Every VITOSAFE datasheet carries a class like S1P or S3. For an importer or distributor, these letters decide which models you can sell into which customers — yet they are often the least-understood part of the catalogue. This guide explains the EN ISO 20345 class system in plain language.

EN ISO 20345 is the European standard for safety footwear: footwear that includes a toecap protecting against a 200-joule impact — roughly a 20 kg weight dropped from about one metre.

The Five Class Marks

Each class adds requirements on top of the previous one. The fastest way to read them:

Class Toe cap 200 J What it adds Typical use
SB ✓ Basic certified protection only; closed heel area Light indoor duty, price-driven programmes
S1 ✓ Antistatic properties + energy-absorbing heel Dry indoor factories and workshops
S1P ✓ S1 + penetration-resistant midsole (nail plate) Logistics, manufacturing — the B2B best-seller
S2 ✓ S1 + water-resistant upper Outdoor work without nail risk
S3 ✓ S2 + nail plate + cleated (lugged) outsole Construction, mining, agriculture, wet sites

Note: a 2022 revision of EN ISO 20345 updated marking conventions. Confirm with the factory which revision each datasheet follows before publishing claims. †

Markings You’ll See After The Class

  • A — antistatic footwear (dissipates static charges)
  • E — energy absorption in the heel seat
  • P — penetration-resistant midsole
  • WR / WRU — water-resistant upper or full water penetration resistance
  • HRO — heat-resistant outsole (contact heat ~300 °C)
  • CI — cold insulation of the sole complex
  • CR — cut-resistant upper
  • M — metatarsal protection
  • ESD — electrostatic discharge controlled (stricter than A; for electronics)
  • SRC — slip resistance tested on both ceramic-with-detergent and steel-with-glycerol surfaces

Matching A Class To Your Market

Specify by hazard, not by habit: wet-season sites push toward S3, electronics assembly toward ESD variants, and price-driven programmes often start at SB/S1P. When in doubt, send us the working conditions and destination market — the export team will shortlist suitable models from the catalogue.

Shortlist models by class

Filter the catalogue, add models to your enquiry list, and receive per-model datasheets with your quotation.

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