How do you specify the right safety footwear marking?
Short answer: work from the hazard assessment, not the product name. Each hazard maps to a specific code in the ASTM F2413 marking stamped inside the boot, and a code that is not on the label is not certified — whatever the listing says. Answer the questions below and this tool builds the marking line to specify, then tells you what to check when the boots arrive.
This is the trigger in 29 CFR 1910.136 for a protective toe cap.
What each code means
| Code | Certifies | Threshold |
|---|---|---|
I |
Toe impact resistance | 75 ft-lbf |
C |
Toe compression resistance | 2,500 lbf |
Mt |
Metatarsal (instep) impact | 75 ft-lbf |
PR |
Sole puncture resistance | Minimum 270 lbf (1,200 N) nail penetration |
EH |
Electrical hazard, secondary protection | Sole and heel tested 18,000 V / 60 Hz / 1 min, leakage ≤ 1.0 mA. In service: open circuits to 600 V, dry. |
SD |
Static dissipative | SD 100 = 1 to 100 megohms (106–108 ohms) |
Cd |
Conductive | 0 to 500,000 ohms. Never for electrical work. |
CS |
Chainsaw cut resistance | Certified to the standard’s chainsaw test |
SR / SRO
|
Slip resistance — added by F2413-24 | Per ASTM F3445, tested with the ASTM F2913 whole-shoe tester |
The full line-by-line decode is in ASTM F2413 safety footwear explained, and the Canadian and European equivalents are in safety footwear standards compared.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a code appear if the boot was not tested for it?
No. Supplemental protections must be explicitly marked to be claimed, so an unmarked feature is not certified. If you specified EH and the stitched label has no EH line, the boot does not carry that rating no matter what the product page said.
Why does the marking have no number after I and C?
Because the numeric tiers were retired. F2413-11 and earlier marked I/75 and C/75 alongside a lower Class 50; the 2018 edition abolished Class 50 and dropped the suffix, so a boot certified to F2413-18 or F2413-24 simply reads M/I/C.
Can one boot be both EH and conductive?
No — they are opposites and this tool will not output both. EH footwear insulates the wearer from an energized circuit; conductive footwear deliberately drains charge to ground through a very low resistance. Wearing Cd footwear for electrical work removes the protection you think you have.
Do I need a safety toe if there is no impact hazard?
Not necessarily. If the assessment finds no falling or rolling objects, a soft-toe shoe can be the correct answer — and it can still carry EH, SD, Cd or PR ratings, certified under ASTM F2892 rather than F2413. See soft toe vs safety toe boots.
Steel or composite for the toe cap?
Either, as far as the rating goes — both meet the identical 75 ft-lbf and 2,500 lbf requirement. Choose composite where you need a metal-free boot (electrical work, metal detectors, extreme cold) and steel where you want the slimmest cap at the lowest cost. The comparison is in steel toe vs composite toe boots.
Does this tool tell me what OSHA requires?
It translates a hazard assessment into a marking. The requirement itself comes from 29 CFR 1910.136, which triggers on falling or rolling objects, objects piercing the sole, and electrical hazards, and from the assessment your employer performs under 1910.132. Site policy is frequently stricter than the regulation.
WC Safety is an independent industrial PPE review and research site. We do not sell products and hold no inventory. Thresholds shown here are taken from ASTM F2413 and OSHA 29 CFR 1910.136. This tool is reference information, not legal or regulatory advice.