ASTM F3445-24 is a performance specification for evaluating footwear slip resistance using the ASTM F2913 whole-shoe tester. It creates defined test conditions and performance requirements that make a documented claim more meaningful than an unsupported 'non-slip' label. It does not make footwear slip-proof, does not cover every possible floor or contaminant, and does not establish steel-toe protection. Verify the exact model, edition, test conditions, and any separate ASTM F2413 marking.
ASTM F3445 is useful because it gives footwear buyers a more disciplined question than 'Does this outsole look grippy?' The current ASTM committee listing identifies F3445-24 as the specification for performance requirements when evaluating slip resistance with the F2913 whole-shoe tester. In plain language, it addresses the performance of footwear under controlled procedures rather than declaring a material or tread pattern inherently safe.
The standard is still only one part of a slip-prevention program. A laboratory condition cannot reproduce every combination of worn flooring, temperature, detergent, cooking grease, metal dust, mud, walking speed, and tread wear. Employers should use test information with a site-specific hazard assessment, incident data, floor controls, maintenance, training, and a replacement plan.
How F3445 and F2913 relate
ASTM F2913 is the test method used to measure footwear slip performance with a whole-shoe tester. ASTM F3445 supplies performance requirements for evaluating slip resistance using that method. The distinction matters: a method describes how to perform a measurement, while a specification sets requirements used to characterize performance. Current editions should be confirmed on ASTM International's official standards pages at https://www.astm.org.
Whole-shoe testing is preferable to reasoning from an outsole ingredient alone because the contact geometry, construction, tread, and complete footwear influence the test. Even so, a report should identify the exact model or construction evaluated. A result for one shoe should not be transferred to a visually similar style, a different outsole, or an updated product without manufacturer confirmation.
What the standard can tell a buyer
A credible report can show that footwear was evaluated under controlled, repeatable conditions using a recognized method and that it met the applicable specification. That supports comparison and procurement. Ask for the test laboratory, report date, standard editions, surface and contaminant configuration, sample identification, conditioning, and whether the marketed production model corresponds to the samples.
The standard does not select footwear for a workplace. A safety professional must compare the documented conditions with real exposures and consider the consequences of a slip. Kitchens, hospitals, machine shops, warehouses, roofs, and outdoor sites have different contaminants, gradients, and tasks. A qualifying test result is evidence, not a substitute for that judgment.
What F3445 does not prove
F3445 does not create a universal 'slip-proof' shoe. Traction can change when a contaminant differs, a floor coating ages, tread fills, temperature changes, or a worker moves from one surface to another. It also cannot guarantee a person will not fall. Marketing that removes all conditions and presents the standard as an absolute promise overstates what controlled testing can establish.
It also does not establish impact or compression protection, puncture resistance, electrical hazard properties, static dissipation, chemical resistance, waterproofing, or metatarsal coverage. Those features require their own relevant evidence. For protective toe-cap footwear, the current ASTM specification is F2413-24, supported by the F2412-24 test methods; OSHA's regulation separately defines employer duties.
How to read a product claim
Start by matching the report to the exact style number, not merely the brand or family name. Confirm that F3445 is named, that the edition is stated, and that whole-shoe testing is documented. Phrases such as 'meets industry standards,' 'tested outsole,' or 'restaurant approved' are too vague by themselves. Ask the supplier for the underlying declaration or report and retain it with procurement records.
Next, compare the tested configuration to the work. Identify the floors and contaminants in incident and near-miss reports. If the environment differs materially from the documented test, do not invent equivalence. Consult the manufacturer, a competent safety professional, or the employer's footwear program. When risks are significant, engineering and housekeeping controls deserve priority over product claims.
Keep performance from degrading
The value of an initial test depends on the footwear remaining in serviceable condition. Establish inspections for tread depth, rounded edges, embedded debris, cracking, hardening, separation, and upper damage that affects fit. Clean with approved agents and tools. Harsh chemicals, high heat, or improvised solvents can alter outsole materials and may leave residues that change traction.
Track where and when near-slips happen. If a new pair repeatedly loses traction in a defined zone, stop relying on the purchase specification and investigate the surface, contaminant source, drainage, cleaning method, matting, and work pace. F3445 documentation can improve selection, but sustained safety comes from the full system around the footwear.
Frequently asked questions
ASTM F3445 Slip-Resistant Footwear Guide FAQ
Is ASTM F3445-24 the current edition?
Yes. ASTM International's current F13.30 footwear standards listing identifies F3445-24. Confirm again at the time of procurement because standards can be revised.
Does F3445 mean a shoe is non-slip?
No shoe is slip-proof. F3445 documents performance under specified whole-shoe test conditions. Real-world performance still depends on the floor, contaminant, wear, maintenance, and movement.
Is F2913 the same as F3445?
No. F2913 is the whole-shoe test method; F3445 is the performance specification used when evaluating slip resistance with that method.
Does OSHA require every work shoe to meet F3445?
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.136 requires protective footwear where specified hazards exist and sets criteria for that protective footwear, but it does not name F3445 as a blanket requirement for every work shoe. Employer and industry policies may be more specific.
Final verdict
What to do next
ASTM F3445-24 turns a vague traction claim into a question that can be documented: was the exact footwear evaluated with the whole-shoe method and did it satisfy the applicable performance requirements? That is meaningful, but bounded, evidence.
Use it with site-specific hazard assessment, floor controls, correct fit, cleaning, inspection, and incident review. Keep toe protection and every other safety attribute as separate verification tasks.
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