S1, S2 and S3 Safety Shoes: The Differences

Occupational shoes, safety shoes, work shoes … do you sometimes feel overwhelmed by the various terms and requirements in this area? Do you ever question the benefits of safety shoes? Then you have come to the right place.

In this article, the experts at Shoes For Crews offer you a brief but precise summary of the differences between S1, S2 and S3 safety shoes, as well as insights into the importance of suitable footwear.

Why safety shoes at all?

Imagine you are planning a trip to the mountains. Aside from food and travel, you will certainly also think about suitable footwear. If you have an alpine route in mind, you probably would not choose sandals in order to avoid accidents.
The same scenario should also run through your mind when you are considering safety shoes: because whatever you choose will definitely affect the working conditions of your male and female employees.
When choosing work shoes, it is not about being particularly stylish, but rather about whether they provide suitable protection and sufficient comfort for your male and female employees. As the name suggests, safety shoes are an essential part of occupational safety and are therefore an extremely important topic.
In this article, our experts at Shoes For Crews want to answer all the most important questions, so that you are guaranteed to choose the right shoe for each of your employees.

The different classes of safety shoes

The different classes of work shoes, as well as their requirements, are defined by ISO standards. A distinction is made between two main categories:

• Occupational shoes “O” according to EN ISO 20347:2022
• Safety shoes “S” according to EN ISO 20345:2022

Below, we will focus on the differences between the various safety shoes. However, if you would like more details, especially with regard to occupational shoes, we recommend the DGUV overview .

Safety class S1: Basic protection

For safety class S1 – the “S” stands for safety class – all minimum requirements of the “safety shoe” main category are met.
This includes, as probably the most characteristic feature, the toe cap. It must withstand an impact of at least 200 joules and a compression force of at least 15 kN. To illustrate: this means that an object weighing 20 kg must be able to fall onto the shoe from a height of one metre without crushing the foot. So, if a heavy object falls onto your employee's foot, they are excellently protected by an S1 safety shoe.
In addition, all shoes that receive S1 certification must have antistatic properties, so that in the event of contact with electricity, the electrical charge can be discharged into the ground and an electric shock can be avoided.
Another requirement is a closed heel area, which ensures stable all-round protection. Just like the toe cap at the front of the shoe, it protects the back of the foot from falling objects, mechanical stress and potentially hazardous substances. The sole must also have standard slip-resistant properties.

Safety class S2: For dry feet

Safety class S2 must meet all the requirements of the previous class without exception. It differs from class S1 through a certain degree of water resistance, i.e. safety shoes in class S2 must have a water-repellent upper material.
This safety shoe, such as our Executive Wing Tip II S/T S2 model, is ideal if you work in both the production area and the office. This way, you are always protected all around and your feet are guaranteed to stay dry.

Safety class S3: The ultimate professional

Here too, the same principle applies: safety class S3 must meet all the requirements of the previous class.
The major difference between safety class S2 and S3 is the puncture-resistant sole. As the name suggests, this feature ensures that sharp objects such as nails, knives or shards of glass cannot penetrate the sole and injure the foot.
In addition, according to the ISO standard, an S3 safety shoe must also have a treaded sole. This ensures even safer footing.

So that you do not lose track, here are the most important differences once again:

• S1: Toe cap
• S2: Toe cap + water-resistant
• S3: Toe cap + water-resistant + puncture protection + treaded sole

Other safety classes

In addition to safety classes S1, S2 and S3, there are four more: S4,  S5, S6 and S7. S4 and S5 are the equivalents of safety classes S2 and S3, but as rubber boots. Safety shoes in class S6 have the same properties as those in class S2, but are also waterproof. Finally, class S7 corresponds to class S3 with additional waterproofing. One of our most popular S7 models is the Delvin: a unisex shoe with 200 gr cold insulation, an extremely slip-resistant outsole with trip protection, and a high shaft that protects against ankle rolling.

Safety shoes of all classes: Which one is right?

Unfortunately, the question of the right safety shoe cannot be answered in such general terms. The individual requirements of every employee play too great a role.
Now that you know which criteria each safety class must meet, you can compare them with your staff's working conditions and then make the appropriate decision for each department. If you need help making a decision or would like more detailed advice on the different models, our experts at Shoes For Crews are always available to help.