N95 respirator

"N95" redirects here. For other uses, see N95 (disambiguation).
Further information: NIOSH air filtration rating

An N95 respirator is a disposable filtering facepiece respirator or reusable elastomeric respirator filter that meets the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) N95 standard of air filtration, filtering at least 95% of airborne particles that have a mass median aerodynamic diameter of 0.3 micrometers under 42 CFR 84, effective July 10, 1995. A surgical N95 is also rated against fluids, and is regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration under 21 CFR 878.4040, in addition to NIOSH 42 CFR 84. 42 CFR 84, the federal standard which the N95 is part of, was created to address shortcomings in the prior United States Bureau of Mines respirator testing standards, as well as tuberculosis outbreaks, caused by the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States. Since then, N95 respirator has continued to be solidified as a source control measure in various pandemics that have been experienced in the United States and Canada, including the 2009 swine flu and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Examples of N95 respirators
A Moldex N95 respirator
A Moldex 2200N95 disposable filtering facepiece respirator, with TC approval number on the strap, TC-84A-0327
A 3M 1860 filtering facepiece respirator with fluid resistance
Surgical N95 respirators for use in health care are both approved by NIOSH (as a respirator) and cleared by FDA (as a fluid resistant surgical mask), TC-84A-0006
Moldex Elastomeric Respirator with N95 filter circled
An elastomeric respirator with N95 filters installed. Note the lack of a TC number; TC numbers are absent on elastomeric respirators.
Thoroughly check the NIOSH Certified Equipment List, and compare the look and feel to known good respirators to verify that a suspect respirator is a NIOSH-approved N95.[1]

The N95 respirator is commonly made of a fine mesh of synthetic polymer fibers, specifically a nonwoven polypropylene fabric.[2] It is produced by melt blowing and forms the inner filtration layer that filters out hazardous particles.[3] However, the N95 standard does not preclude alternative means of filtration, so long as the respirator meets N95 standards and is approved by NIOSH.

The N95 is a trademark of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. It is illegal in the United States to use the term "N95" without the approval of NIOSH.

  1. ^ "Counterfeit Respirators / Misrepresentation of NIOSH Approval". May 23, 2024.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference VOADeliver was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Feng, Emily (March 16, 2020). "COVID-19 Has Caused A Shortage Of Face Masks. But They're Surprisingly Hard To Make". Goats and Soda. NPR.