How It’s Tested: Episode 17 – Why Footwear Testing Matters
Our How it's Tested series explores safety standards and test methods for AR / FR garments and PPE. With Scott Margolin, Vice President of Technical as our guide, we examine many of the major tests to understand what they measure, how they measure it, and what that means to someone like you who is specifying or wearing the garment. Whether you are a seasoned professional or just starting out, explore all episodes in this series to make sure you are up to date on the latest information.
We’re getting into the nitty gritty of testing to explain how protective footwear is tested! You’ll first need to know which two standards govern protective footwear. These standards are ASTM F2412, Standard Test Methods for Foot Protection and ASTM F2413, Standard Specification for Performance Requirements for Protective (Safety) Toe Cap Footwear. These are the most current footwear consensus standards.
What is ASTM F2412?
The ASTM F2412 standard describes the specific methods, including diagrams of the equipment used (when appropriate), to conduct the testing for each of the protections listed below. The ASTM F2412 test methods measure resistance of footwear to hazards that may result in injury to the worker. These methods may be used to test for compliance to minimum performance requirements in established safety standards. The test methods can also be used to determine the effectiveness of the footwear to provide protections.
What is ASTM F2413?
ASTM F2413 covers the minimum design, performance, testing, labeling, and classification requirements, and prescribes fit, function, and performance criteria for footwear designed to be worn to provide protection against a variety of workplace hazards that can potentially result in injury.
For each performance requirement (listed below), three tests are administered (per ASTM F2412). The test with the lowest score is the test result applied to the footwear classification.
Footwear need not meet all of the below requirements to comply with ASTM F2413; labeling on the boot should clearly state which of the requirements the footwear meets.
- Impact resistance
- Compression resistance
- Metatarsal protection
- Conductive properties
- Electric shock resistance
- Static dissipative properties
- Puncture resistance
- Chain saw cut resistance
- Dielectric insulation
For the sake of this week’s How It’s Tested episode and blog, Scott Margolin and special guest, Heath Hunter, Director of Industrial Sales at Ariat, cover impact resistance and compression resistance in protective footwear. Tune in to watch these two experts discuss why these tests are crucial to ensuring that protective footwear is not only labeled for safety but tested for safety.
ASTM F2412 outlines the exact method to test and measure whether the footwear meets requirements of the safety standard at hand. When testing for both impact and compression in footwear, three pairs of men’s size 9 and three pairs of women’s size 8 shoes are tested. A safety test is performed by dropping a 75 lb. weight from 1.5 feet in the air at a designated speed. This means that protective footwear that passes the impact and compression tests protects wearers’ toes from 75 lbs. impacting the foot or a compression load of up to 2500 lbs.
There are four classifications of impact resistance: Class 75 (2500 pounds) for men, Class 75 for women, Class 50 (1000 pounds) for men, and class 50 for men. Compression resistance is classified the same way as impact resistance: Class 75 (men and women) and Class 50 (men and women).
We want to extend a special thank you to Heath Hunter at Ariat for participating in our How It’s Tested series and providing valuable information related to protective footwear testing. We’re just getting our feet dirty – so to speak. Check out next week’s blog for more on How It’s Tested: Protective Footwear.
