SB stands for Safety Basic. It's the entry point of EN ISO 20345, the level a shoe has to reach before it can legally be sold as safety footwear at all. Everything above it, S1, S2, S3 and beyond, is built on the SB foundation.
The confusion around SB comes from treating it as a quality grade. It isn't. An SB shoe can be beautifully made from excellent materials and still be SB, because the rating describes which protective features are certified, not how well the shoe is built.
SB certifies one core thing: a toe cap that survives a 200 joule impact and 15 kN of compression. Anti-static properties, a puncture-resistant midsole, a closed heel and water resistance are all absent unless separately added.
What SB Actually Requires
Under the current EN ISO 20345:2022 revision, an SB-certified shoe must meet the standard's basic requirements. The headline one is toe protection.
- Impact resistance: the toe cap must withstand a 200 joule impact, roughly equivalent to a 20kg object dropped from around one metre.
- Compression resistance: the toe cap must withstand 15 kilonewtons of compressive force, the kind of load a wheel or heavy object rolling across the foot would apply.
- Baseline slip resistance: the 2022 revision brought slip resistance into the mandatory basic requirements, tested on ceramic tile with glycerine. Shoes certified to the older 2011 version may not have been tested this way, which is worth knowing if you're looking at older stock.
- General construction and material requirements: covering upper, lining, insole and outsole properties, plus chemical compliance.
That's the whole certified package. Every additional protective feature you might assume comes as standard is, at SB level, genuinely optional.
What SB Does Not Include
This is the part that catches people out, because several of these feel like they should be automatic in anything called a safety shoe.
Two of these deserve a closer look, because they surprise people most often.
SB shoes can have an open heel
S1 and above require a closed seat region. SB does not. That's why safety clogs, slip-on styles and some backless healthcare and kitchen footwear sit at SB level: the design itself rules out the closed heel that S1 demands. The shoe isn't cutting a corner, it's a different shape by intent.
SB shoes are not automatically anti-static
Anti-static performance, marked A, is one of the properties S1 adds. An SB shoe may have it, but only if the manufacturer has had it separately tested and marked. If your workplace requires anti-static footwear, an SB marking on its own does not satisfy that requirement.
SB, S1 and S1P Side by Side
Reading across the rows shows exactly what each step up the ladder buys you.
| Feature | SB | S1 | S1P |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200J toe cap impact | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 15 kN toe compression | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Closed seat region | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Anti-static properties | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Heel energy absorption | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Puncture-resistant midsole | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ |
| Water-resistant upper | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
For the full ladder above this point, including S2 through to S7, see our breakdown of safety shoe ratings from SB to S7.
When SB Is Genuinely the Right Choice
SB gets dismissed as the cheap option, and that's unfair. There are situations where it's the correct specification rather than a compromise.
- Where the design requires an open heel. Safety clogs in healthcare, laboratory and food-preparation settings often need to be slipped on and off quickly, or need to be easily washable. SB is the only rating those designs can carry.
- Where SB is combined with the specific codes you need. A shoe marked SB P, for example, has the baseline toe cap plus certified puncture resistance, without the anti-static or energy-absorption requirements. If those are the two hazards your risk assessment identifies, that combination is a precise match rather than a shortfall.
- Visitor and occasional-use footwear. Site visitors, auditors and office staff crossing a warehouse floor briefly may need toe protection and nothing more. SB overshoes and basic SB footwear are common and appropriate here.
The mistake isn't buying SB. It's buying SB while assuming it includes features that only appear at S1 and above.
Why Most UK Workplaces Specify S1 or Higher
Despite those legitimate uses, S1 and above dominate UK workplace PPE specifications, for a straightforward reason: the properties SB leaves out are the ones most ordinary workplaces actually need.
A warehouse floor generates static. Ten hours of standing puts real demand on heel cushioning. A shoe that can slip off at the heel is a trip risk when carrying loads. None of those are exotic hazards, they're everyday conditions, and S1 addresses all three.
Under the PPE at Work Regulations 2022, it's your employer's duty to assess the hazards in your role and specify footwear that matches them. If their assessment says S1P and you turn up in SB shoes, the shoes do not meet the requirement no matter how well made they are. That assessment overrides any general guidance, including this article.
Two Worked Examples
Hospital kitchen porter in washable clogs
The role needs footwear that can be removed quickly, wiped down between shifts, and offers toe protection against dropped pans and trolley wheels. A closed heel would make the shoe harder to clean and slower to change.
SB is the appropriate rating here, and the open-heel design is the reason, not a shortcut.
Warehouse operative on a ten-hour shift
Long periods standing and walking on hard concrete, static build-up from racking and packaging, plus dropped fixings underfoot. The heel needs cushioning, the shoe needs to stay on the foot, and static needs somewhere to go.
