One of the most frequently asked questions regarding safety footwear: what is the difference between S1, S1P, S2, S3 Safety footwear?
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What kind of characteristics should this footwear include?
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What kind of outsole?
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What kind of leather?
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What marking?
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What additional properties might it have?
In this article I’ll explain you technically what to do if you need S1, S1P, S2, S3 safety footwear.
After reading this article I bet you’ll be surprised at how easy it is to find the perfect product for yourself!
There’s a huge variety of products on the market and you need to choose, let me explain to you, technically, what exists on the market, what technical specifications you have to look at to find the perfect S1, S1P, S2, S3 safety footwear for your needs.
(Label of a UVEX safety shoe)
In general, some average situations where you could do a distinction between S1, S1P, S2, S3 safety footwear:
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You work indoor, no risk of water sprays, and you need protection for your toes, and a good breathability? Then you need S1 safety footwear
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You work indoor, no risk of water sprays, and you need protection for your toes, you need protection against perforation, and a good breathability? Then you need S1P safety footwear
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You work outdoor and you need protection for your toes and against water sprays? Then you need S2 safety footwear
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You work outdoor and you need protection for your toes, you need protection against perforation, and against water sprays? Then you need S3 safety footwear
- What other features should I consider for my S1, S1P, S2, S3 safety footwear?
As you can see, the biggest difference between S1, S1P, S2, S3 safety footwear consists in the resistance to water sprays and the puncture resistant plate. The S1P and S3 are basically S1 and S2 safety footwear, with an additional puncture resistant plate.
When choosing your safety footwear, first of all you need to know some description coming from the norms. S1, S1P, S2, S3 safety footwear follow the UNI EN ISO 20345 standard:
UNI EN ISO 20345 = Personal Protective Equipment – Specifications for safety footwear for general use. Fit out with toe cap, this footwear protects the user against crushing impacts with protection provided on 200J, and pressure loading of at least 15 kN.
A large part of workers who have to buy a safety shoe go to a shop and buy a pair looking mainly at the aesthetic and economic side. Generally you buy a model S1, S1P, S2, S3 more or less aware of the level of protection it brings (the protection of the tip of the feet), but not as much on the level of comfort. What we always repeat is first of all to make a self analysis to understand if you work in a dry or humid place, because by doing so you can already make a first important division. If you work in a dry and warm place then choose S1 or S1P shoes, those “P” in case you also have the risk of perforation of the sole, for example in the construction sector due to the presence of nails on the ground. If, on the other hand, you work in damp environments and you risk getting your feet wet, choose S2 or S3 shoes, S3 shoes in case you have the risk of perforating the sole. If, for example, through your self-analysis you can wear a S1P safety shoe because you work in dry environments and instead buy an S3 shoe, you are giving up more ventilation. If, on the other hand, you need an S2 or S3 safety shoe that protects you from splashes of water and liquids and you buy a S1 or S1P you will most likely end up with wet feet .. So it is really worthwhile to deepen your knowledge to choose your shoes accident prevention based on a conscious choice.
The properties of S1, S1P, S2, S3 safety footwear are:
All of them are class I footwear.
S1:
S1 safety footwear has the basic properties of SB footwear plus:
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Closed seat region
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Antistatic properties (including the “A” marking)
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Energy absorption of seat region (including the “E” marking)
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Resistance to fuel oil
Best S1 picks by SafetyShoesToday
Amazon.co.uk
S1P:
S1P safety footwear is an S1 footwear plus:
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Penetration resistance (including the “P” marking)
Best S1P picks by SafetyShoesToday
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.co.uk
S2:
S2 safety footwear has the basic properties of SB footwear plus:
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Closed seat region
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Antistatic properties (including the “A” marking)
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Energy absorption of seat region (including the “E” marking)
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Resistance to fuel oil
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Water penetration and absorption
Best “S2” picks by SafetyShoesToday
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.co.uk
S3:
S3 safety footwear is an S2 footwear plus:
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Penetration resistance (including the “P” marking)
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Cleated outsole
Best “S3” picks by SafetyShoesToday
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.co.uk
S1, S1P, S2, S3 safety footwear can also have some other markings if it has additional features
Basically needed in special work applications:
- AN = Ankle protection (≤ 10 kN). The mean value of the test result shall not exceed 10KN and no single value shall exceed 15KN
- CI = Cold insulation of the outsole (test at -17ºC). When tested, the temperature decrease on the upper surface of the insole shall not be more than 10ºC
- CR = Cut resistance of the upper (≥ 2,5). Cut protection is provided by working several layers of Kevlar between the lining and the upper. This type of footwear shall have a permanently attached protective material at least 3cm high, going from the toe cap to the heel, to the end of the footwear.
- ESD = ElectroStatic Discharge (between 100 KΩ and 35 MΩ). ESD shoes (electrostatic discharge) do not primarily protect the person but rather protect the ElectroStatic Discharge Sensitive devices (ESDS) in sensitive working areas (called EPA = Electrostatic Protected Areas).
- HI = Heat insulation of the outsole (test at 150ºC). When tested, the temperature increase on the upper surface of the insole after 30 min. shall not be greater than 22ºC. After the test the outsole must not present damages that could affect the regular usage of the footwear and its performances. The insulation must not be removable from the shoe.
- HRO = Resistance to hot contact of the outsole (test at 300ºC). When tested rubber and polymeric outsoles should not melt or crack when bent
- M = Metatarsal protection, only for EN ISO 20345. The minimum clearance at impact has to be ≤ 40 mm in size 41/42. It has to be fixed to the shoe and not removable. Should be enginereed to, in case of impact, distribute the resulting forces over the sole, toe cap, and to as large a surface of the foot as possible.
