Slip-resistance ratings for safety shoes: SR, SRA, SRB and SRC explained.

In 2023, slipping, stumbling and falling caused one in five (20.0%) non-fatal accidents at work in the EU. Only one cause was more common: losing control of a machine, tool or piece of handling equipment (21.7%). (Eurostat)

The right outsole reduces that risk, but only if the markings are read correctly. With EN ISO 20345:2022, slip resistance is tested and marked differently than before, and both versions will be available on the market for the next few years. 

This guide explains how slip resistance is tested, what SR means under EN ISO 20345:2022, and what the older SRA, SRB and SRC markings mean. It's written for HSE managers, safety buyers, site supervisors and the distributors who advise them.

Key takeaways: slip-resistance ratings in safety shoes

• A slip-resistance rating shows how well an outsole grips a contaminated floor in a standardised lab test (EN ISO 13287).
• Under EN ISO 20345:2022, every safety shoe must pass a slip test on ceramic tile with a soap solution. This basic requirement carries no marking.
• SR is the optional marking for shoes that also pass on ceramic tile with glycerine, which simulates oily floors.
• SRA, SRB and SRC belong to the older EN ISO 20345:2011 standard. Certificates based on this standard expire by 11 November 2029 at the latest.
• SR and SRC are not the same. The oily-floor test moved from steel to ceramic tile, so the results can't be compared one-to-one.
• Selection always starts with a risk assessment. The floor, the contaminants on it and the tasks performed determine the grip you need.

What is a slip-resistance rating and how is it tested?

In short: A slip-resistance rating shows how well the outsole of a safety shoe grips a slippery floor. It is determined in a laboratory test to EN ISO 13287:2019: the shoe is loaded onto a ceramic tile covered with a lubricant, and the tile is moved underneath it, in two positions. The shoe passes when it reaches the minimum coefficient of friction in both positions.

The test measures the coefficient of friction (CoF): how much grip the outsole keeps while it slides over a contaminated surface. The higher the value, the better the grip. A shoe passes when it reaches the minimum values set by the safety shoes standard, EN ISO 20345.

The two test positions represent the phases of a step in which most slips occur:

• Heel sliding forward: the moment your heel strikes the floor.
• Forepart sliding backwards: the moment you push off.

The lubricant determines which floor condition is simulated. A soap solution (sodium lauryl sulphate, NaLS) represents wet floors with cleaning agents. Glycerine represents oily or greasy floors.

The minimum values for glycerine are lower because any outsole develops less friction on an oily surface. A lower value does not mean a weaker requirement.

How did slip-resistance markings change in EN ISO 20345:2022?

In short: The 2011 standard had three slip markings: SRA, SRB and SRC. The 2022 standard replaced them with a mandatory basic test on soapy tile and one optional marking for oily floors: SR.

What did SRA, SRB and SRC mean?

What does SR mean under the 2022 standard?

Every safety shoe must now pass the slip test on ceramic tile with NaLS. Under the 2011 standard, this test (SRA) was one of three markings, and a shoe only had to pass one of them. An SRB shoe had passed on oily steel, but not necessarily on a wet, soapy floor. Now that the test is mandatory, it no longer has its own marking.

The heel requirement is effectively unchanged. The forepart test is new. The basic test uses the same tile and solution as the old SRA test. The heel value appears higher, 0.31 instead of 0.28, but the 2011 value was expressed after a correction factor, while the 2022 value is the raw measurement. 

The oily-floor test now uses ceramic tile instead of steel. Shoes that pass carry the SR marking. Because the test surface changed, SR results can’t be compared one-to-one with SRB or SRC.

How long will you still see SRA, SRB and SRC?

In short: New shoes can carry the old markings until 11 November 2029 at the latest. That is the latest date a certificate issued under EN ISO 20345:2011 can expire. Many expire sooner.

The reference to EN ISO 20345:2011 was withdrawn from the Official Journal of the EU on 11 November 2024 (Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/941). Until that date, manufacturers could certify safety shoes to the 2011 edition. An EU type-examination certificate is valid for a maximum of five years (Regulation (EU) 2016/425), so the last ones expire by November 2029 at the latest.

Until then, shoes certified to both editions will be on the market side by side, and the old markings will disappear gradually as each certificate expires. For example, a shoe with a certificate issued in March 2022 and the full five-year validity can be placed on the market with SRC until March 2027. Shoes already placed on the market by then may still be sold and used after that date.

What doesn’t a slip-resistance rating tell you?

A pass is obtained under controlled laboratory conditions, on a defined tile with a defined lubricant. Floors in the field differ in roughness, contamination and slope, and grip decreases as the outsole wears. The standard has no marking for ice, snow or rough outdoor terrain. Treat the rating as a proven baseline, not as a guarantee for every floor, and check outsoles for wear at regular intervals.

FAQs

Does Safety Jogger offer SR-certified safety shoes?

Yes. Our range includes shoes marked SR under EN ISO 20345:2022 and SRC under EN ISO 20345:2011. Every model is EU type-examined by a notified body, and each product sheet lists the full slip-resistance rating.

Do I need SR or is basic slip resistance enough?

Look at the contaminants on your floors. If they are mainly water or cleaning agents, the basic requirement covers that test condition. If oil, grease or fats can be present, choose SR. The final decision belongs to your risk assessment: under Directive 89/656/EEC, employers must select PPE on that basis.

How do I check which standard a shoe meets?

Check the marking label, usually inside the tongue. It shows the standard and its year, such as EN ISO 20345:2022, together with the protection markings. The EU declaration of conformity refers to the certificate, which states its expiry date. Your supplier can provide both.

Do shoes with old markings need replacing?

No. A new edition of a standard does not make shoes already in use unsafe. They still offer the protection they were certified for. Replace them when they are worn or damaged, as you would any safety shoe.

Do occupational shoes have the same slip-resistance ratings as safety shoes?

Yes. Occupational footwear without a protective toe cap follows the same slip-resistance testing requirements as safety shoes. Under EN ISO 20347:2022, occupational shoes also use the SR marking to indicate additional slip resistance.

Find the right grip for your environment.

Browse Safety Jogger's SR safety shoes or contact our team for advice on the right outsole for your customers.