EN ISO 20345 Explained – What UAE Workers & Employers Need to Know

If you've ever bought safety shoes in the UAE, you've seen "EN ISO 20345" on the label. But what does it actually mean? What protection does it guarantee? And how do you verify a shoe is genuinely certified versus just claiming to be? This guide explains the standard completely — in plain language — for UAE workers and employers.

What Is EN ISO 20345?

EN ISO 20345:2011 is the international standard for safety footwear. It is developed jointly by the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) and the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and defines the minimum performance requirements a safety shoe must meet to be sold as protective footwear.

The standard covers:

• Toe cap impact resistance — minimum 200 joules
• Toe cap compression resistance — minimum 15 kilonewtons
• Outsole slip resistance on defined surfaces
• Upper materials and construction requirements
• Additional optional properties (anti-static, puncture resistance, water resistance, etc.)

The S1/S2/S3 Categories Explained

Within EN ISO 20345, shoes are categorised by the additional protective properties they include beyond the basic standard (SB — Safety Basic):

How to Read Certification Markings on a Shoe

A genuinely certified safety shoe will have specific markings stamped or printed on the inner lining or outsole — not just on the packaging:

• CE marking — required for European market certification; widely accepted in UAE
• EN ISO 20345:2011 — the specific standard version
• S1P / S2 / S3 — the protection category
• Notified body number — a 4-digit number identifying the independent testing laboratory that certified the shoe
• Size marking — EU size stamped on the inner lining

How to Spot Fake or Non-Certified Safety Shoes in UAE

The UAE market — particularly online marketplaces and budget physical stores — has a significant volume of non-certified shoes marketed as "safety shoes." Here's how to identify them:

• No certification marking on the shoe itself — only on the box or marketing material
• Price too low to be genuine — genuine EN ISO 20345 certified shoes cost at minimum AED 80–100 to produce. Any "safety shoe" under AED 70 is almost certainly uncertified.
• No notified body number — genuine certified shoes carry a 4-digit testing laboratory number alongside the CE marking
• Vague certification claims — "meets safety standards" or "safety tested" without specifying EN ISO 20345 is meaningless
• No official brand documentation — legitimate brands can provide test certificates on request

Employer Obligations Under UAE Law

Under UAE Federal Law No. 8 of 1980 (Labour Law) and subsequent OHS regulations, employers are legally required to:

• Provide appropriate PPE — including certified safety footwear — at no cost to workers
• Ensure PPE meets relevant standards for the work environment
• Replace worn or damaged PPE promptly
• Maintain records of PPE issued to workers
• Train workers on correct use of PPE

Failure to comply can result in Ministry of Human Resources fines, site closure orders, and criminal liability in the event of a workplace injury.

SLIMTA's Certification

Every SLIMTA safety shoe is independently tested and certified to EN ISO 20345:2011 by an accredited European notified body. Certification documentation is available on request for all models. The certification marking appears on the inner lining of every shoe.