S1, S2 or S3? How to Specify Leather Safety Shoes in India Under IS 15298
Updated: 22 hours ago
Leather safety shoes in India must be BIS-certified to IS 15298 (Part 2), the Indian version of ISO 20345, with a toe cap that survives a 200-joule impact. For most buyers the real decision is the category: S1 for dry indoor floors, S2 where water is present, and S3 for outdoor sites with nails or debris.
This guide is for procurement, HR and EHS teams at Indian factories, warehouses and contractors, and for distributors building a safety footwear range. It explains what each category and symbol means and how to write a spec a manufacturer can quote against. Updated October 2026.
Key Takeaways
Safety, protective and occupational footwear sold in India falls under the Personal Protective Equipment-Footwear (Quality Control) Order, 2020, which requires the BIS Standard Mark. Goods meant for export are excluded.
IS 15298 (Part 2):2024 is a modified adoption of ISO 20345:2021. Its toe caps must withstand a 200 J impact and a 15 kN compression load.
Leather safety shoes (Class I) are graded SB, S1, S2, S3, S6 or S7. S4 and S5 are for all-rubber or all-polymer boots.
Extra protection is coded with symbols such as SR (slip on glycerine), HRO (hot-contact sole), P, PL or PS (perforation) and M (metatarsal).
Since 22 September 2025, GST on footwear is 5% up to ₹2,500 per pair and 18% above that.
Which BIS standard applies to leather safety shoes in India?
IS 15298 (Part 2) is the standard for safety footwear, and BIS certification against it is mandatory for sale in India. The Personal Protective Equipment-Footwear (Quality Control) Order, 2020 (S.O. 3857(E), dated 27 October 2020) brought three parts of IS 15298 under compulsory certification: Part 2 for safety footwear, Part 3 for protective footwear and Part 4 for occupational footwear. It also says the latest BIS revision of each standard applies once notified.
The current Part 2 is the 2024 third revision of IS 15298 (Part 2), published in July 2024 as a modified adoption of ISO 20345:2021. Some leather safety footwear is also covered by its own standard under the 2024 leather footwear order, such as IS 1989 for mining and heavy-metal industries, IS 11226 for direct-moulded rubber soles and IS 14544 for polymeric soles, as listed by the Council for Leather Exports. Our guide to BIS certification for private label leather footwear covers that order in detail.
In practice, most corporate tenders and distributor ranges specify IS 15298 (Part 2). Whichever standard you name, ask the manufacturer for a BIS licence that covers that exact standard and product.
What do SB, S1, S2, S3, S6 and S7 mean?
Each category is a bundle of tests on top of the 200 J toe cap. The table below follows Table 20 of IS 15298 (Part 2):2024; the last column is our practical guidance for Indian workplaces.
Category | Footwear class | What it adds | Typical fit |
SB | I or II | Basic requirements only, including toe protection and basic slip resistance | Visitors, light assembly |
S1 | I (leather) | Closed heel area, energy-absorbing seat (E) and antistatic (A) | Dry indoor floors: engineering units, warehouses, packing |
S2 | I (leather) | S1 plus water penetration and absorption resistance of the upper (WPA) | Food processing, dairies, frequently washed floors |
S3 / S3L / S3S | I (leather) | S2 plus a perforation-resistant insert and a cleated outsole | Construction, infrastructure, steel and scrap yards |
S6 | I (leather) | S2 plus water resistance of the whole shoe (WR) | Wet outdoor work with little nail risk |
S7 / S7L / S7S | I (leather) | S3 plus water resistance of the whole shoe (WR) | Monsoon-season sites, ports, outdoor utilities |
S4 / S5 | II (all-rubber or all-polymer) | Moulded boots, not leather | Chemical and wash-down areas |
Do my workers need S1, S2 or S3 safety shoes?
Choose by the floor and the hazards, not the price band. S1 is enough on dry indoor floors, S2 adds a water-resistant upper, and S3 is the default wherever nails, rebar, swarf or sharp scrap can pierce the sole.
A common middle option is S1P: an S1 shoe with a perforation-resistant insert, for indoor sites with sharp debris but no standing water. India's monsoon is the other deciding factor. Teams that work outdoors from June to September are usually better served by S3, or S7 if feet must stay dry through a full shift.
What do the extra symbols on a safety shoe mean?
Symbols mark optional tests the shoe has passed beyond its category. Add only the ones your risk assessment needs, because each one narrows the choice of soles and constructions.
SR: slip resistance tested on ceramic tile with glycerine. The basic test uses ceramic tile with sodium lauryl sulphate and requires a coefficient of friction of at least 0.31 (heel) and 0.36 (forepart); SR adds at least 0.19 and 0.22 on glycerine.
P, PL or PS: perforation-resistant insert. P is metal; PL and PS are non-metal, and the standard notes that PS may give better protection against smaller-diameter objects than PL.
HRO: outsole resistant to hot contact, for foundries, forging and road works.
