HSL, SRA, SRB and SRC are terms you've probably heard and read a lot about in the safety industry. And while you probably know that they are related to grip and slip resistance, some of the finer details might not be so familiar or clear. But getting to know these finer points could be a big help to you at work from day to day, whether you’re out in the rain on the rails, using heavy machinery on the building site or working in a warehouse or kitchen. 

In some roles, a particular SR rating might be recommended, while in others it could be a specific requirement. And now safety standards have been updated, things can get a little confusing. Well here’s where we come in.  

Today we’re going to give you a clear and simple guide to how slip resistance is measured, what these terms stand for, what they tell us about grip and most importantly, why you might need them as a part of your safety boot’s spec. We're also going to explain the new EN ISO 20345:2022 safety standard updates. Let’s get to grips with slip ratings first.  

SLIP RATING AND TESTING  

Put simply, a slip-resistance test is carried out to establish how good the grip is on a boot. Safety footwear is awarded a slip rating when it achieves a particular level of grip on a surface treated with a certain liquid or contaminant. This standard of grip is known as the ‘friction coefficient.’  

There are three slip ratings, SRA, SRB AND SRC. Footwear is given an... 

• SRA  rating if it meets the friction coefficient standard on a ceramic tile surface which has had soap solution applied to it.
• SRB  rating if it meets the friction coefficient standard on a steel surface which has had glycerol (oil) applied to it. Therefore, this test is more rigorous, as glycerol is more slippery than water.
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  SRC rating if it passes both SRA and SRB tests. So if a shoe or boot has an SRC rating, it automatically gets an SRA and SRB rating too. SRC is the highest slip resistance rating a shoe or boot can get.

Safety footwear standards have recently changed

The safety standards for protective footwear (EN ISO 20345:2011) have been updated. For boots tested under the new EN ISO 20345:2022 standards, SRA, SRB and SRC codes will no longer be used. These codes are being removed because slip resistance is now considered a mandatory requirement for general safety footwear and so they will have automatically met this standard if it is a safety boot. 

So if you buy a new pair of boots, it's possible they will have been tested using the updated EN ISO 20345:2022 standards, so the old slip-resistance code might not be there - but they will still have passed the mandatory grip test. It's also equally possible that new boots will still have the older SRA,B or C markings, as new safety boots can still be tested under the old standards for several years yet.

(There is an additional test that a safety boot can undergo should the manufacturer want it to carry a specific slip marking. If you buy a new boot with the code SR on it, it's passed this slip resistance test featuring glycerine on a ceramic tile surface.)

Download our whitepaper here for all the information on the new safety footwear standards.

Slip tip 1 

Having effective grip on your boots is only the first step in preventing a slip, trip or fall. According to Rob Shaw, former Falls Prevention Team lead at HSL:

“There are three main factors to consider if you want to control slips: the surface, any contamination that is on it and the footwear.”

Source: HSL’s white paper on slip resistance ‘Get a Grip.’ 

So as well as having good slip resistance on your footwear, you should carefully assess the surface you’re walking on and what could be on that surface to avoid slipping.  

HSL GRIP RATING AND TESTING 

IN 2014, HSL (The Health and Safety Laboratory) developed its own slip test, the GRIP rating system, which gives boots a score of 1-5 - 5 being the best grip rating. 

The HSL GRIP test goes a step further than the SRC test by factoring in what’s known as the human gait cycle, which essentially means the sequence of movements our feet make when walking. The ‘cycle’ refers to what happens between the time a foot comes into contact with the ground and when it takes its next step. Some have questioned how effective the SRC test is because it doesn’t take this gait cycle into account. 

Rob Shaw adds:

“There are concerns amongst the scientific community that this (SRC) test does not closely replicate the critical point of the walking step at which grip is lost when you slip.” 

In other words, for many, testing a boot’s slip resistance without someone wearing it and walking in it doesn’t accurately replicate the circumstances where slips occur. 

In the HSL GRIP test, an operator wearing the boots being tested walks across a ceramic tile platform which increases in angle until a slip occurs. It’s a rigorous process: the test is repeated a number of times so the operator can create a series of different slip angles, a second operator repeats the process, and three different pairs of the same footwear is tested to ensure accurate and representative results. 

But what about the poor test operator?! Don’t worry – they wear a harness. 

