Inside the tongue or shaft of every certified US safety boot is a small printed label full of letters and numbers. It tells you exactly what the boot has been tested to protect against. Once you know how to read it, you can check any boot against your job’s requirements in seconds.
Key points
- ASTM F2413 is the US performance standard for protective footwear.
- I/75 C/75 is the standard toe cap rating.
- Additional codes (Mt, EH, PR, CS, SD) show extra protections.
- OSHA 1910.136 references ASTM F2413 for protective footwear.
What is ASTM F2413?
ASTM F2413 is the specification that sets minimum performance requirements for protective (safety) toe cap footwear in the US. It is published by ASTM International and revised from time to time. The suffix, for example “-18”, shows the year of the version used. A companion standard, ASTM F2892, covers soft-toe protective footwear that has some ratings, such as EH, without a safety cap.
OSHA’s protective footwear rule (29 CFR 1910.136) requires footwear that meets ASTM F2413 or an equivalent where workers face foot hazards.
How the label is laid out
A typical label has up to three lines:
| Line | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ASTM F2413-18 | The standard and the version year |
| 2 | M I/75 C/75 | Gender (M or F), impact rating, compression rating |
| 3 | Mt/75 EH PR | Any additional protections |
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Line 2: toe cap ratings
- M or F shows whether the boot was tested as men’s or women’s footwear.
- I/75 means the toe cap passed impact testing at 75 foot-pounds, roughly equivalent to a 50 lb weight dropped from about 18 inches.
- C/75 means the toe cap passed compression testing at 2,500 pounds of force.
Both are pass/fail tests with required minimum clearance under the cap after testing. Steel, composite and alloy caps can all achieve I/75 C/75. See steel vs composite vs alloy.
Line 3: additional protections
Mt: metatarsal protection
Mt/75 means the boot protects the metatarsal bones on top of the foot, behind the toes, from impact at 75 foot-pounds. It’s common in steel mills, foundries and heavy fabrication. See our welding boot guide.
EH: electrical hazard
EH-rated soles and heels are tested to withstand 18,000 volts at 60 Hz for one minute with no current flow or leakage above 1.0 milliampere under dry conditions. They are a secondary protection only. Read EH boots explained.
PR: puncture resistance
PR footwear has a puncture-resistant plate or layer in the sole, tested against penetration by a steel pin with 270 pounds (1,200 newtons) of force.
CS: chainsaw cut resistance
CS footwear includes protective material designed to resist cuts from a running chainsaw.
SD: static dissipative
SD footwear reduces static build-up by conducting a controlled amount of charge to the ground. It is shown with a resistance class, for example SD 10, SD 35 or SD 100. SD and EH serve opposite purposes, so a boot will not normally carry both.
Cd: conductive
Conductive footwear provides a direct, low-resistance path to ground. It is used where static could ignite explosive atmospheres or damage electronics. It must never be worn near live electrical circuits.
Important: a boot is only rated for the protections printed on its label. “EH-style” or “safety-inspired” in a product description is not the same as a certified rating.
Other standards you may see
- CSA Z195 (Canada): uses symbols such as a green triangle for Grade 1 toe protection with a puncture-resistant sole.
- EN ISO 20345 (Europe and UK): uses codes such as SB, S1, S1P, S3 and slip ratings.
If you work across borders, check which standard your site requires.
Checking a boot before you buy
Look for the label in product photos or ask the seller for it. Compare each code to your employer’s PPE policy. If a code you need is missing, the boot doesn’t meet the requirement, however tough it looks.
Frequently asked questions
What does I/75 C/75 mean?
I/75 means the toe cap passed impact testing at 75 foot-pounds. C/75 means it passed compression testing at 2,500 pounds. Together they are the standard rating for most safety toe boots.
Does OSHA require ASTM F2413 boots?
OSHA 1910.136 requires protective footwear that meets ASTM F2413 (or an equivalent standard) where there is a danger of foot injury from falling or rolling objects, piercing objects or electrical hazards.
Where is the ASTM label on a boot?
It is usually printed or stitched on the inside of the tongue or on the inner side of the boot shaft. Some boots also stamp it under the insole.