HI or CI: heat or cold insulation of the sole.
M and AN: metatarsal and ankle protection, for heavy handling and uneven ground.
FO: outsole resistant to fuel oil, for workshops and fuel handling.
A or C: antistatic or partially conductive footwear, for electronics and some chemical areas.
What must be marked on a BIS-compliant safety shoe?
Every pair must be permanently marked, for example embossed or branded, with the details below. IS 15298 (Part 2):2024 lists them in clause 7, and the QCO adds the BIS Standard Mark with the licence number.
Size.
Manufacturer's name and postal address.
Manufacturer's type designation for the model.
At least the year and month of manufacture.
A reference to the standard.
The protection category and any symbols, for example S3 SR HRO.
The BIS Standard Mark and licence number, which you can check against BIS records before you place the order.
If you want your company or distributor brand on the shoe, agree where it sits next to these marks. Your logo can go on the tongue, insole, heel tab or box, but it cannot replace them.
How should procurement teams write a leather safety shoe spec?
Write one line per requirement and name the standard, category and symbols together, for example "IS 15298 (Part 2):2024, S3 SR". A spec like this lets manufacturers quote on the same basis and makes inspection easier.
Map hazards by site and job role: floor type, water, sharp objects, heat, chemicals and electrical risk.
State the standard, category and symbols for each role.
Name the upper leather, such as full-grain or corrected-grain cowhide or buffalo, plus the colour and the thickness range you will accept.
Specify the sole construction and material, such as direct-injected PU, PU/rubber or rubber, and whether you need a mid-ankle or high-ankle boot.
Give the size run and quantity per size, based on a size survey of your workforce.
Ask for a test report from a BIS-recognised laboratory for the exact construction you are buying.
Agree pre-dispatch checks. Our explainer on AQL inspection for leather orders shows how sampling plans work.
Confirm billing and delivery terms. See our guide to GST invoices, e-way bills and delivery for bulk leather orders.
On tax, the Council for Leather Exports confirms that from 22 September 2025, footwear with a sale value up to ₹2,500 per pair carries 5% GST and footwear above ₹2,500 per pair carries 18%. Check which slab your target price falls in before you finalise the budget.
How Sanwas International works with industrial and corporate buyers
For Indian companies, distributors and brands we work with MOQs under 500 units per style, sampling from 72 hours and bulk production from 30 days, with AQL inspection before dispatch. If you need IS 15298-certified footwear, share the standard, category and symbols at enquiry stage so the certification route is agreed in writing before sampling. You can see our men's footwear range and OEM manufacturing process, or request a quote for your safety footwear order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I order 300 pairs of S3 leather safety shoes with our company logo from an Indian manufacturer?
Yes. Co-branded safety shoes at a few hundred pairs per style are a normal B2B order, with the logo embossed or printed on the tongue, insole or packaging. The shoe must still carry the BIS Standard Mark and the licence number of the factory that made it, so agree the marking layout before sampling. Sanwas International works with MOQs under 500 units per style.
What GST applies to leather safety shoes bought in bulk in India?
Since 22 September 2025, footwear with a sale value up to ₹2,500 per pair attracts 5% GST, and footwear above ₹2,500 per pair attracts 18%. Ask for a GST tax invoice showing your GSTIN so you can claim input tax credit where eligible, and expect an e-way bill to travel with the consignment.
Is S1P good enough for warehouse staff?
S1P means an S1 shoe with a perforation-resistant insert, and it suits dry indoor warehouses where staples, strapping clips or broken pallets are on the floor. If staff also work on open loading docks or in yards during the monsoon, an S3 shoe with its water-resistant upper and cleated sole is the safer choice.
Do safety shoes made for export need a BIS licence?
No. The PPE footwear Quality Control Order states that it does not apply to goods meant for export. The same style sold inside India does need a BIS licence for the relevant part of IS 15298, and a CE or ISO 20345 test report from abroad does not replace it.
How long does a corporate safety shoe order from a Punjab factory take to reach Bengaluru or Chennai?
Plan for three stages: sample approval, bulk production and road or rail transit. At Sanwas International, sampling starts from 72 hours and bulk production from 30 days, and transit time depends on the carrier and route, so ask for the delivery date to your site in the quotation. Allow extra time if a new construction needs fresh laboratory testing.
Equipping Your Workforce? Request a Safety Footwear Quote
Tell us the job roles and hazards, the IS 15298 category and symbols you need, the leather type, target quantity per style and size, your delivery city and the date you need the shoes on site. Sanwas International supplies companies, distributors and brands across India and exports worldwide, and
Include these details in your enquiry:
Product category and style (footwear, jacket, upholstery leather, hides or crust)
Leather type, finish and colour
Target quantity per style and colour
Delivery city in India or destination country, plus preferred Incoterm
Target delivery date and whether you need a sample before bulk
Contact Sanwas International
Mob: +91 8728858686
Address: 308 Leather Complex, Kapurthala Road, Jalandhar, Punjab 144002, India
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