Slip-resistance ratings tell you which surfaces a boot's sole has actually been tested against, rather than leaving "non-slip" as a vague marketing claim. Reading the code takes thirty seconds and can be the difference between the right boot for a kitchen floor and the right boot for a building site.
Where the rating comes from
Slip resistance is tested as part of the EN ISO 20345 safety footwear standard (and the related EN ISO 20347 for occupational, non-safety footwear). The test measures how much a sole grips two reference surfaces under controlled conditions, using a steel or ceramic tile with a soap or glycerine solution to simulate a wet floor.
The three ratings
| Code | Tested on | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| SRA | Ceramic tile with a soap solution | Flat, smooth indoor floors — catering, retail, light industrial |
| SRB | Steel surface with glycerine | Smooth, oily surfaces — workshops, some manufacturing lines |
| SRC | Both surfaces above | Mixed or unpredictable conditions — most general trade and construction use |
A boot rated SRC has passed both individual tests, so it covers the widest range of conditions. Most boots aimed at general trade, construction and outdoor work carry an SRC rating for that reason.
Reading it alongside the rest of the code
Slip resistance sits next to other letters on a boot's spec sheet — protective toe class, penetration resistance, water resistance and so on. Our EN standards workwear labels guide covers how to read the full code on a garment or boot label, and our safety helmets and bump caps guide covers head protection standards if you are specifying a full PPE kit.
Matching the rating to the floor
- Kitchens, food prep and catering. SRA at minimum, since the main hazard is a smooth tiled floor with water, oil or spilled liquid.
- Workshops and light manufacturing. SRB or SRC, depending on how much of the floor is smooth metal or has oil present.
- Construction, groundworks and outdoor trades. SRC as standard, since ground conditions vary through the day and across a site.
- Mixed indoor/outdoor roles. SRC, for the same reason — the boot needs to perform consistently as conditions change.
The short version
SRA covers wet tile, SRB covers oily steel, and SRC covers both. For most trades outside a controlled kitchen or workshop floor, SRC is the safer default. Whatever the rating, treat it as one input into your own risk assessment for the specific floors and conditions your team actually works on, not a substitute for it.
