Steel-toe boot

Safety shoes are shoes and boots, which are used as protective clothing. Be prescribed this for example by the professional association in the industry, in construction and landscaping, as well as the fire department, the Agency for Technical Relief and rescue service; even cooks they have to wear.

Safety shoes are equipped for protection of the toes in the front part of the shoe ( between the lining and outer shaft ) with a cap of metal or plastic. The upper is leather in general and the shoe sole is made of rubber, polyurethane or thermoplastic elastomers.

Category, protective qualities and requirements

Overall, there are according to the BG rule for safety and health at work 191 or GUV -R 191 more standardized categories:

• SB - Basic requirements

• S1 - Additional Requirements ( A FO E)
• S1P - ​​Additional Requirements ( A FO E P)
• S2 - as S1, additional conditional water resistance (A FO E WRU )
• S3 - as S2 and additionally by surefooted (A FO E WRU P)
• S4 - as S1, but as waterproof boots
• S5 - as S4 additionally by surefooted

Additional Information:

• A - Antistatic footwear
• C - conductive shoes
• E - Energy absorption in the heel area
• P - Penetration resistance
• CI - coldness isolation
• HI - Thermal insulation
• FO - Oil and fuel resistant sole
• HRO - contact heat behavior towards
• SRA - Slip resistance (Test Method: ceramic tile / cleaning agent )
• SRB - Slip resistance (Test Method: steel floor / glycerol)
• SRC - Slip resistance (Test Method: SRA and SRB passed)
• WR - resistance of the entire shoe against water penetration and water absorption
• WRU - resistance of the shoe upper against water penetration and water absorption

The category classifications OB- O5 and PB -P3 play in Germany a rather subordinate role. Such footwear is made ​​as either shoe or on Ankle Boot. In the toe, a steel, aluminum or plastic cap is inserted (up to the carpus reaching ) that protects the toe area from crushing by falling thereon heavy objects (up to 200 joules). Between toe cap and outer shaft, a friction -reducing material (usually felt, lefa or rubber) is inserted, so that the shaft will not unduly loaded in this area. The shoe bottom is equipped often insulating or antistatic and has at S1P, S3 and S5 via a penetration-resistant midsole. There are next to pierce-proof soles made ​​of sheet steel now also penetration resistant inserts from alternative materials such as Kevlar, ParaAramide etc.; usually they are incorporated as a fixed insole. The strongly profiled outer sole is usually made of an acid and oil resistant, good adhesion PU, TPU or rubber compound.

The details of the shoe equipment arising from the requirements in the respective work area. So shoes for slaughter should be largely waterproof for example, insulating for electricians, firefighters need shoes whose materials are largely flameproof and their closure can be concluded as soon as possible (see picture: zipper, which is also adjustable by lacing ). In industry, the most commonly encountered S2 and S3 shoes.

Safety Shoes S1 are protective shoes with the requirement that a toe cap is present. As with safety footwear S2 and S3, the toe cap has a load capacity of 200 joules. These requirements are set out in EN 20345:2004 for Safety Footwear.

In addition, the soles of all shoes from Class S1 must be upwards antistatic. Here, the volume resistivity of the shoe according to DIN EN 61340-4-3 must be greater or equal to 105 ohms and less than 108 ohms. Especially when additional wear overshoes or stall boots ( product protection in clean working areas or in the clean room ), however, the contact resistance is so high that the limit value of 108 ohms is no longer maintained.

The requirements for safety shoes S2 for S1 and S3, the cap, the load capacity is 200 joules. In addition to the protective cap Safety Shoes S2 have a certain resistance to humidity and wetness, which is maintained by cleaning also.

S3 safety shoes are equipped with a protective cap, whose capacity is 200 joules (DIN EN 12568 ). In addition to the protective cap safety shoes are equipped with a puncture-resistant sole. This protective footwear must have a certain resistance to moisture and humidity, which can be obtained by appropriate care.

Shoes with protection class S1P have the same characteristics as shoes Safety Class S3, but they lack the conditional water resistance (60 ' - Water absorption <30 %).

Through sole

A puncture resistant sole is used in safety shoes and boots, as they are used for example in the fire service. It protects feet against injuries penetration by nails and other sharp objects.

The puncture resistant sole was previously only made ​​of sheet steel, which was incorporated or inserted into the shoe. Modern soles are now manufactured from a technical fabric such as Kevlar, Lenzi, Fibre LS or similar. Fabric and steel liner must meet the EN ISO 20345:2004. Fabric soles are therefore more comfortable to wear because they are more flexible, cold-and heat- insulating; they also cover the entire insole from (which is not the case with steel).

Toe Cap

The toe cap, also colloquially steel cap, is used in safety shoes and protective footwear. It protects the toes from injury, for example by falling objects, machinery ( angle grinder ), or the like.

