ASTM F2413 (specifically the latest version, ASTM F2413-24) is the primary standard used in the United States to establish the minimum performance requirements for protective (safety) toe footwear. Developed by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), this standard ensures that safety shoes provide adequate protection against various workplace hazards.
It replaced the older ANSI Z41 standard and is referenced by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) as an accepted safety standard.
🏷️ Understanding the Safety Codes
Footwear that complies with ASTM F2413 must pass specific laboratory tests. The protection provided is indicated by a series of codes on the shoe’s label.
Here is a breakdown of the most common codes found on safety footwear, including the ones featured on our products:
1. Basic Impact & Compression (Mandatory)
To meet the standard, safety shoes must first pass these two fundamental tests:
- I (Impact Resistance): Protects the toes from falling objects. The toe cap must withstand an impact of 75 foot-pounds (approx. 101.7 Joules).
- C (Compression Resistance): Protects the toes from being crushed by rolling or static weights. The toe cap must withstand 2,500 pounds (approx. 11,121 Newtons) of compression.
2. Additional Protective Ratings
Shoes can be rated for additional specific hazards:
- EH (Electrical Hazard): Provides secondary protection against accidental contact with open electrical circuits (tested at 18,000 volts). The shoe acts as an insulator to reduce the risk of electric shock.
- SD (Static Dissipative): Helps reduce the accumulation of excess static electricity by conducting body charge to the ground, crucial in environments with sensitive electronics or volatile chemicals.
- PR (Puncture Resistant): Features a plate (often made of steel or Kevlar) between the insole and outsole to protect the foot from sharp objects like nails.
- Mt (Metatarsal Protection): Protects the metatarsal bones (the top of the foot) from impact and compression.
- CD (Conductive): Designed to reduce static electricity hazards in highly volatile environments (like explosives manufacturing) by grounding the wearer.
- CS (Chain Saw Cut Resistance): Provides protection against chain saw cuts.
📝 How to Read an ASTM Label
When you look inside an ASTM-compliant shoe, you will typically see a label formatted like this:
ASTM F2413-24
M I/C EH PR
- Line 1: The standard and year of manufacture.
- Line 2: Gender (M for Male / F for Female) followed by the basic ratings (I for Impact, C for Compression).
- Line 3 & 4: Any additional ratings (e.g., EH for Electrical Hazard, PR for Puncture Resistant).
⚠️ Important Note on Compliance
For a shoe to maintain its ASTM certification, it must not be altered. Any modification—such as replacing the original insole or adding metal inserts—can void the safety certification and compromise the protective features.