Safety Talk: Impact Testing Safety Toe Shoes
Safety Talk: Impact Testing Safety Toe Shoes

Safety Talk: Impact Testing Safety Toe Shoes

KEEN Utility safety toe shoes are built with one of four different toe types – carbon, aluminum, steel, or composite. We know that work footwear is used for many different job tasks, so we make sure that the level of safety and protection is the same for each of our toe types.

To meet the specifications of the ASTM F2413-18 M I/75 C/75 EH safety footwear standard, each of our toe types is rated to an impact resistance of 75 foot pounds and a compressive load resistance of up to 2,500 pounds. Here’s how the safety toes in our safety toe shoes are tested:

I/75 Impact Resistance Test
A piece of clay (approximately the size of a big toe) is placed inside of a safety toe. A 50 pound weight is dropped on it from about 18 inches to create a 75 ft/lb impact. The clay is measured, and as long as it’s not compressed further than ½” (15/32” for women’s safety toes), the toe passes.

C/75 Compression Resistance Test
A piece of clay (approximately the size of a big toe) is placed inside of a safety toe. The toe is then compressed with a steady 2500 lb force. The clay is measured, and as long as it’s not compressed further than ½” (15/32” for women’s safety toes), the toe passes.