S2 safety shoes from uvex – Hydrophobic, robust work shoes
Safety shoes with protection class S2, also called S2 work shoes, are an important part of personal protective equipment and form part of the legal occupational safety. They are designed for your safety and should also protect your feet against moisture during work, promote an ergonomic foot position and offer you maximum wearer comfort thanks to their optimal fit. If you have to cope with wet environments at work, these hydrophobic S2 shoes are worth their weight in gold!
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According to which standards are S2 safety shoes certified?
S2 safety shoes for men and women should protect your feet against falling objects, impacts, extreme temperatures and other hazards in the workplace. That’s why S2 safety shoes must comply with standard DIN EN ISO 20345, the standard for safety shoes. Standard EN ISO 20345:2022 defines the basic and additional requirements of safety shoes. Standard EN ISO 20345:2022 stipulates
- the minimum length of the toe cap and how resistant it must be to impacts and pressure.
- the height of the shoe upper.
- the design of the heel area and its required energy absorption capacity.
- how permeable the outer shoe material must be to water vapour (for releasing foot moisture from the shoe).
- the dimensions of the outsole and its required abrasion resistance.
In the amendment to the standard dated June 2022, minimum requirements and other protective features were updated. In addition, the amended standard includes the new protection classes S6 and S7/S7L/S7S, categorises orthopaedically adjusted safety shoes and adds new additional features. For detailed information on this, see our blog article Standard DIN EN ISO 20345: Amendments 2022.
In addition to minimum requirements that must be met by all safety shoes, the additional requirements for classes S1 to S7/S7L/S7S build on the basic type SB.
Why should I choose S2 safety shoes instead of S1 or S3 shoes?
Starting with the basic type with all basic requirements, e.g. with regard to the protective toe cap and the slip resistance of the sole, the individual protection classes are equipped with different, additional protection functions: The S2 protection class of safety shoes builds on the basic additional requirements of S1 shoes, supplementing these with requirements regarding the hydrophobic effect of the outer shoe materials: S2 shoes are hydrophobic for a minimum of 60 minutes and protect your feet against moisture from outside.
In addition, ESD-tested safety shoes have the advantage of protecting electronic components against damage caused by electrical discharge from the employees using them. Class S1 P/PL/PS is characterised not only by the minimum requirements, but by its penetration resistance. This means that your foot will not be injured if you step on a pointed object.
Class S3/S3L/S3S meets most additional requirements. S3 safety shoes are hydrophobic (no water penetration & water absorption), withstand pointed objects (penetration resistant) and have a sole with a defined profile depth, which provides you with greater grip on uneven surfaces or even in snow.
| Safety classes | S1 | S1P | S2 | S3 |
ESD-tested, i.e. anti-static effect | X | X | X | X |
Absorbs energy in the heel area | X | X | X | X |
Sole resistant to petrol and oil | X | X | X | X |
Resistant to water penetration and water absorption for a minimum of 80 minutes (waterproof) | X | X | ||
Safe against penetration (pointed objects) | X | X | ||
Outsole with tread | X |
For more information on the protection classes, see the corresponding category pages of our website. If you would like to find out more about the components and technologies used in ergonomic safety shoes from uvex, take a look at the blog article What’s behind a safety shoe?.
Which different models of S2 safety shoes are available?
- S2 safety shoes for women and men include variants like shoes for business and operations as well as ankle boots.
- S2 safety shoes are particularly well suited to use in damp areas, indoors and outdoors, and areas where dirt, moisture or small foreign objects could penetrate the shoe.
- Safety sandals or shoes with perforations are only available in safety classes S1 and S1 P/PL/PS, as these are not hydrophobic. S2 safety shoes can be produced either with plastic caps or with steel caps. S2 shoes with metal-free protective cap are slightly lighter than the shoes with steel caps.
The hydrophobic outer shoe material of the work shoes for men and women can be made of leather or micro-velour or microfibre material. High-tech micro-velour is breathable and suitable for people allergic to chrome. Full grain smooth leather is a stronger material than micro-velour and is hydrophobic, easy to clean and heat-resistant.
For what hazards should S2 safety shoes be worn?
S2 safety shoes are ideal wherever there is a risk of moisture penetrating the shoe or if there is a risk of dirt or small falling objects penetrating the shoe.
If you are wondering which uvex safety shoes are best suited to your workplace, please don’t hesitate to contact our expert advisers via the contact form. You can find important information on assessing hazards in the workplace in the risk assessment, which the safety officer at your company should have at their disposal.
Can I wear orthopaedic inserts in my S2 safety shoes?
If you wear orthopaedic inserts or other orthopaedic shoe adjustments in your safety shoes, you can choose from uvex comfortable customised inserts or orthopaedic shoe adjustment from uvex medicare. PPE regulations prescribe that only certified, orthopaedic inserts may be used in class S2 safety shoes. Therefore, other inserts are not permitted! If you have any other questions about uvex solutions for S2 shoes, please don’t hesitate to contact our orthopaedics experts. Send us an email medicare@uvex.de or use our contact form.
Buy S2 safety shoes from uvex online – Hydrophobic companion from uvex
Is your workplace predominantly damp and are falling objects or impact hazards likely? Then buy yourself a pair of uvex S2 safety shoes in your size, which best suit your work requirements. Work easily, safely and comfortably with S2 safety shoes – both indoors and outdoors. If you would like advice about the individual S2 shoe models, please don’t hesitate to contact our uvex expert advisers. Simply call us +49 (0)800 66 44 893, send us an email serviceteam@uvex.de or write to us using our contact form. If you would like to see an overview of our full product range of safety shoes, take a look at the safety shoes category page of our website.
