Non-Slip Safety Shoes: Buyer’s Guide and Selection Help

Non-slip safety shoes to EN ISO 20345 and occupational shoes to EN ISO 20347 combine a slip-resistant sole (SR or SRC) with a protection class matched to the floor and the job. This buyer’s guide helps you choose – and lets you filter more than 250 slip-resistant safety and occupational shoes and boots by sole, protection class and application.

Slips, trips and falls account for around one in five workplace accidents in Germany (source: DGUV, German Social Accident Insurance). Alongside slip-resistant floors, mats and coatings, footwear is the most important item of personal protection – because it works with every step. All models listed here are tested for slip resistance (SR or SRC): the safety shoes to EN ISO 20345, and the occupational shoes in classes OB and O1–O3 (without toe cap) to EN ISO 20347. Which sole and which additional markings you need, however, depends heavily on the floor surface and the job. This guide to non-slip safety shoes helps you choose.

Four steps to the right anti-slip safety footwear

• 1. Identify the floor surface and contamination: water, grease/oil, soapy water, ice, gravel, ladder rungs? This determines the sole technology (see table below).
• 2. Set the protection class: S1/S1P for dry indoor areas, S2 for wet areas without a penetration risk, S3 for wet conditions plus nails or broken glass, S7 where the whole shoe must be waterproof.
• 3. Check additional requirements: cold (CI), heat (HRO, HI), electronics (ESD), ladders (LG), metatarsal (M), cuts (CR), fuels/oils (FO).
• 4. Fit and wear trial: size, width and style (shoe, boot or slip-on boot) – we’re happy to provide sample pairs for a wear trial.

Selection matrix: which non-slip work shoes or boots for which job?

Working environment	Main hazard	Recommended sole	Key markings	Product page
Commercial kitchens, catering, food production	Water, grease, cleaning agents	Scale-pattern sole; liquid-resistant PU sole	S2, SRC/SR, HRO, CI where needed	Scale-pattern sole shoes
Cold stores, freezer warehouses	Cold, condensation, ice	Cold-flexible PU/HRO sole	CI, warm lining, S3/S7S	Winter safety boots
Winter maintenance, outdoor logistics	Snow, slush, ice	Rugged outdoor sole, PU/HRO rubber	CI, WR/S7S, LG	Winter safety boots
Scaffolding, roofing, fixed ladders	Slipping off rungs	Heavy-duty PU/rubber HRO sole with ladder grip zone	LG, SC, S3S	Ladder safety shoes
Construction sites, rough terrain, forestry	Gravel, mud, uneven ground	All-terrain sole; rugged outdoor sole	S3/S3L, HRO, CI	All-terrain boots
Welding, foundries, asphalt work	Hot surfaces, sparks	HRO rubber sole	HRO, HI, closed tongue	Welder’s shoes
Chemicals, pharmaceuticals, sewage treatment	Liquids, chemicals	Liquid-resistant PU sole	FO, SR, S3/S7S	–
Electronics, data centres	Static electricity, smooth floors	PU/TPU or adaptive sole	ESD	–
Warehousing, logistics, production	Dust, film offcuts, smooth warehouse floors	PU sole with TPU outsole; adaptive sole	S1P/S3, SR	–

