S3 safety shoes from uvex – Your robust companion in any environment
S3 safety shoes from uvex are part of occupational safety and represent an effective means of protection against moisture and pointed objects. With these robust, anti-static, hydrophobic and penetration-resistant work shoes, you can walk around safely even in hazardous work environments. The well-defined tread ensures you have a secure grip on a wide variety of surfaces.
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What standards must S3 safety shoes meet?
S3 safety shoes provide extensive injury-protection for your feet. To demonstrate the protective effect of S3 shoes, our uvex S3 safety shoes must comply with international standard DIN EN ISO 20345:2022. The standard defines
- the height of the upper part of the shoe.
- the minimum length of the protective toe caps and how resistant they must be to impacts and pressure.
- the minimum amount of water vapour that the outer shoe material must allow through (so that foot moisture can escape from the shoe and breathability can be guaranteed).
- the design of the heel area of the S3 safety shoes (or S1 & S2) and the required energy absorption capacity.
- the dimensions and abrasion resistance of the outsole.
To guarantee the resistance of the protective toe caps of S3 shoes, we perform the drop test and pressure test procedures in accordance with standard DIN EN ISO 20345:2022: During the drop test, a test object falls on the cap with an energy of 200 Joules, which corresponds to a weight of 20 kilogrammes from a drop height of one metre. This corresponds to the weight of a hollow block (approx. 20 kilogrammes) falling on the S3 work safety shoes.
In the pressure test, the cap of the safety shoe must withstand 15 kilonewtons of pressure. This corresponds to a weight of around 1,500 kilogrammes. Despite these loads, the S3 safety shoes must maintain a prescribed minimum height under the cap, depending on the shoe size. You can read more about this in our blog article Safety shoe testing. The additional requirements of the protective toe cap as well as of the other protective features of safety shoes since the standard was amended in June 2022 can be found in our blog article Standard DIN EN ISO 20345: Amendments 2022.
What is the difference between S3 safety shoes and S2 or S1 shoes?
All safety shoes have a protective toe cap, slip resistance and meet all basic requirements (basic type SB). Depending on the additional requirements that build on these, the safety shoes are classified in classes S1 to S7S.
uvex S3 safety shoes meet the following additional requirements: They are anti-static and absorb energy at the heel. In addition, S3 safety shoes for men and women are hydrophobic for a minimum of 60 minutes. So your feet stay dry. Another big advantage of S3 work safety shoes for men and women is their penetration resistance: Pointed objects, such as nails and shards etc. cannot penetrate the additional insert in the sole and injure your feet. Finally, S3 shoes have an impressive defined tread, which gives you grip on any surface.
By comparison, shoes from protection classes S1 and S2 have fewer additional features: S1 P/PL/PS shoes offer penetration resistance against pointed objects, but are not hydrophobic. The opposite is true of S2 shoes. S1 shoes do not have to meet the requirements for penetration protection or protection against water penetration.
Boots in safety classes S4 and S5 are safety shoes made from plastic or rubber, often also called polymer boots. They are waterproof, but are only penetration-resistant in S5.
| Safety classes | Class S1 | Class S1P | Class S2 | Class S3 |
Anti-static effect | X | X | X | X |
Absorbs energy in the heel area | X | X | X | X |
Resistant to petrol and oil (sole) | X | X | X | X |
Waterproof for at least 80 minutes (prevents water penetration & water absorption) | X | X | ||
Penetration resistant (protects against pointed objects) | X | X | ||
Profiled outsole | X |
If you would like to find out more about protection classes S1 and S2, visit the respective category pages on our website. The blog article What’s behind a safety shoe? provides information about the individual components of uvex safety shoes. Did you already know that uvex safety shoes are ergonomically designed? Find out more on our website Shoe design of ergonomic safety shoes.
In which occupations are S3 safety shoes used?
