Summary of ASTM F2892: Soft Toe Protective Footwear Standard

This is the fourth and final post in a four-part series providing an overview of Tyndale’s boot program along with the applicable industry standards – ASTM F2412, ASTM F2413, and ASTM F2892. In this post we provide an overview of ASTM F2892, Standard Specification for Performance Requirements for Soft Toe Protective Footwear (Non-Safety / Non Protective Toe).

ASTM F2892 is the Standard Specification for Performance Requirements for Soft Toe Protective Footwear (Non-Safety / Non-Protective Toe). According to ASTM F2892, “This specification covers minimum requirements for the performance of footwear to provide protection against a variety of workplace hazards other than the toe area that can potentially result in injury.”

Because many jobs in the industry do not require impact or compression toe protection, the ASTM committee developed non-safety toe cap (soft toe) requirements allowing manufacturers to demonstrate the performance level of soft toe footwear.

While ASTM standards F2412 and F2413 provide test methods and performance requirements for footwear requiring a safety toe cap, the primary purpose of ASTM F2892 is the certification of soft toe protective footwear. In order for footwear to bear the ASTM marking, certification must be performed by independent third party laboratories.

The specification contains performance requirements to protect workers’ feet by providing the following protection:

• Conductive properties (Cd), which reduce hazards that may result from static electricity buildup; and reduce the possibility of ignition of explosives and volatile chemicals.
• Electric hazard protection (EH), to protect wearers when accidental contact is made by stepping on a live electric wire.
• Static dissipative properties (SD) to reduce hazards due to excessively low footwear electrical resistance that may result where SD footwear is required.
• Puncture resistance (PR) footwear devices.

Note:  Description of protective properties is paraphrased from ASTM F2892. 

This standard also provides examples of labeling for soft toe safety or occupational footwear. Proper labeling and identification ensures the wearer that the footwear meets the required minimum performance as stated in this specification F2892.

Did you know Tyndale offers a managed boot program, where all boots are vetted for compliance with applicable industry standards – ASTM F2412 and ASTM F2413? View our first post in this series, containing information on Tyndale’s flexible boot program management for your employees. Contact your Tyndale National Account Manager to discuss how you can add boots to your FR clothing program or to further discuss staying safe with proper foot protection.