The Universal Safety Footwear Benchmark
In the world of personal protective equipment (PPE), EN ISO 20345 is the gold standard that defines basic and additional requirements for occupational safety shoes. Whether an enterprise is outfitting construction teams in Europe, oil workers in the Middle East, or mining crews in South Africa, meeting these codified categories is mandatory for workplace legality.
At New Era Group, every lasted upper, strobelled footbed, and DIN standard leather batch produced in our Kanpur facilities is engineered specifically to ensure downstream compliance with these rigorous European certifications.
Primary Safety Rating Categories at a Glance
| Rating | Protective Capabilities | Typical Work Applications |
|---|---|---|
| SB (Standard Base) | 200-Joule toe cap impact + 15kN compression. Minimum height requirement. | Basic indoor workshops, dry light assembly. |
| S1 | SB + Closed heel seat + Antistatic (A) + Energy absorption heel (E) + Fuel oil resistant sole (FO). | Automotive manufacturing, dry indoor logistics, engineering. |
| S1P | S1 + Penetration/puncture resistant midsole plate (P). | Carpentry, mechanical maintenance, dry renovation work. |
| S2 | S1 + Water penetration and absorption resistance (WPA/WRU upper leather). | Food processing, wet factory environments, transport, outdoors without standing water. |
| S3 | S2 (Water resistant upper) + Penetration resistance (P) + Cleated outsole tread. | Heavy construction, earthmoving, civil engineering, industrial contracting. |
| S6 / S7 (2022 Update) | Complete water impermeability (WR membrane) over S2 or S3 platforms. | All-weather outdoor excavation, flood response, offshore work. |
Understanding the Key Difference: S1P vs. S3
One of the most frequent questions from footwear buyers is: "What is the difference between S1P and S3 safety shoes?"
Both ratings include a 200J safety toe and a puncture-resistant midsole. The critical difference lies in the upper leather's water resistance:
- S1P footwear is built for dry indoor workplaces. The uppers often feature breathable suede, canvas, or mesh with no mandatory water repellent requirement. If exposed to mud or puddles, water will quickly soak through.
- S3 footwear requires water-resistant leather (tested for maximum water absorption ≤ 30% and water penetration ≤ 0.2g over 60 minutes). At New Era Tanning Centre, we produce hydrophobic, water-repellent Barton and Full Grain leathers that exceed S3 water-resistance thresholds with ease.
Crucial 2022 Updates: Penetration Resistance (P vs. PL vs. PS)
Under the revised EN ISO 20345:2022 standard, puncture resistance markings were overhauled to distinguish between traditional steel midsoles and flexible textile inserts:
- Marking 'P': Metallic steel midsole plate tested with a standard 4.5mm conical nail. Provides absolute nail puncture protection across the entire sole.
- Marking 'PL': Non-metallic textile / Kevlar insert tested with a standard 4.5mm nail. Provides flexible, edge-to-edge underfoot protection with zero thermal conductivity.
- Marking 'PS': Non-metallic textile insert tested with a thinner 3.0mm small-diameter nail (simulating drywall screws and finishing nails common on construction sites).
Additional Protective Markings to Look For
Beyond the primary 'S' categories, buyers can specify specialized performance features:
- HRO (Heat Resistant Outsole): Outsole withstands 300°C contact heat for 60 seconds without melting or cracking (vital for asphalt paving and welding).
- CI / HI: Cold insulation (ΔT ≤ 10°C at -17°C) and Heat insulation of the sole complex.
- ESD (Electrostatic Discharge): Lower resistance threshold (100 kΩ to 35 MΩ) preventing sparks in flammable atmospheres or sensitive semiconductor assembly.
- SC (Scuff Cap): Reinforced external bumper over the toe box tested for 8,000 abrasion cycles.
- LG (Ladder Grip): Defined transverse heel breast (≥ 10mm high at an angle ≤ 120°) to prevent slipping on ladder rungs.
Ensure 100% Certification Compliance with New Era Group
Whether you need lasted uppers tailored for S1P athletic runners or heavy-duty S3/S7 waterproof construction boots, our technical team supplies precision materials engineered to pass European laboratory testing on the first submission.
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Kanpur, U.P. (India) • Specialist in Industrial Safety Footwear & Tannery