S1P laced shoe or boot
For warehouses and interior fit-out, where nails are a risk but water is not. The upper has no water test to pass, so more breathable materials are possible. Your crew will notice that when the loading bay passes 40°C.
EN ISO 20345, decoded
Safety footwear, and what S1, S3 and S5 actually specify
Most purchase orders say "S3" and stop there. That one code specifies a water resistant upper, a penetration resistant midsole and a cleated outsole, whether or not your site needs all three.
This page decodes EN ISO 20345 so you can match safety shoes to the floor your crew actually stands on. Our minimum order is 25 pieces, and we supply all seven emirates from Ajman.
200 J
Toe cap impact test
15 kN
Toe cap compression test
1,100 N
Midsole penetration test
300°C
HRO outsole test, 60 seconds
These are test requirements from the standard, not product claims. Check the marking on the boot you are buying.
The S-codes
S3 is three decisions wearing one label
Every code under EN ISO 20345 starts from the same toe cap, tested at 200 joules of impact and 15 kilonewtons of compression. The letters add features in layers, so a higher code means a longer list. Whether it means a better boot depends on your floor.
What each code adds
- SB: the toe cap and basic requirements, with nothing further guaranteed.
- S1: adds a closed heel area, antistatic properties and a heel that absorbs at least 20 joules.
- S1P: S1 plus penetration resistance. A plain P means a metal plate, while S1PL and S1PS are non-metal.
- S2: S1 plus an upper that resists water penetration and absorption.
- S3: S2 plus penetration resistance and a cleated outsole.
- S5: an all rubber or all polymer boot with penetration resistance and a cleated outsole. S4 is the same boot without the penetration layer.
- S7: S3 where the complete boot has also passed a water resistance test. It arrived with the 2022 edition.
The three things S3 commits you to
- A water resistant upper. This handles splashes and wet ground. The test looks at the upper, so standing water can still find a way in through the seams or tongue.
- A penetration midsole. It is tested at 1,100 newtons and earns its place around nails, tie wire and broken glass. On a clean warehouse floor, you are paying for a hazard you do not have.
- A cleated outsole. Cleats bite into sand, mud and loose aggregate. On smooth tile they reduce contact area and collect whatever is on the floor.
Read the year on the marking. The 2022 edition splits non-metal midsoles by test nail: S3L uses a 4.5 mm nail and S3S uses a 3.0 mm nail. If your hazard is thin wire, small nails or glass, S3S was tested closer to it. A plain S3 under the 2022 edition means a metal plate.
Choosing a code
Three specifications that cover most UAE sites
S3 cleated, 1,100 N midsole
For sand, aggregate, rebar offcuts and wet concrete splash, all three S3 features are doing real work. If you are kitting out a full crew, specify boots alongside your construction uniforms so sizes are collected once.
S5 all rubber or polymer
For drainage work, washdown areas and wet concrete pours. Moulded construction keeps water out because the lower boot has no stitched seams to leak. It also keeps sweat in, so it is poor for an 8 hour dry shift.
Placeholder. Site owner: list the S-codes, toe cap materials, size range and brands actually held in stock here, or delete this block. Nothing unverifiable should be published.
Slip ratings
Slip marks, including the ones being phased out
Slip marking is where safety shoes get most confusing, because two systems are on the market together. The 2022 edition dropped SRA, SRB and SRC, but boots certified to the 2011 edition keep those marks until their certificates expire.
| Marking | Edition | Test surface | Test contaminant | How to read it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SRA | 2011 | Ceramic tile | Detergent solution | Minimum for a commercial kitchen |
| SRB | 2011 | Steel plate | Glycerol | Older choice for oily workshop floors |
| SRC | 2011 | Tile and steel | Both of the above | Passed both tests |
| No slip mark | 2022 | Ceramic tile | Detergent solution | Now the baseline requirement |
| SR | 2022 | Ceramic tile | Glycerol | Optional, tougher result for slippery floors |
Scroll the table sideways on a phone.
A kitchen needs the tile and detergent result at minimum, so SRA on older stock or any 2022 boot. For an oily workshop floor, older stock should show SRB or SRC, and 2022 stock should show SR. The SR test does not use a steel plate, so if your floor is chequer plate, ask the manufacturer what grip testing was done on steel.
Construction
Steel cap or composite, and when HRO matters
A steel toe cap and a composite cap are both held to the same 200 joule test, so the certificate does not make either one the stronger choice. The real differences are heat, weight and fit.
Steel cap
- The thinner wall leaves more room inside the toe box at the same size, which helps wider feet.
