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ASTM F2413 is the ASTM International specification that sets minimum design, performance, testing and classification requirements for protective (safety) toe cap footwear. The current edition is ASTM F2413-24. Earlier editions, including ASTM F2413-18 and F2413-11, still appear on boot labels and in older regulations, so the edition on a label matters as much as the standard number.
Short answer
ASTM F2413 is a performance specification for safety footwear. It lists the hazards a boot or shoe can be rated against, among them toe impact, toe compression, metatarsal protection, electrical properties and puncture resistance of the sole. It is paired with ASTM F2412, the test methods standard that defines how each property is measured. ASTM lists F2413-24 as Active and F2413-18 as Historical.
Definition and scope
The full title is Standard Specification for Performance Requirements for Protective (Safety) Toe Cap Footwear. According to ASTM’s published scope, the specification covers the minimum performance requirements for footwear intended to protect against a variety of workplace hazards. Its abstract lists these protections: toe impact resistance, toe compression resistance, metatarsal protection, conductive properties, electric shock resistance, static dissipative (SD) properties, puncture resistance of footwear bottoms, chain saw cut resistance and dielectric insulation.
The scope also sets limits that are easy to miss:
- It is not a detailed manufacturing or purchasing specification, although it can be referenced in purchase contracts to ensure minimum performance.
- Controlled laboratory results do not establish performance for every real-world situation.
- Changes to a finished boot, such as aftermarket insoles or resoling, may cause it to fail the requirements and can make the ASTM marking invalid.
- It does not apply to overshoes with safety toe caps or to strap-on safety toe devices.
F2413 versus F2412: specification and test methods
F2413 says what level of performance is required. ASTM F2412, Standard Test Methods for Foot Protection, says how footwear is tested. ASTM describes F2412 as measuring the resistance of footwear to a variety of hazards that can potentially result in injury, and it is maintained by ASTM Committee F13, Subcommittee F13.30. The test methods cover seven areas, each with a letter code:
| Property tested | Code |
|---|---|
| Impact resistance of the toe | I |
| Compression resistance of the toe | C |
| Metatarsal protection | Mt |
| Conductive properties | Cd |
| Electric hazard | EH |
| Static dissipative properties | SD |
| Puncture resistance | PR |
ASTM also notes that component changes, such as a different toe cap material, construction method or midsole, can require retesting and could make the ASTM label invalid. A boot with one rating is therefore not interchangeable with a similar-looking boot from a different build.
Editions: F2413-11, F2413-18, F2413-24 and OSHA 1910.136
Searches for astm f2413-18, astm f2413-24 and astm f2413-11 all point to the same standard in different editions. ASTM lists the F2413-24 page as Active, with a last-updated date of 3 July 2024, and lists F2413-18 as Historical. A boot labelled F2413-18 or F2413-11 was made to an earlier edition.
The US workplace rule reads differently. OSHA 29 CFR 1910.136(b) says protective footwear must meet one of three consensus standards: ASTM F-2412-2005 together with F-2413-2005, ANSI Z41-1999, or ANSI Z41-1991. The ANSI standards are incorporated by reference in 29 CFR 1910.6. OSHA also accepts footwear that the employer demonstrates is at least as effective as footwear built to one of those standards, and the employer carries the burden of showing that.
The result is a three-way cross-walk. The regulation names the 2005 editions. ASTM’s current edition is 2024. Boots on the market may be labelled to editions in between. Which edition satisfies a given requirement depends on the wording of that requirement, not on the newest label.
Where it matters for labs, clinics and supply decisions
Safety footwear sits alongside other personal protective equipment in lab and clinic safety programmes. See lab safety rules, PPE selection for chemical handling in the lab and hazmat suit types for the wider PPE picture, and OSHA loading dock requirements for a receiving-area context.
A quick checklist for anyone who writes or reviews a footwear requirement:
- Name the standard and the edition, for example ASTM F2413-24, rather than writing only “ASTM approved”.
- List the specific properties needed from the seven codes above, because F2413 covers more hazards than any single boot is rated for.
- If the requirement comes from OSHA 1910.136(b), check which editions the regulation names.
- Treat the marking as tied to the finished boot. Resoling or adding aftermarket insoles can invalidate it.
- Remember that F2413 does not cover overshoes with safety toe caps or strap-on toe devices.
Common misunderstandings
“ASTM F2413 is a purchasing specification”
It is a minimum performance specification. It can be cited in a purchase contract, but it does not describe how a boot should be made.
“Every F2413 boot protects against every hazard”
The standard covers many hazards, and each boot is tested for specific properties. The marking shows which ones apply.
“The newest edition is always the one the regulation requires”
OSHA 1910.136(b) names ASTM F2413-2005 and ANSI Z41, not F2413-24.
“Any modification keeps the rating”
ASTM’s scope states that changes such as insoles or resoling may cause failure and make the marking invalid.
FAQ
What are the ANSI standards for safety shoes?
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.136(b) recognises two ANSI footwear standards, ANSI Z41-1999 and ANSI Z41-1991, alongside ASTM F-2412-2005 and F-2413-2005. ASTM lists the current ASTM edition, F2413-24, as Active.
What is the ASTM F2413-24 standard?
It is the current edition of the ASTM specification for performance requirements for protective (safety) toe cap footwear. It covers minimum design, performance, testing and classification requirements for protections such as toe impact and compression resistance, metatarsal protection, electrical properties and sole puncture resistance.
Is ASTM F2413-18 still valid?
ASTM lists F2413-18 as Historical, while F2413-24 is the Active edition. Boots labelled to it exist in the market, and whether such a label meets a given requirement depends on the wording of that requirement.
Sources
- ASTM International, ASTM F2413-24 standard page (scope and abstract), checked 2026-10-29.
- ASTM International, ASTM F2413-18 standard page (Historical edition), checked 2026-10-29.
- ASTM International, ASTM F2412-18a standard page (test methods and property codes), checked 2026-10-29.
- OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.136, Foot protection, checked 2026-10-29.
