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Selection Criteria for Particulate Filters

Any filters certified under NIOSH's current Part 84 requirements are generally acceptable for negative pressure respiratory protection against all aerosols, mists, fumes, and dusts subject to the filter stated limitations. These filters will be labeled with a letter N, R or P and a number representing the efficiency, 95, 99 or 100.

An exception for usability occurs when a substance specific OSHA standard, e.g. lead, requires a specific filter efficiency. If one of these standards requires a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter to comply with its requirement, the user should select a filter with a labeled efficiency number of 100.

• 29 CFR 1910 Subpart I, Personal protective equipment. OSHA Standard.
  • 1910.134, Respiratory protection
    • 1910.134(d)(3)(iv). OSHA standard requirements for Particulate Respirator Selection.


• NIOSH Guide to the Selection and Use of Particulate Respirators Certified Under 42 CFR 84. US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication No. 96-101, (1996, January). The Table of Contents to this document provides links to the corresponding sections by title.


• NIOSH Respirator User Notices. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), (1997, May 2). NIOSH service time recommendations for P-Series Particulate Respirators.