A shoe is antistatic if the measured contact resistance is in the range between 100 kiloohms (105 ohms) and one gigaohm (109 ohms). Antistatic shoes must be used according to the standard to reduce electrostatic charge and ensure its dissipation. This is necessary if the risk of electric shock from electrical equipment or live parts cannot be ruled out - or if there is a risk of ignition of flammable substances or vapours from sparks.
It is therefore a matter of protecting the safety shoe wearer (and also the people in the vicinity) from hazards that can occur in connection with electrical charging.
For ESD-capable shoes, the lower limit of the breakdown resistance is also 100 kiloohms and the upper limit is 100 megohms (1 x 108 ohms). This means that a shoe that is ESD-capable is also antistatic in any case. However, an antistatic shoe is not automatically ESD-capable.
ESD-capable shoes not only protect the wearer and the people in the vicinity, but also serve to protect work parts and equipment through controlled discharge.