Sole technologies compared

Sole	Construction / how it works	Strengths in use	Models
Scale-pattern sole (siping)	Finely cut, angled sipes displace the film of liquid; non-marking, self-cleaning	Wet, greasy, soapy floors; kitchens, food, welding	10
Liquid-resistant PU/HRO rubber sole	Special PU compound that resists wear from water-based media and chemicals, combined with HRO rubber	Food, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, outdoor areas	9
Liquid-resistant PU/TPU sole	As above, with a lightweight TPU outsole	Wet areas, food, cleaning	6
All-terrain tread sole	4–8 mm deep, bevelled lugs, raised heel, self-cleaning	Construction sites, gravel, mud, rough terrain, ladders	4
Heavy-duty PU/rubber HRO sole	Dual-layer, heat-resistant, highly abrasion-resistant; usually with ladder grip zone	Construction, scaffolding, steel construction, heavy industry	9
Lightweight outdoor sole (4×4)	Low density yet resistant to flexing, abrasion and tearing; chunky tread	Outdoors, uneven ground, roofs	11
Adaptive dual-layer PU/HRO rubber sole	Flexible zones adapt to the ground, HRO rubber outsole	Trades, logistics, indoors and outdoors	22
Adaptive TPU sole (trainer style)	Light and flexible, good grip on smooth warehouse floors	Indoor areas, order picking, service	6
Ultra-flexible PU/TPU sole	Very flexible, reduces fatigue when walking a lot	Installation, building services, lots of walking	11
PU sole with TPU outsole	Cushioning PU midsole, abrasion-resistant TPU outsole	All-rounder: industry, warehousing, workshops	96
Treaded PU sole	Anti-fatigue PU sole with tread pattern	Warehousing, logistics, production	34
PU sole (single density)	Lightweight, slip-resistant, for dry to slightly damp floors	Indoor areas, light work	36
Electrically insulating sole (EH)	Insulating version for work on electrical installations	Electrical engineering	2

EN ISO 20345 and EN ISO 20347 markings explained

Code	Meaning
SB / S1 / S1P / S1PS / S1PL	Basic requirements; S1: closed heel area, antistatic, energy absorption; P/PS/PL: penetration-resistant (PS/PL: non-metallic insert, new standard)
S2	As S1, plus water-repellent upper
S3 / S3S / S3L	As S2, plus penetration-resistant and with cleated outsole
S6 / S7 / S7S	As S2 or S3, plus fully waterproof footwear
OB / O1–O3	Occupational shoes without toe cap to EN ISO 20347
SR / SRC / SRA	Slip resistance tested (SR: 2022 standard, additional test on ceramic tile with glycerine; SRC/SRA: 2011 standard)
HRO / HI / CI	Heat-resistant outsole (300 °C contact) / heat insulation / cold insulation
ESD / A	Electrostatic dissipative / antistatic
LG	Ladder grip zone – secure footing on ladder rungs
FO	Fuel- and oil-resistant outsole
WR / WPA	Waterproof footwear / water-repellent upper
M / AN / CR / SC	Metatarsal protection / ankle protection / cut resistance / scuff cap
EH	Electrically insulating footwear

All slip-resistant models at a glance (256 models)

Filter by sole, protection class and additional requirements, or search directly by item number. All models are tested for slip resistance (SR/SRC/SRA). We confirm availability, colours and widths with your quote.

FAQs: non-slip safety shoes

Are all safety shoes slip-resistant?

Every safety shoe to EN ISO 20345:2022 must meet the basic slip resistance requirement (ceramic tile with detergent); the SR marking confirms an additional test on ceramic tile with glycerine. How well a shoe grips in your specific environment, however, depends mainly on the tread and sole compound – which is why we organise our range by sole technology.

What is the difference between SRC and SR?

SRC comes from EN ISO 20345:2011 and means the sole was tested on ceramic tile with a detergent solution and on steel with glycerine. Since EN ISO 20345:2022, basic slip resistance on ceramic tile with detergent is mandatory for every safety shoe; the SR marking stands for an additional test on ceramic tile with glycerine. Both markings are still found side by side on the market.

Which shoe grips best on wet, greasy floors – for example non-slip shoes for kitchen work?

Soles with fine sipes or a scale pattern and soft PU/rubber compounds grip best on wet, greasy floors, because they displace the film of liquid. Chunky outdoor soles are less suitable there.

How often should anti-slip safety shoes be replaced?

Replace anti-slip safety shoes at the latest when the tread is worn down, the sole shows cracks or the shoe is damaged. In areas with grease and chemicals, soles wear faster; liquid-resistant soles extend service life here.

Can we get samples for a wear trial?

Yes, we provide sample pairs and size runs for businesses and advise on selection based on your risk assessment.

Our product pages: Non-slip safety shoes with scale-pattern sole · All-terrain safety boots · Ladder safety shoes · Winter safety boots · Slip resistance R9 to R13