Particulate respirators help reduce the wearer’s exposure to airborne contaminants. They come in various sizes and must fit tightly to the wearer’s face. NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health)-approved particulate respirators are engineered and tested to meet very specific, stringent government standards. This article provides an overview of NIOSH-approved particulate respirators and answers some commonly asked questions regarding respiratory protection.
NIOSH approves (under 42 CFR Part 84) nine different classes of particulate filters. There are three levels of filter efficiency: 95, 99 and 100 (99.97) %, based upon filtering particles down to a 0.3 micron particle size. The efficiency rating means that a filter rated“95” will remove 95% of all airborne particulates down to 0.3 microns.
In addition to filtering efficiency, NIOSH also tests and approves filters based upon compatibility with oil aerosols. There are three series designations: N-series (“not” for oil aerosols), R-series (oil “resistant”) and P-series (oil “proof”).