- Metal conducts. On asphalt or in direct UAE sun, heat reaches the toes faster.
- It will trigger metal detectors at controlled gates.
Composite cap
- It is lighter than steel and conducts far less heat or cold.
- The thicker wall takes up toe room, so try the same size before assuming it fits.
- The cap itself is non-conductive, but that does not make the whole boot electrically insulating.
Look for HRO if your crew works on fresh asphalt or near hot works. The outsole is tested against a 300°C surface for 60 seconds, so it covers brief contact and is not a rating for standing still on hot ground. HI is a separate mark that tests heat insulation at 150°C for 30 minutes.
Branding
Put the logo on the uniform, not through the boot
Safety boots do not take a logo the way a coverall does. A certificate covers the boot as tested, so a needle through the upper or heat on a finished boot changes what was certified. Ask the manufacturer before altering anything, including swapping the insole, which can affect antistatic and penetration performance.
Your logo belongs on the clothing above the boot: coveralls, polos and garments from our safety wear range, embroidered or printed in house at our Ajman factory. For tracking pairs, use a numbered lace tag and an issue register. Keep any marks clear of the EN ISO 20345 label inside the tongue.
Placeholder. Site owner: if a manufacturer offers factory-applied logos, state the real minimum quantity here. Otherwise delete this block. Nothing unverifiable should be published.
When this is the wrong choice
Standard safety footwear is the wrong buy in these five situations, and a higher S-code will not fix any of them.
- Live electrical work. Antistatic means a resistance of roughly 100 kilohms to 1,000 megohms, which is the opposite of insulation. You need electrically insulating footwear to EN 50321.
- Electronics assembly. Antistatic is not ESD control. Ask for footwear specified to EN 61340.
- Commercial kitchens. S3 cleats hold food waste and do little on tile. A smoother S2 outsole is usually the better fit.
- Heavy welding and molten spatter. Open laces catch spatter, and footwear alone will not protect you. Choose covered or quick-release fastening with HRO, then start with our guide to welding suits and hot works.
- Low risk areas. If nothing can fall on the foot, a 200 joule toe cap may be more than you need. Your risk assessment may allow EN ISO 20346 at 100 joules, or EN ISO 20347 with no toe cap.
How to order
Four steps, starting with the hazard
Send us the hazard, not just the code
Tell us the floor surface, whether it is wet or oily, what could puncture the sole and whether there is asphalt or hot work. Those 4 facts narrow the code quickly.
Ask for the certificate
Ask any supplier, including us, for the EU type examination certificate and the declaration of conformity for that exact model. Check the 4 digit notified body number and the expiry date, which Regulation (EU) 2016/425 limits to 5 years. The code on the paper should match the code on the tongue.
Test a pair on your worst floor
Where a sample is available, put these safety shoes on one worker for a full shift. Check heat, toe room and grip on the surface that worries you most, because the marking cannot tell you how a boot feels at hour 8.
Confirm sizes and delivery
Send a size list by EU size against a minimum of 25 pieces, counted in pairs. We deliver across all 7 emirates, and you can also view samples of our uniform work at the Ajman showroom.
Questions
What buyers ask before ordering
What does S3 mean on safety shoes?
S3 means the footwear meets the S1 requirements and also has a water resistant upper, penetration resistance tested at 1,100 newtons and a cleated outsole. S1 covers a closed heel area, antistatic properties and heel energy absorption of at least 20 joules.
Is a steel toe stronger than composite?
Both cap types are held to the same 200 joule impact and 15 kilonewton compression tests under EN ISO 20345. Choose on heat, weight and fit. Steel leaves more toe room, while composite is lighter and conducts far less heat.
Do S3 safety boots keep water out?
They resist splashes and wet ground, but S3 does not test the complete boot for water resistance. If your crew stands in water, look at S5, or at S7, which adds a whole boot water resistance test under the 2022 edition.
Why do some boots still show SRC if it was removed?
Boots certified to the 2011 edition keep SRA, SRB or SRC until their certificates expire. Under the 2022 edition, the tile and detergent test is the baseline with no mark, and SR means the boot also passed on tile with glycerol.
Are your safety boots certified?
Certification belongs to each safety footwear model, not to a supplier. Before you order, ask us for the certificate and declaration of conformity for the exact model quoted. If either document cannot be produced, treat the marking as unverified.
Ready to specify
Tell us the floor, and we will work out the code with you
Send your site conditions and quantity for safety footwear, from a minimum of 25 pieces. Call +971 50 6329429, email sales@ucuniform.com or visit us at Hafiz Ibrahim St, Al Nuaimia 1, Ajman.