occupational shoes

Everything about work shoes - what protection classes exist, what to consider when wearing them, and for which work areas they are suitable.

What do the protection classes O1, O2, and O6 mean for occupational shoes?

O1 - comply with the standard EN ISO 20347 and offer basic protection for everyday work in dry environments. They feature a closed heel area, are antistatic, fuel-resistant, and absorb energy in the heel area – ideal for long standing or walking. The slip-resistant outsole ensures secure footing on industrial floors. O1 shoes do not have a toe cap and are not water-repellent, which is why they are particularly used in indoor areas and dry work environments, such as in logistics, warehousing, or care.

O2 - builds on the properties of the O1 class and adds a water-repellent upper material. This makes professional shoes of class O2 well-suited for activities outdoors or in damp work areas where additional moisture protection is required. They also offer antistatic properties, fuel resistance, energy absorption in the heel area, and slip-resistant soles. O2 shoes thus provide reliable comfort and protection in light moisture – e.g., in building cleaning, in trades, or for occasional outdoor use.

O6 - is part of the revised standard EN ISO 20347:2022 and stands for professional shoes with an extended range of functions. It includes all the features of the O2 class – such as water repellency, antistatic properties, slip resistance, and energy absorption, and additionally meets stricter requirements for comfort, breathability, and ergonomics. Depending on the model, O6 shoes may also have improved cushioning, more durable materials, or puncture protection. This class is aimed at users who want to combine high wearing comfort with comprehensive protection – for example, in construction, in care, or in industrial manufacturing.

Safety shoes

Here you will find all the important information about safety shoes - from protection classes and standards to materials and areas of application.

What does ESD mean in safety shoes?

Electrostatic discharges pose a danger to sensitive electronics. Therefore, people who work with such components must prevent electrostatic discharges. Our ESD-certified shoes ensure this.

What security classes are there?

All safety shoes and boots are tested according to DIN EN ISO 20345 and certified if they meet the requirements. Safety shoes are defined as shoes that have a toe protection cap. This toe protection cap must protect the foot from impact with an energy of up to 200 Joules and resist crushing with up to 15,000 Newtons. Furthermore, the shoes must meet the following basic requirements: regarding the tear resistance of the materials regarding the strength and water-repellent properties of the upper material regarding the thickness and abrasion resistance of the materials regarding the bending behavior and fuel resistance of the outsole In the safety shoe sector, four protection classes are distinguished, which are divided into shoes for the dry area (storage, workshop, industrial halls) and wet area (construction site). Dry area: S1 – meets the above-mentioned basic requirements. In addition, the safety shoes meet the requirements according to the standard regarding antistatic properties and energy absorption in the heel area. The outsole must be resistant to gasoline and oil. S1P – in addition to the requirements that S1 safety shoes meet, it has a puncture protection (e.g. a metal-free, flexible puncture protection like FAP® or a steel midsole). S1PL - the protection class S1PL stands for safety shoes with a textile puncture protection sole, which has been tested with a 4.5 mm test nail. It combines all basic features of the S1 class. S1PS - the class offers even higher protection: here, a textile puncture protection sole is also integrated, which is tested with a 3 mm test nail. This means the shoe reliably protects even against very thin, sharp objects. Wet area: S2 – in addition to the requirements that S1 safety shoes meet, the safety shoes of protection class S2 have a water-repellent upper material, e.g. leather, and a closed heel area. S3 - in addition to the requirements that S2 safety shoes meet, it has a puncture protection (e.g. a metal-free, flexible puncture protection like FAP® or a steel midsole). S3L - belongs to the new generation of modern work shoes according to EN ISO 20345:2022. It is based on the classic S3 protection standard and expands it with a textile puncture protection sole, which is tested with a 4.5 millimeter strong test nail. The "L" stands for "Limited," referring to the standardized puncture protection. S3S - represents the highest form of textile puncture protection within the framework of the EN ISO 20345:2022 standard. In contrast to S3L, the textile midsole is tested with a significantly thinner, only 3 millimeter strong test nail – which ensures a particularly high level of protection against sharp or fine objects. The letter "S" stands for "Superior" and makes it clear: S3S shoes are aimed at users with particularly high safety requirements. S5 - belongs to the highest protection levels in the field of safety boots according to the EN ISO 20345 standard and is specifically designed for use in wet, muddy, or heavily used work environments. Shoes and boots of class S5 are usually made entirely of waterproof polymer material or rubber, providing a closed, completely liquid-tight outer shell – ideal for use in agriculture, construction industry, sewer cleaning, or chemical industry. S7 - offers all the features of the well-known S3 class: a 200-Joule toe protection cap, antistatic equipment, energy absorption in the heel area, fuel resistance of the outsole, and a puncture-resistant midsole. The essential difference: S7 shoes are completely waterproof according to the WR (Water Resistant) marking – in contrast to the only water-repellent equipment (WRU) of the S3 class. This makes S7 models optimal for work areas where the shoe regularly comes into contact with water, mud, or wet floors, for example in civil engineering, gardening and landscaping, building cleaning, or agriculture. S7S - is the more powerful variant within the S7 category and is aimed at users with particularly high requirements for puncture protection in wet or contaminated work areas. It meets all criteria of the new EN ISO 20345:2022 standard and combines this with a particularly intensive testing procedure for puncture safety. Here, finer 3 mm test nails are used.

What is a penetration protection?

The penetration protection in your S3 safety shoe protects your feet from painful injuries that can occur if you step on a nail or another sharp object, for example. To make the sole of your work shoe impenetrable (puncture-resistant), there are two options:

Metal penetration protection, e.g. steel insole

A steel insole is particularly characterized by its durability and resistance. It can be found, for example, in the safety shoes of the ALBATROS line CLEAR TPU (linking the words “ALBATROS line CLEAR TPU”, opening in a new tab, at https://tc1jpg-ww.myshopify.com/products/gravitation-mid), which were specifically developed for the areas of industry, construction, assembly, and manufacturing.

Non-metallic FAP® penetration protection

FAP is our specially developed, non-metallic material made of multiple layers of extremely tear-resistant textile fibers for safety shoes. The FAP insole offers you even more comfort, flexibility, cold insulation, moisture absorption, and shock absorption and can be found in most of our S3 work shoes.

LEXICON

The ISM Lexicon: Technical terms, standards & materials related to safety shoes, workwear & PPE explained simply – ideal for beginners & professionals.

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