SB falls short on three counts. S1 covers the first three, and S1P adds the puncture-resistant midsole for the dropped fixings.
How to Check What Your Own Shoes Are Rated
The marking is normally printed on the tongue label, stamped inside the collar, or moulded into the insole.
- Find the base code. SB, S1, S2, S3 and so on. If you see SB with nothing after it, the certified protection is the toe cap and basic requirements only.
- Read any letters that follow. P, PL, PS, A, E, FO, SR, WPA and similar are separate optional properties, each tested and certified independently.
- Check the standard version. EN ISO 20345:2022 is the current revision. Older stock may be certified to the 2011 version, which tested slip resistance differently.
- Compare it against your employer's written PPE requirement, not against what looks reasonable. If the two don't match, raise it rather than assuming it's close enough.
Where XNEXZ Sits, Honestly
XNEXZ doesn't sell SB footwear. PulseX and StrideX are certified S1PL FO SR on the current CTC certificate under EN ISO 20345:2022+A1:2024, which means S1 base protection, a non-metallic puncture-resistant insert tested with the 4.5mm nail, a fuel-and-oil-resistant outsole and slip resistance.
We're not going to argue that SB footwear is inadequate as a category, because for open-heel designs and short-duration use it clearly isn't. What we'd say is narrower: for the light-duty indoor roles we build for, warehouse work, indoor trade work, delivery and facilities, the properties S1 adds are the ones that matter across a full shift, and a puncture-resistant midsole on top of that covers the most common underfoot hazard in those settings.
If you want the fuller picture of what that rating does and doesn't cover, it's set out in our complete UK guide to S1P safety shoes. If your role needs S3, waterproof protection, ankle support or specialist certification, XNEXZ isn't the right choice and we'd rather say so.
Suitable For / Choose Differently
SB may be appropriate for
- Open-heel safety clogs in healthcare and food preparation
- Site visitors and auditors needing brief toe protection
- Office staff crossing a production or warehouse floor occasionally
- Roles where SB is combined with the exact codes the risk assessment names
- Laboratory settings where washability outranks a closed heel
Choose S1 or higher for
- Full shifts spent standing or walking: S1 for heel energy absorption
- Environments with static build-up: S1 for anti-static properties
- Sharp objects underfoot: S1P for the puncture-resistant midsole
- Wet floors and washdown areas: S2
- Construction, groundworks and outdoor sites: S3
- Any role where the PPE policy names a specific rating: follow it exactly
The Honest Verdict
SB is a real certification with a real test behind it, and it does one job properly: protecting your toes from impact and compression. Treating it as fake or low-grade misreads what the marking means.
The risk isn't SB itself, it's the assumption gap. People buy SB believing they're getting the anti-static, cushioned, closed-heel, puncture-resistant package that the phrase "safety shoe" suggests. For most everyday UK work, that package starts at S1, and the underfoot protection starts at S1P. Read the letters after the S, and the gap disappears.
Try XNEXZ Where It Genuinely Fits
If your workplace accepts S1P footwear and you want a more modern, lightweight-feeling option, try PulseX or StrideX on a real shift and tell us honestly how the fit, comfort and daily performance hold up. We're a new brand earning trust through real feedback, not claims.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does SB mean on safety shoes?
SB stands for Safety Basic, the entry level of EN ISO 20345. It certifies a toe cap that withstands a 200 joule impact and 15 kN of compression, plus the standard's basic construction and slip-resistance requirements.
Are SB safety shoes any good?
SB describes the certified feature set, not build quality, so an SB shoe can be very well made. It's the right choice where an open-heel design is needed or where toe protection alone matches the risk assessment. It falls short where anti-static, heel cushioning or puncture resistance are required.
What's the difference between SB and S1?
S1 adds three things to SB: anti-static properties, energy absorption in the heel, and a closed seat region. Everything else in the base package stays the same.
Are SB safety shoes legal for work in the UK?
SB footwear is legitimate certified PPE and can be worn where the employer's risk assessment specifies it. What matters is whether SB matches the assessed hazards for your role, not whether SB is permitted in general.
Do SB shoes have a steel toe cap?
They have a toe cap certified to 200 joules, but the material varies. Steel, aluminium and composite caps can all meet that threshold. The SB marking tells you the protection level, not what the cap is made from.
Can an SB shoe have puncture resistance?
Yes. Puncture resistance is an optional property marked P, PL or PS, and it can be added to SB. A shoe marked SB P has the base toe cap plus a certified puncture-resistant midsole, without the anti-static and energy-absorption properties that S1 requires.
Why are safety clogs usually only SB rated?
Because S1 and above require a closed seat region, and an open-heel clog cannot meet that requirement by design. The SB rating reflects the shape of the shoe rather than a lower standard of manufacture.
