Safety footwear goes beyond ordinary shoes by meeting rigorous tests for protection. Major standards include the North American ASTM F2413-17 and the European EN ISO 20345, which specify performance for toe caps, soles, and more. These guidelines use symbols to indicate features, making it easy to match footwear to risks.
ASTM F2413-17 Basics
ASTM F2413-17 sets minimum performance requirements for protective footwear against workplace hazards. All compliant shoes must provide impact resistance (I/75) up to 75 foot-pounds and compression resistance (C/75) up to 2,500 pounds for the toe area.
Additional protections include metatarsal impact (Mt), puncture resistance (PR), conductive (C), static dissipative (SD), electric hazard (EH), and chainsaw cut resistance. Footwear is third-party tested per ASTM F2412, with labels showing met criteria.
This standard applies to non-overshoe footwear and emphasizes fit, function, and labeling for safety.
EN ISO 20345 Overview
EN ISO 20345 (latest 2022 edition) defines requirements for safety footwear with toe protection against 200 joules impact and 15 kN compression. It mandates basic slip resistance on ceramic tiles for all classes, replacing old SRA/SRB/SRC marks.
Key changes in 2022 include ladder grip (LG), refined puncture codes (P, PL, PS), fuel/oil resistance (FO), and water properties (WPA for uppers, WR for whole shoe). Transition from 2011 allows dual certifications until 2029.
All shoes require corrosion-resistant toe caps, non-toxic materials, and ergonomic design.
Footwear Symbols Explained
EN ISO 20345 uses class codes like SB, S1, and S3 to denote protection levels, often shown via pictograms on labels. Here's a table summarizing basic classes based on the standard:
| Class | Toe Cap | Slip Resistance | Closed Heel | Antistatic (A) | Heel Energy Abs. (E) | Puncture Resistance | Water Resistance | Cleated Soles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SB | Yes | Basic | Optional | No | No | No | No | No |
| S1 | Yes | Basic | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| S1P | Yes | Basic | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (midsole) | No | No |
| S2 | Yes | Basic | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| S3 | Yes | Basic | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (midsole) | Yes | Yes |
Higher classes like S4-S7 add full water resistance; check labels for extras like FO or SR.
Choosing the Right Protection
Pick based on your risks—S1P for indoor punctures, S3 for outdoor sites. Always verify labels and replace worn pairs to maintain compliance.
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