Safety standards for Footwear and Outerwear
Footwear and outerwear standards determine safety specifications and performance requirements for protective footwear and children’s outerwear. ASTM International (ASTM) is a key standards developer for consensus standards and test methods related to protective footwear. ASTM has developed several footwear and outerwear standards, which are intended to minimize the risk of sustaining an injury.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has assisted in the implementation of new federal safety rules for drawstrings on Children’s outwear. According to the CPSC, 26 children have died when drawstrings on their garment became entangled on slides, doors, or other objects. ASTM has developed a standard for children’s upper outerwear, ASTM F1816-97(2009), in order to prevent such injuries and deaths.
ASTM footwear standards define minimum requirements for the design, performance, testing, and classification for protective footwear. These standards are intended to protect users from electrical shock, puncture, abrasion, and more. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has created a guide for United States Footwear Compliance Requirements (PDF link) that defines the regulations and specifications pertaining to footwear.
ASTM F2892-18
Standard Specification for Performance Requirements for Soft Toe Protective Footwear (Non-Safety / Non-Protective Toe)
1.1 The principal purpose of this specification is the certification of protective footwear. Certification must be performed by independent third party laboratories in order for footwear to bear the ASTM marking. 1.2 The specification contains performance requirements for footwear to protect workers' feet from the following hazards by providing: (1) conductive properties (Cd) which reduce hazards that may result from static electricity buildup; and reduce the possibility of ignition of explosives and volatile chemicals; (2) electric hazard protection (EH), to protect the wearer from accidental contact by stepping on live electric wires; (3) static dissipative properties (SD) to reduce hazards due to excessively low footwear electrical resistance that may exist where SD footwear is required; (4) puncture resistance (PR) footwear devices. 1.3 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. 1.4 This specification is not intended to serve as a detailed manufacturing or purchasing specification, but can be referenced in purchase contracts to ensure that minimum performance requirements are met. 1.5 Controlled laboratory tests used to determine compliance with the performance requirements of this specification shall not be deemed as establishing performance levels for all situations to which individuals may be exposed. 1.6 Any changes to the original components of safety footwear such as replacing or adding after market footbeds/inserts could cause failure to any or all parts of this specification rendering the ASTM Soft Toe Protective Footwear label invalid. 1.7 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard. 1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. 1.9 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
ASTM F2413-18
Standard Specification for Performance Requirements for Protective (Safety) Toe Cap Footwear
1.1 This specification covers minimum requirements for the performance of footwear to provide protection against a variety of workplace hazards that can potentially result in injury. 1.2 This specification is not intended to serve as a detailed manufacturing or purchasing specification, but can be referenced in purchase contracts to ensure that minimum performance requirements are met. 1.3 Controlled laboratory tests used to determine compliance with the performance requirements of this specification shall not be deemed as establishing performance levels for all situations to which individuals may be exposed. 1.4 Any changes to the original components of safety toe footwear such as replacing or adding after market footbeds/inserts could cause failure to any or all parts of this standard rendering the ASTM marking invalid. 1.5 This specification is not applicable to overshoes with safety toe caps or strap on devices with safety toes. 1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only. 1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. 1.8 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
ASTM F1816-18
Standard Safety Specification for Drawstrings on Children's Upper Outerwear
1.1 This specification covers and is intended to reduce strangulation and vehicular dragging hazards associated with drawstrings on children's upper outerwear. 1.2 The type of clothing covered by this specification is girls' and boys' clothing, such as jackets and sweatshirts, generally intended to be worn on the exterior of other clothing. 1.3 The sizes covered by this specification are sizes 2T to 12 for neck/hood drawstrings and sizes 2T to 16 for waist/bottom drawstrings. 1.4 Upper outerwear with fully retractable drawstrings are exempt. 1.5 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard. 1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
ASTM F1646-16
Standard Terminology Relating to Walkway Safety and Footwear
1.1 The terminology standard covers terminology related to walkway safety and footwear. 1.2 Words adequately defined in standard dictionaries are not included. Included are words that are particular to this industry and those contained in standards under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F13 on Pedestrian/Walkway Safety and Footwear.