The toe cap may be made ​​of sheet steel, but also made ​​from materials such as plastic, aluminum or titanium.

The resistance of a protective toe cap is measured in joules. For protection against mechanical effects shoes the cap of 100 J must, Keep safety shoes 200J.

Winter Safety Shoes

For outdoor work in the winter you need Winter Safety Shoes S3, they meet most of the minimum standard and CI SRC and, moreover, WR or WRU. For the inner lining to a Thinsulate material is used, for example or other abrasion-resistant synthetic fur, while the upper made of a hydrophobic or water-repellent smooth leather is and the abrasion-resistant insoles for the footbed, for example, made ​​of Cordura or TEXELLE.

For winter safety shoes steel toe cap and midsole are replaced by metal-free plates, because of the better cold-insulating protective effect.

Wearing only a simple safety shoes in winter is a violation of the Occupational Safety and Health, as specifically through the steel inserts in freezing temperatures threaten even frostbite. The shoes are therefore as provided by the employer.

Chainsaw protection

Also cut safety shoes are available for use in the field of forestry, which have a special protection against chainsaw cuts.

Classification

The classes S1P, S3 and S5 are characterized by

• Toe Cap (200 Joules )
• Antistatic
• Resistance to fuel
• Closed heel area,
• Energy absorption in the heel area,
• Conditional water resistance (60 min not more than 30 %) ( not S1P )
• Water absorption ( 30 min > 2g)
• Penetration resistance
• Profiled and thus non-slip outsole

Fire Department Safety Shoes

Fire Department Safety shoes must meet certain requirements according to DIN EN ISO 20345 and the accident prevention regulations (UVV) meet. Should also be used for application service shoes Safety Class S3 or S5 ( rubber boots).

When the fire is as a further feature usually a quick release in the form of a zipper available. In this case, once the shoe is adapted to the support, and later put on and taken off by opening and closing the zipper. With rubber boots This feature eliminates self-evident.

Fashion

Since the 1970s they have become as steel toe boots popular as a fashion item. This trend comes from the skinhead scene and their relatives began, heavy boots (so-called Steels ) also to wear outside working hours, in order to emphasize their alleged or actual origins of the English working class externally. This fashion became popular in other youth cultures, such as in the punk, metal, Industrial and Wave scene ( EBM, Gothic, etc.), and in parts of the BDSM culture.

Another aspect of co-determined the popularity of steel toe boots as casual footwear, is the applicability of the steel caps in physical confrontations - or even just those looking for a " tough " image. In fact, steel toe boots were temporarily banned in English stadiums as weapons. When Pogo these boots, however, are useful because they protect the feet when others step on the shoe.

Other aspects are the movement on the festival grounds, which is often carried weather exposure wet and muddy, which also provide such protection against tent pegs, beer bottles, broken glass and cans and other items and bumpy terrain. The damping it does not come to heel bruise. Unlike mountain boots they are usually lighter, which is useful when dancing.

In addition to the "original" Doc Martens Boots are a number of manufacturers that produce Rangers, so steel toe boots, similar to the Army Combat boots strongly. A wide range of colors and shapes are available, including those with various buckles or chains, from ankle-high street shoe until reaching over the knee boots. The height of shoes is in this case given as the number of holes for the laces on one side; common sizes are 3 or 4 holes ( shoe ), 10, 14 (boots ), 20 ( Boot ), 30 (very high boots).

The imitated safety boots leave however, on closer examination many details of the "real" work boots miss. Traditionally, there are still relatively in North America, many manufacturers (for example, WESCO, Red Wing or White's ) work boots in different, adapted to the respective requirements ( forest workers, postmen, etc.) and equipment design. Remarkable are the superior there still widespread shoe climate and because of its durability and repairability full leather boots ( no liner equipped with synthetic fibers or the like ), the sewn (flexible sewn, welted or doublestiched ) are.

Closely with the pure work boots with or without steel toe work boots of the American cowboy (so-called Roper ) and some motorcycle boots types are related.

Even in "normal" safety footwear fashion has become an important factor. They have therefore often no longer the work shoe character, but are designed fashionably. For example, there are elegant ladies safety shoes with heels for ladies in business outfit must pass through security areas ( production managers, security personnel at airports, etc.).

Standardize

• DIN EN ISO 20345 safety shoes old: DIN EN 345
• DIN EN ISO 20346 safety shoes old: DIN EN 346
• DIN EN ISO 20347 Occupational Shoes old: DIN EN 347
• DIN EN ISO 20344 test method
• DIN EN 12568 test methods
• DIN 4843 performance characteristics ( Obsolete in DIN EN ISO 20344-20347 included)
• DIN VDE 0680 Protective clothing for low voltage applications