ASTM

ASTM Standards for Protective Footwear

ASTM International writes performance standards across a huge range of industries, but the one that matters most for the gear we cover is ASTM F2413, the U.S. performance specification for protective toe-cap footwear. It sets the minimum impact and compression resistance a safety boot’s toe cap must withstand, regardless of whether it’s built from steel, alloy, or composite material, and it defines the supplemental protection codes stamped inside every compliant boot — things like EH (electrical hazard), PR (puncture resistant), and Mt (metatarsal protection). If a work boot claims a safety rating, that claim should be traceable to an F2413 marking, not just a product description.