NIOSH ratings

The NIOSH ratings are a set of rules that NIOSH uses to check respirators. Today, the rules NIOSH uses is called 42 CFR 84. NIOSH uses these rules to check N95 respirators. Before the N95, other rules have been used in the past, like 30 CFR 11. Also, some less-seen respirators can have filters that can be changed. These respirators are called elastomeric respirators. See the last chart for other less-seen respirators. NIOSH checks all these less-seen respirators too.^[1]

Under 42 CFR 84, rules for chemical filters are also made by the American National Standards Institute. One rule is called ANSI K13.1-1973, which are rules for chemical cartridge colors.^[2] A new set of rules under ANSI K13.1-1973 is called ANSI Z88.7-2001.^[3] To stay simple, ANSI's color rules are not listed below.

1. ↑ "42 CFR Part 84 Respiratory Protective Devices". The National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. 4 March 1997. Retrieved 8 June 2023 – via U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
2. ↑ Cite error: The named reference part84 was used but no text was provided for refs named (see the help page).
3. ↑ American National Standard for Color-Coding of Air Purifying Respirator Canisters, Cartridges, and Filters (PDF), American Industrial Hygiene Association, ANSI, 2001-05-03