AAFA introduces new protective footwear standards
The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) has announced that the former ANSI Z41 1999 standard, Standard for Personal Protection Protective Footwear, has been withdrawn, and has been replaced by new ASTM standards.
The new ASTM International standards replacing and updating the Z41 document are entitled F2412-05 Standard Test Methods for Foot Protection and F2413-05 Standard Requirements for Protective Footwear, both under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F13 on Pedestrian/Walkway Safety and Footwear.
The American National Standards Institute’s ANSI Z41Committee on Personal Protection-Protective Footwear merged into ASTM International’s Committee F13 in 2004. This merger enabled ASTM Committee F13 to undertake the oversight and redrafting of ANSI Z41 performance requirements and test method standards for safety footwear.
The new ASTM standards contain minimal changes from the withdrawn ANSI Z41 1999 standard with regard to test methodology. The major performance characteristics changes between the new ASTM standard and the old ANSI standard are the removal of Type II Static Dissipative and Class 30 for impact and compression requirements. Therefore, the majority of existing industry inventory of product and product-information that is labeled or advertised as in compliance with the ANSI Z41 1999 standard should be compliant with the new ASTM standards. However, manufacturers are cautioned to review the new documents and the changes to ensure such compliance.
According to Kevin Burke, president and CEO of AAFA: “The introduction of these new protective footwear standards will permit the continued use of safety and performance standards previously provided in the ANSI document, which has been an important part of worker safety since 1967.” Burke applauded the work of many AAFA member companies in making these new standards possible. “These new standards will soon become the gold standard for protective footwear in the