FURTHER BENEFITS OF THE HSL GRIP TEST 

While participation in the scheme is voluntary and not a slip resistance requirement, it can be a very helpful rating for wearers and their employees. Because the tests are independently conducted, having a HSL GRIP rating on a boot is another way for wearers to gain information about the safety spec of their footwear, and secondly, it means that they can make a more informed choice about how this footwear's grip compares to other products on the market. 

The GRIP rating is also an added benefit for managers who want reassurance that their employees have optimum protection against slippery or slick surfaces in the workplace.

Finally, many also see the HSL GRIP rating as a symbol of scientific authenticity – after all, the Health and Safety Laboratory is a world-renowned research centre for industrial safety, and a high rating carries a lot of weight.

THINGS TO CONSIDER WITH THE HSL GRIP RATING 

• 
  
  Soles given a 5-star rating on the HSL GRIP test tend to have a large surface area and a lot of small cleats for water dispersal. While they perform well in laboratory environments and on smooth indoor surfaces, they don’t have the ruggedness required to grip rougher and uneven terrain. On these types of surfaces, the soles would likely get clogged up immediately and render their slip resistance very ineffective. 5-star rated tread isn’t much good if it’s submerged in an inch of mud and debris. So, if you work outdoors on natural surfaces such as mud, rock or sand, you probably wouldn’t want a sole that’s been given a 5-star HSL GRIP rating, because it would mean your boot would give you very little traction or stability. 
• Another consideration is a financial one - it costs to get footwear HSL GRIP tested, which means that not every company can afford to have their products carry this rating.
• Lastly, some have questioned the human element of this process, as this can lead to inconsistencies in a testing environment. Many are welcoming plans to create a mechanical walking slip test to remove the human aspect of the testing process.

Slip tip 2 

With all this talk of grip and slip resistance, it’s easy to convince yourself that you need the highest performing grip on your boots - but this might not be the case. If you work indoors, away from water or spend a lot of time in people’s homes, it’s more than likely you won’t need a SRC sole or tread that’s been given a 4 or 5 star HSL GRIP rating. As always, thoroughly assessing your workplace risks is key.

INTELLIGENT GRIP - SLIP RESISTANCE AT V12

It’s the V12 way to be constantly innovating - and our approach to sole design is no different. Working in conjunction with rubber engineers and tyre manufacturers, we developed the IGS^TM (Intelligent Grip System), a highly advanced sole featuring a hex pattern for water dispersal and an angled heel strike to provide improved braking and enhanced slip prevention by increasing the sole’s contact with the ground. Afterall, the tread of a boot can only give you grip if it’s in contact with the ground. Boot’s with the IGS sole unit offer an unprecedented grip, and is the only multi-use sole on the market that can offer this level of traction.

Pictured: V12's E1300.01 Defiant shows off its IGS tread. 

See the IGS and its superb grip in action below 

And our sole innovation doesn't stop there - our alternative sole unit STS^TM is equally effective for traction and braking. Inspired by tractor tyre technology, this SRC sole unit provides superb stability and grip on loose and uneven surfaces. With firefighter standard ladder grips, a heel strike pad and non-clogging channels for exceptional water dispersal, the STS sets new standards in rugged sole technology.

Visit our innovations page to find out more about how our footwear can offer you the best grip on the market.   

Slip tip 3 

Size matters - and we’re not just talking about comfort and fit here. Slips, trips and falls don’t just happen because of poor grip and contaminants – they occur when people wear poorly-fitting boots. Whether boots that are too tight create distracting discomfort, or boots that are too big mean the wearer’s feet are slipping and sliding within the footwear, badly fitting safety boots can ironically increase rather than decrease the chances of an accident. 

Well, if you’re not a grip expert by now, hopefully you’ll at least be feeling a little more in the know, and a little less confused about the world of slip resistance. And however complicated the finer details of grip, soles and tread might seem, there’s one simple thing we all know is true: we don’t want to end up as a 2023 HSE statistic. And by getting your fit and grip right and assessing your surface and its contaminants properly, you’ll stay out of the slips, trips and falls stats - and firmly on your feet. 

For further information on slips, trips and falls, we've written a helpful blog article which highlights more eye-opening health and safety data and provides further guidance on reducing the risk of slip-related accidents in your workplace.