EN ISO 20345:2022 — What Changed and What It Means For You
The EN ISO 20345:2022+A1:2024 standard came into force on 8 April 2026, replacing the previous version. If you buy safety footwear for your team — or wear it yourself — here is what you need to know.
The biggest change: slip resistance is now mandatory
Under the old standard, SRC (maximum slip resistance) was an optional add-on. Under the new standard it is a baseline requirement — every certified boot must pass the SRC test as a minimum. The old SRA and SRB designations no longer appear on new-standard footwear. If you are updating your workplace PPE policy, remove references to SRA/SRB and specify SRC or the overall performance class (S1, S3 etc.) instead.
Protection classes at a glance
Every EN ISO 20345-certified boot carries one primary class. Higher numbers mean more protection requirements stacked on top.
Safety Basic
Minimum protection: steel or composite toe-cap, 200 joule impact resistance.
SB + antistatic + closed heel
Adds antistatic properties and energy-absorbing heel seat. For most indoor industrial use.
S1 + penetration-resistant midsole
Full puncture protection from nails and sharp objects underfoot. Most common specification.
S1 + water-resistant upper
Water-resistant upper — not full waterproof, but handles light wet conditions.
S2 + penetration-resistant midsole
The most common all-round boot specification: antistatic, water-resistant, fully puncture-proof. Default choice for construction, utilities, and outdoor work.
S3 + lace ankle boot
S3 protection in a lace-up ankle boot silhouette.
S3 + strap fastening
S3 protection with a BOA or strap closure instead of laces.
Polymer upper, antistatic
Fully moulded (rubber or PU) upper — fully waterproof by construction. Ideal for wet environments, food production, agriculture.
S4 + penetration-resistant midsole
Full waterproof upper with midsole puncture resistance. The wellington boot specification.
S3 + metatarsal guard
Added metatarsal protection. Required on some construction and quarry sites. Uncommon but increasingly specified.
Additional performance ratings
These appear alongside the primary class in the product name — e.g. "S3 ESD HRO SRC". Each adds a specific protection requirement.
Tests on both ceramic tile (SRA) and steel (SRB). Required as a baseline from April 2026 under the updated standard.
Limits charge build-up. Required for electronics manufacturing, data centres, cleanrooms.
Outsole withstands contact with surfaces up to 300°C for 60 seconds. Metalworking, foundry, welding.
Insulates the foot from heat conducted through the sole. Used alongside HRO in hot environments.
Insulates against cold floors (-17°C). Cold stores, outdoor winter work.
Upper resists water penetration for 60 minutes under repeated flexing. More rigorous than the S2/S3 standard water resistance.
Provides lateral ankle support — relevant for uneven terrain and manual handling roles.
Outsole geometry designed to grip ladder rungs. Specified for work at height.
Upper resists cutting by chainsaws or similar. Forestry, groundswork.
Which rating do you need?
Warehouse, logistics, manufacturing
Puncture protection and maximum slip resistance are your core requirements. S1P is the most widely specified class in UK warehousing.
Construction and groundworks
Water-resistant upper and puncture midsole are required. S3 is the de-facto site standard across the UK construction industry.
Agriculture and outdoor work
Full waterproof construction (S5) for very wet conditions; S3 boots with WR rating for drier outdoor work.
Electronics, cleanrooms, data centres
ESD rating is essential. Many cleanroom specifications also require non-marking soles.
Metal, foundry, welding
Heat-resistant outsole and heat-insulating midsole protect against hot surfaces and metal splash.
Cold stores, food production
Cold insulation (CI) protects against prolonged contact with cold floors. S5 for wet cold-store environments.
Office-based, site managers, facilities
Full protection in a lighter, smarter silhouette. Composite toe-caps eliminate airport security inconvenience.
Common questions
Is footwear certified to the old standard still legal to wear?
Yes — existing certified PPE that was manufactured and placed on the market before 8 April 2026 remains valid and legal. You do not need to replace footwear immediately. However, any new footwear purchased now should comply with the updated standard.
How do I tell which standard a product is certified to?
The CE / UKCA marking on the boot and the product documentation will state the standard it was tested to. From 2026, new-standard footwear will reference EN ISO 20345:2022. If you are unsure, contact us and we can confirm.
Does steel toe-cap or composite toe-cap matter for the standard?
Both achieve the same 200J impact and 15kN compression test requirement. The material is a practical choice: composite is lighter, non-metallic (no airport/security issues), and better at insulating against heat and cold. Steel toe-caps are generally cheaper and have a longer track record in heavy industry.
My PPE policy specifies SRC — does that still apply under the new standard?
Yes, and in fact the new standard makes your policy easier to enforce — SRC is now a baseline requirement on all certified footwear, so you no longer need to separately check for the SRC marking.
All our footwear is EN ISO 20345 certified
Every product on Safety-Shoes.co.uk carries full certification. Use the filters on our product pages to narrow by protection class.
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