4.5 mm diameter nail
- S5S - Same as S5 but features a non-metallic insole with puncture resistance tested with a 3 mm diameter nail.
S6 - Same as S2 and water resistant.
S7 - Same as S3 and water resistant.
- S7L - Same as S7 but features a non-metallic insole with puncture resistance tested with a 4.5 mm diameter nail.
- S7S - Same as S7 but features a non-metallic insole with puncture resistance tested with a 3 mm diameter nail.

The following codes belong to the EN ISO 20347 standard, which means they are occupational footwear codes. Once again, these codes are divided into the same two types of footwear.

The first type consists of four codes: OB, O1, O2, and O3. The second type also consists of OB, O4, and O5.

OB - OB footwear meets the basic requirement of having only a slip-resistant sole.
O1 - It is slip-resistant, has a closed heel area, as well as energy absorption in the heel, and is antistatic.
O2 - Has all the features of O1 and prevents water penetration and absorption.
O3 - Has all the characteristics of O2, and also has a metal protective insole and an embossed sole.
- O3L - Same as O3 but has a non-metallic insole with puncture resistance tested with a 4.5 mm diameter nail.
- O3S - Same as O3 but features a non-metallic insole with puncture resistance tested with a 3 mm diameter nail.
O4 - Has all the characteristics of O1, but applies to footwear made of rubber or polymeric materials.
O5 -Has all the features of O4 plus a metal protective insole and embossed sole.
- O5L - Same as O5 but features a non-metallic insole with puncture resistance tested with a 4.5 mm diameter nail.
- O5S - Same as O5 but features a non-metallic insole with puncture resistance tested with a 3 mm diameter nail.
O6 - Same as O2 and is water-resistant.
O7 - Same as O3 and is water-resistant

SLIP-RESISTANT SOLE CODES

Having an anti-slip sole is extremely important to protect you in your daily work. A small fall can cause serious injuries.

To prevent this from happening, safety footwear is tested and then classified into two categories: basic (and mandatory) - formerly SRA - tested on ceramic flooring with soap; it has no marking as it is part of the minimum requirements, and SR footwear, which is tested on ceramic flooring with glycerin. When footwear has the SR symbol on its marking, it means that it has passed the highest level of slip testing.

ADDITIONAL CODES

A - Antistatic footwear

E - Energy absorption heel

P - Midsole penetration protection

C - Conductive footwear

WPA - Water-resistant upper

WR - Water-resistant footwear

CI - Cold Resistance

HI - Heat Resistance

HRO - Heat contact resistance

FO - Sole's resistance to Fuel Oil

M - Metatarsal protection (only for EN ISO 20345)

AN - Ankle protection

CR - Upper's cut resistance

SR - Anti-slip (test carried out on ceramic tile with glycerin)

SC - Protection against scratches on the toecap

LG - Adherence to stairs

IT'S TIME TO CHOOSE YOUR FOOTWEAR!

Now that you know the meaning of each code, all you have to do is put your knowledge into practice and choose your new pair of shoes.

First, you should consider the environment in which you work. If you need footwear for construction, which is a high-risk environment where heavy materials can fall on your feet, or you may end up stepping on a sharp object, you should look for footwear with a protective toe cap and insole, which means you should choose between an S3 or an S5.

On the other hand, if you are working in an area such as gardening, or if this is just a hobby, there is no need to wear footwear with a protective toe cap or insole. In this case, choose a waterproof O4 boot.