S6 and S7 are new safety footwear classes introduced by EN ISO 20345:2022, and both mean one thing: the whole shoe is waterproof, not just the upper. S6 is the waterproof version of S2. S7 is the waterproof version of S3, with a puncture-resistant midsole and cleated outsole.
This guide explains what changed, what the WR and WPA markings really mean, who genuinely needs this level of protection, and who is paying for water resistance they will never use.
Quick Answer
- S6 = S2 + WR - a waterproof shoe without a puncture-resistant midsole.
- S7 = S3 + WR - waterproof, plus puncture resistance and a cleated outsole.
- WR tests the whole shoe. WPA tests the upper only. They are not the same thing, and the difference matters.
- The water test got stricter. Under the 2022 standard, no water penetration may be detected at all.
- Most indoor workers don't need S6 or S7 - they're built for wet, outdoor and washdown environments.
In This Guide
What Do S6 and S7 Mean on Safety Footwear?
S6 and S7 are waterproof safety footwear classes added in EN ISO 20345:2022. S6 takes everything in an S2 shoe and adds whole-shoe waterproofing (WR). S7 does the same for S3, so it is waterproof and has a puncture-resistant midsole and a cleated outsole.
Before 2022, a waterproof safety boot had no class of its own. Manufacturers wrote it as "S3 WR" - the base class, plus a separate water-resistance marking bolted on the end. That worked, but it was easy to miss on a label and easy to confuse with the water-resistance marking that only covered the upper material.
The 2022 revision gave whole-shoe waterproofing its own place on the ladder. If you already know how S2 compares with S1P, S6 and S7 make immediate sense: the same protection, plus a boot built to keep water out as a sealed unit.
There are also two S7 sub-variants, S7L and S7S, which describe how the puncture resistance was tested, L with a 4.5 mm test nail, S with a finer 3.0 mm nail. For the whole ladder in one place, our guide to safety shoe ratings from SB to S7 lays out every class side by side.
Why Were S6 and S7 Introduced?
They were introduced to end a long-running confusion: the old marking for a water-resistant upper was easy to mistake for a fully waterproof shoe. S6 and S7 make true whole-shoe waterproofing visible at a glance.
Under the 2011 standard, the marking WRU stood for "water repellent upper." It told you the leather or fabric on top had been treated to resist water. It said nothing about the seams, the tongue, the lining, or where the upper meets the sole, which is exactly where water tends to get in first.
Plenty of buyers read WRU as "waterproof," bought accordingly, and ended up with wet socks by mid-morning. The 2022 revision addressed this in two ways: it renamed the upper-only test to WPA, and it promoted genuine whole-shoe waterproofing into named classes of its own. The intent was to make the label harder to misread.
What's the Difference Between WR and WPA?
WPA covers the upper material only and allows some water penetration and absorption. WR covers the entire shoe as a sealed unit and allows none. S6 and S7 footwear carries WR.
This is the single most useful thing to take away from the 2022 update, because the two markings sit next to each other on labels and look similarly reassuring.
| Marking | What it covers | What it allows | Best read as |
|---|---|---|---|
| WPA | The upper material and its seams | Some water penetration and absorption | Handles splashes and damp; not for standing water |
| WR | The whole shoe as a complete unit | No water penetration detected in the test | Built for genuinely wet conditions |
WPA replaced WRU, and it is still a useful marking, it usually means a more breathable shoe than a fully sealed one, which matters if you work indoors and your feet get hot. It simply isn't the same promise as WR.
A shoe marked WPA is designed to cope with a spill or a damp floor, not a morning spent in puddles.
S6 vs S7: Which One Do You Need?
Choose S6 if you need waterproofing but have no sharp-object risk underfoot. Choose S7 if you need waterproofing plus protection from nails and debris, and grip on uneven or outdoor ground.
The gap between them is the same gap that has always separated S2 from S3: puncture resistance and outsole design.
| Feature | S6 | S7 |
|---|---|---|
| Based on | S2 | S3 |
| 200J toe cap | Yes | Yes |
| Antistatic & heel energy absorption | Yes | Yes |
| Whole-shoe waterproof (WR) | Yes | Yes |
| Puncture-resistant midsole | No | Yes |
| Cleated (lugged) outsole | No | Yes |
| Typical use | Wet indoor work, food processing, washdown areas | Outdoor sites, groundworks, wet ground with debris |
In practice, S7 is the class most outdoor site workers will be pointed toward, because it is simply the waterproof version of the rating their site already specifies. If your risk assessment currently calls for S3 safety shoes, S7 is the same protection with proper waterproofing added.
How Did the Water Test Itself Change?
The test method stayed broadly the same, but the pass mark got tougher. The older standard allowed a small measured area of water penetration and still counted it as a pass. The 2022 standard requires that no water penetration is detected.
