ASTM F2413 Safety Footwear Standard

ASTM F2413 is the primary safety footwear standard used in the United States for protective footwear. It establishes the minimum performance requirements for footwear designed to protect workers from common workplace hazards such as falling objects, compression injuries, punctures, and electrical hazards.

The standard is published by ASTM International and is widely referenced by manufacturers, employers, distributors, and safety professionals when selecting or supplying protective footwear for industrial environments.

Understanding ASTM F2413 helps manufacturers produce compliant safety footwear and allows buyers to choose footwear that provides the appropriate level of workplace protection.

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What Is ASTM F2413?

ASTM F2413 is a performance standard that specifies the safety requirements for protective footwear.

Unlike general footwear standards, ASTM F2413 applies specifically to footwear designed for occupational use where workers may be exposed to physical hazards.

The standard establishes the minimum performance requirements that footwear must meet when claiming specific types of protection.

These requirements are verified through laboratory testing using the applicable test methods defined in ASTM F2412.

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Which Footwear Requires ASTM F2413?

ASTM F2413 typically applies to safety footwear used in industrial and hazardous working environments.

Examples include:

• Safety boots
• Safety shoes
• Industrial footwear
• Construction footwear
• Mining footwear
• Manufacturing footwear
• Warehouse safety footwear
• Utility work boots

General fashion footwear, casual shoes, and athletic footwear are generally outside the scope of ASTM F2413 unless they are specifically designed as protective footwear.

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Protection Categories Under ASTM F2413

ASTM F2413 includes several protection categories. Manufacturers only mark the protection features that their footwear has been tested and shown to meet.

Protection Category	Purpose
Impact (I)	Protects toes from falling objects
Compression (C)	Protects toes against crushing forces
Metatarsal (Mt)	Protects the upper foot from impact
Puncture Resistance (PR)	Reduces injury from sharp objects underfoot
Electrical Hazard (EH)	Provides additional insulation against accidental electrical contact
Static Dissipative (SD)	Reduces static electricity buildup
Conductive (Cd)	Allows static electricity to pass safely to the ground

The required protection depends on the workplace risk assessment and intended application of the footwear.

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Understanding ASTM F2413 Footwear Markings

Compliant safety footwear is typically marked to identify the protection it provides.

For example:

ASTM F2413-18 M/I/C EH

Each code has a specific meaning.

Marking	Meaning
ASTM F2413	Applicable safety footwear standard
M	Men’s footwear
F	Women’s footwear
I	Impact protection
C	Compression protection
Mt	Metatarsal protection
PR	Puncture resistance
EH	Electrical hazard protection
SD	Static dissipative
Cd	Conductive footwear

These markings help employers and users select footwear suitable for specific workplace hazards.

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ASTM F2413 vs EN ISO 20345

ASTM F2413 and EN ISO 20345 are both internationally recognised safety footwear standards, but they apply to different markets.

ASTM F2413	EN ISO 20345
Primarily used in the United States	Primarily used in Europe and many international markets
Published by ASTM International	Published by ISO and adopted as a European standard
Uses protection markings such as I, C, EH and PR	Uses safety classifications such as SB, S1, S2 and S3
Specifies minimum performance requirements	Specifies minimum performance requirements

Manufacturers supplying multiple markets may need to comply with both standards depending on customer requirements and destination countries.

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How ASTM F2413 Supports Workplace Safety

Safety footwear plays an important role in reducing workplace injuries.

Footwear that complies with ASTM F2413 helps protect workers from hazards such as:

• Falling tools and materials
• Heavy compression loads
• Sharp objects on the ground
• Certain electrical hazards
• Impact injuries to the upper foot

Selecting the appropriate protection category helps employers provide footwear suitable for specific working conditions.

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Common Compliance Mistakes

Manufacturers and importers should be aware of several common compliance issues.

These include:

• Applying incorrect protection markings
• Claiming protection that has not been verified
• Modifying footwear after testing
• Using outdated test documentation
• Assuming compliance with another international standard automatically satisfies ASTM F2413 requirements
• Failing to maintain supporting technical documentation

Establishing quality control procedures and maintaining consistent production helps reduce these risks.

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ASTM F2413 and Footwear Testing

ASTM F2413 specifies the performance requirements for safety footwear, while the laboratory test methods are defined in ASTM F2412.

Depending on the protection claimed, footwear may be evaluated for:

• Impact resistance
• Compression resistance
• Puncture resistance
• Electrical hazard protection
• Metatarsal protection

For a broader overview of laboratory evaluation methods, see our Footwear Testing Standards guide.

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ASTM F2413 establishes the performance requirements for safety footwear used in occupational environments across the United States. Understanding the protection categories, footwear markings, and compliance requirements helps manufacturers, importers, and buyers select appropriate protective footwear and support workplace safety. When supplying products to multiple markets, ASTM F2413 should be considered alongside other applicable footwear standards and regulatory requirements.

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Frequently Asked Questions