- WR = Water resistance (for S2 and S3). The total wetted area inside the footwear shall be ≤ 3cm² when tested.
Now let’s look at some construction features for your S1, S1P, S2, S3 safety footwear.
- What type of outsole do you need?
- What type of leather?
- And what about slip resistance?
The most common types of outsoles used for safety footwear are:
- PU MONO (SINGLE) DENSITY: It is a material with a very low weight and a good comfort. It has a good resistance to the chemical agents and oils, but no resistance to the strong acids. The resistance to temperatures goes from -10/-20 to +130 max 140 degrees . The softness gives a good grip to this material giving it a slip resistance similar to TPU and rubber. RECOMMENDED USAGE: indoor and not very aggressive work places.
- PU/PU: it is a double-density profile sole made of PU. It has a good resistance to the chemical agents and oils, but no resistance to the strong acids. The resistance to temperatures goes from -10/20 to 120 max 150 degrees. The soft PU midsole provides good impact absorption and wearing comfort. RECOMMENDED USAGE: indoor and outdoor, not really suggested for contacts with chemical agents.
- PU/TPU: It is particularly sturdy, abrasion-resistant and flexible. TPU therefore provides higher performances: abrasion resistance, slip resistance at a very good level like single density PU and rubber, flexibility. In the average it is more durable than PU and it has an higher resistance to the cold from -5 up to -20 degrees. Not very resistant to high temperatures: maximum 100 degrees. RECOMMENDED USAGE: indoor and outdoor, cold weather, not really suggested for contacts with hot surfaces.
- MONO DENSITY RUBBER: exceptionally sturdy: temperature-resistant from -30 up to 300°C, hard to penetrate for sharp objects and resistant to fuels, oils, microbes and numerous chemicals. However, rubber is heavier than PU and TPU, and is less flexible when submitted to cold temperatures. The rubber outsoles are also known for the great slip resistance as single density PU and TPU. RECOMMENDED USAGE: indoor and outdoor, in contact with oils, chemicals, acids. If HRO certified, it is also recommended for contacts with hot surfaces. It is a compact and heavy material so it is not the best choice if you need extremely light footwear.
- PU/RUBBER: (generally an injection molded outsole). Keeping the properties of rubber for the outsole, in this type of footwear the midsole is made of PU so the footwear is lighter. The PU in this case is the weak point in the toughest situations where the rubber performs the best. RECOMMENDED USAGE: indoor and outdoor, in contact with oils, chemicals, acids. If HRO certified, it is also recommended for the contact with hot floors. It is a compact and heavy material, so to make it lighter it is joined with PU.
- EVA/RUBBER: RECOMMENDED USAGE: indoor and outdoor, for the contact with oils, chemicals, acids. If HRO certified, it is also recommended for the contact with hot floors. It is a compact and heavy material, so to make it lighter it is joined with PU.
The most common types of leather used for safety footwear are:
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FULL GRAIN LEATHER: In the average it’s the most breathable, flexible and durable. It has a very nice feeling to the touch, and the most natural appearance.
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SPLIT PRINTED LEATHER: In the average it is less breathable, but is tough and economic. The flaws are covered with a PU coating and then printed for a better look.
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NUBUCK LEATHER: Often it comes from grain leather, with a different sanded finish, it is breathable, tough and oil resistant. It looks wicker than full grain leather but in most cases it performs just about the same.
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SUEDE LEATHER: It is often used for non water resistant safety footwear, but there are also waterproof products in suede leather. It is very breathable and quite sturdy. It can be either economic or expensive, depending if it comes from grain or split leather.
- SYNTETIC LEATHER: MICROFIBER: It is a very light and flexible material. It has very good resistance against soft chemicals and organic acids, in most cases it is washable at an average of 40 degrees. Being it synthetic it is recommendable in sanitary and food industry. Breathability depends from the quality of the product. It is used very often in sanitary, food, and sport safety footwear.
SLIP RESISTANCE:
This is one of the most important features to look for when you are choosing your S1, S1P, S2, S3 safety footwear. Safety shoes are subjected to a slip resistance test in accordance with DIN EN 13287.
At a given pressure, the shoe is pulled across two different surfaces, each of which is covered with a different lubricant. The resulting friction is measured.
- SRA = Ceramic tile floor + Sodium lauryl sulfate NaLS (forward heel slip friction coefficient ≥ 0.28 /forward flat slip friction coefficient ≥ 0.32)
- SRB = Steel floor + Glycerine (forward heel slip friction coefficient ≥ 0.13 /forward flat slip friction coefficient ≥ 0.18)
- SRC = safety footwear is SRC when it passes both tests SRA + SRB
CONCLUSIONS
In this article I have explained many things to you, from the differences between the different markings, to the composition of the outsole, to the additional markings, to the types of leather. Many times the choice of a safety shoe is made simply based on personal taste but a more careful choice by looking at the technical characteristics can only make you live a better working life. There are many other articles on this site to learn more about the topics, you can search for the topic that interests you most by searching for it in the search bar of the site, and if you do not find the topic or solution for you you can write me an email to robert.frog@safetyshoestoday.com exposing me your problem, I will be happy to help you.
These are the recommendations that I suggest to you when you’re looking for the best S1, S1P, S2, S3 safety footwear for your needs.
When you’ll have selected your S1, S1P, S2, S3 safety footwear you’ll be more protected at work.
I grant you that if you use the right S1, S1P, S2, S3 safety footwear you’ll live a better working experience.
What do you think about S1, S1P, S2, S3 safety footwear?
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Please write your comments below!
Need shoes resist electricity especially higher voltage
Hello Mohamed
In this case you need to search for 50321 isolating safety boots
Best regards
Robert
https://www.safetyshoestoday.com