S3 safety shoes, S3 safety boots or other S3 shoes are used on construction sites in building construction and civil engineering. In particular, this is due to the high risk of injury when working with heavy objects on construction sites. In addition, S3 safety shoes are valuable companions in landscaping or gardening, agriculture, trade, industry, workshops and plumbing. As shown by the uvex forklift test, S3 safety shoes can withstand an enormous weight load and are therefore also useful in warehouses. The sole tread also means uvex S3 work safety shoes are predestined for use as outdoor work shoes in wind, weather, snow and on slippery ground.
What distinguishes safety shoes that are suitable for ESD?
ESD stands for “electrostatic discharge” and is associated with the anti-static effect of the safety shoes. This is particularly relevant if you are working with materials, equipment or processes that react sensitively to electrostatic charge. Electronic devices in particular can be damaged or even destroyed by electrostatic discharge. Most uvex safety shoes from class S1 to S7/S7L/S7S meet the ESD requirements (EN 61340). This means that the soles of the uvex safety shoes discharge or reduce electrostatic charge.
Should I choose S3 safety shoes with plastic caps or with steel caps?
uvex produces S3 safety shoes with protective toe caps made from metal-free uvex xenova® material or steel.
The metal-free protective toe caps are significantly lighter than steel caps. Steel caps, unlike metal-free variants, also transmit cold, which means the feet can cool down faster. Another advantage of the metal-free uvex xenova® protective toe caps is the high wearer comfort without pressure points due to the wider fit.
What different models of S3/S3L/S3S safety shoes are available?
uvex has developed a wide range of S3 safety shoes in the following categories, for various industries and areas of application:
Safety shoes
in a sporty, two-tone design, ideal for almost all areas of application in which a high shoe is not required
Business safety shoes
as shoes or boots in a sleek, elegant business look for work areas with office/workshop/construction site combination
Work boots
in the form of laced boots or boots with zips for winter or for when shoes with a high closure are required
What is the design of S3/S3L/S3S safety shoes?
To guarantee the individual safety features, S3/S3L/S3S safety shoes for men or women not only include the standard features, like breathable outer shoe material and lining, but also the following features:
- Protective toe cap made of plastic or steel, to protect the toes.
- Insert with penetration resistance in the midsole, which prevents the penetration of pointed objects.Depending on the purpose, different outsole materials
To find out more about the other components of ergonomic safety shoes from uvex, read the article What’s behind a safety shoe?.
Are orthopaedic inserts compatible with the S3/S3L/S3S safety shoes?
Do you wear orthopaedic inserts or orthopaedic outsole adjustments in your private shoes, and do you struggle to get through the day without them? Then uvex can supply you with the uvex comfortable customised insert for S3 safety shoes or you can order S3 shoes with orthopaedic shoe adjustment from uvex medicare directly. According to PPE regulations, only certified inserts are permitted, not private inserts! Do you have any other questions? Contact our orthopaedic experts by email medicare@uvex.de or via our contact form.
Who covers the costs for S3/S3L/S3S safety shoes?
If a risk assessment shows that wearing S3/S3L/S3S safety shoes is required for your work area, the employer must accept the costs of individually adjusted S3 safety shoes. This also applies to the other, necessary components of the personal protective equipment (PPE).
Safe on any surface with S3 safety shoes from uvex
Is there a high risk of injury in your work environment due to falling objects, heavy equipment or impacts? Do you need hydrophobic safety shoes, with which you can walk on any surface, even in wet conditions or through puddles? Do you need work boots for outdoor work in winter? Then buy safety shoes with S3/S3L/S3S certification from uvex in your size or ask your company's safety officer to make the purchase for you. Please don’t hesitate to contact our uvex expert advisers or take a look at our website, if you would like more information or advice about the individual S3 shoe models. You can reach the uvex expert advisers by telephone +49 (0)800 66 44 893, by email serviceteam@uvex.de or via the contact form. If you would also like to find out more about the other classes of safety shoes, take a look at the safety shoes category page on our website.