~3 cm²
of water penetration was still a pass under the older standard
Zero
water penetration permitted for a WR pass under EN ISO 20345:2022
80 min
minimum duration commonly cited for the whole-shoe WR test
This is why a boot marked WR today is making a stronger claim than one marked WR a few years ago. The test itself is a walking simulation in a water trough, so it reflects flexing and movement rather than a shoe sitting still. It's a meaningfully harder bar to clear.
Worth remembering, though: certification describes a shoe when it is new and correctly fitted. Waterproof membranes and seams wear with use, and a scuffed or split boot will not perform the way the lab sample did. No rating removes the need to check the condition of your footwear.
Do You Actually Need S6 or S7 Footwear?
Only if you regularly work in genuinely wet conditions. Waterproof membranes reduce breathability, so buying S6 or S7 for dry indoor work usually means hotter, sweatier feet for protection you never use.
S6 or S7 is likely worth it
- Outdoor site work in British weather
- Groundworks, landscaping, utilities
- Food processing and washdown areas
- Agriculture, waste and recycling
- Anywhere standing water is routine
You probably don't need it
- Warehouse and distribution floors
- Retail stockrooms
- Indoor fit-out and decorating
- Light maintenance and facilities work
- Hospitality, where spills are occasional
When Will You See S6 and S7 on UK Shelves?
You already can, and the numbers will grow steadily. New certifications have had to use the 2022 standard since late 2024, but footwear certified under the older 2011 standard stays valid until its certificate expires, so both labelling systems will sit side by side for a few more years.
That overlap is the practical headache for buyers right now. On the same shelf you may find one boot marked "S3 WR" under the older standard and another marked "S7" under the new one, describing broadly the same thing.
Neither is out of date or non-compliant, but if you're replacing one pair from a matched set, check which standard each was certified to rather than assuming the markings map perfectly.
Where Does Xnexz Fit Into This?
Honestly: we don't make S6 or S7 footwear. Xnexz PulseX and StrideX are EN ISO 20345 S1P certified, which means they are not waterproof and are not intended for wet outdoor work.
We'd rather say that plainly than stretch a description to sound like more than it is. S1P covers a 200J toe cap, a puncture-resistant midsole, antistatic properties and heel energy absorption. It does not include whole-shoe waterproofing, and a breathable mesh upper is designed to let air move, the opposite of a sealed waterproof construction.
So if your work involves standing water, wet ground, washdown areas or full days outdoors in the rain, Xnexz is the wrong choice, and we'd point you toward a brand with a proper S6 or S7 range. Established names like Caterpillar, Timberland PRO, uvex and Cofra offer waterproof options with track records we don't have yet as a new UK brand.
What Xnexz is built for is the other side of that line: dry, controlled indoor settings where S1P is accepted, warehouses, depots, stockrooms, indoor fit-out, light maintenance and delivery work. If that describes your shift and you want a lighter, more trainer-like feel, that's where we're trying to do something worth your attention.
S6 and S7 Safety Footwear: Quick FAQ
Is S7 just S3 with a waterproof label?
Essentially, yes. S7 carries the same requirements as S3, toe cap, antistatic build, heel energy absorption, puncture-resistant midsole and cleated outsole, with whole-shoe waterproofing (WR) added and recognised as its own class.
Does WPA mean my boots are waterproof?
No. WPA applies to the upper material and permits some water penetration and absorption. It's suited to splashes and damp conditions, not standing water. Look for WR, S6 or S7 if you need genuine waterproofing.
Are my existing S3 WR boots still valid?
Yes. Footwear certified to the earlier standard remains compliant until its certificate expires, so there's no need to replace a serviceable pair simply because the marking system has changed.
What do S7L and S7S mean?
They indicate how puncture resistance was tested. S7L uses a 4.5 mm test nail with a non-metallic insert, and S7S uses a finer 3.0 mm nail. The finer nail is the more demanding test for small, sharp hazards.
Does Xnexz sell S6 or S7 safety shoes?
No. Our current PulseX and StrideX models are S1P certified and are not waterproof. For wet or outdoor work that requires S6 or S7, choose a brand that makes footwear certified to that class.
The Honest Verdict
S6 and S7 are a genuine improvement to safety footwear labelling. They take whole-shoe waterproofing out of the small print and give it a clear place on the rating ladder, and the stricter WR test means the claim carries more weight than it used to. The practical advice is unchanged though: match the rating to the actual hazard. If your feet get properly wet at work, S6 or S7 is worth the money and the reduced breathability. If they don't, you'll likely be more comfortable in footwear designed to let air through, and your employer's PPE requirement decides either way.
Working Indoors, Where S1P Is Accepted?
If your workplace accepts S1P footwear and wet conditions aren't part of your day, we'd like you to try Xnexz PulseX or StrideX on a real shift. Tell us honestly how the fit, comfort and style feel, and what we should improve next.
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