Respirators protect the user in two basic ways. The first is by the removal of contaminants from the air. Respirators of this type include particulate respirators, which filter out airborne particles; and "gas masks” which filter out chemicals and gases. Other respirators protect by supplying clean respirable air from another source. Respirators that fall into this category include airline respirators, which use compressed air from a remote source; and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), which include their own air supply.
Respirators should only be used as a "last line of defense" when engineering control systems are not feasible. Engineering control systems, such as adequate ventilation or scrubbing of contaminants should be used to negate the need for respirators.
NIOSH issues recommendations for respirator use. Industrial type approvals are in accordance to the NIOSH federal respiratory regulations 42 CFR Part 84. Development of respirator standards are in concert with various partners from government and industry.

Selection
NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical
Hazards
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2005-149
Exposure limits, Respirator Recommendations, First Aid, more...
The Pocket Guide is a source of general industrial hygiene information on several
hundred chemicals/classes found in the work environment. Key data provided for
each chemical/substance includes name (including synonyms/trade names), structure/formula,
CAS/RTECS Numbers, DOT ID, conversion factors, exposure limits, IDLH, chemical
and physical properties, measurement methods, personal protection, respirator
recommendations, symptoms, and first aid.
NIOSH Respirator
Selection Logic 2004
DHHS (NIOSH) Pub. No. 2005-100
Provides a process that respirator program administrators can use to select
appropriate respirators to protect workers in specific workplaces. Replaces
the NIOSH Respirator Decision Logic (NIOSH Publication No. 87-108), and includes
information on N-95 through P-100 particulate respirators.
Fact
Sheet: What You Should Know In Deciding Whether to Buy Escape Hoods,
Gas Masks, or Other Respirators for Preparedness at Home and Work
Provides information on what respirators are, how they work, and what
is needed for a respirator to provide adequate protection.
Respirator Usage in Private
Sector Firms, 2001
NIOSH and U.S. DOL BLS Publication
NIOSH and the Bureau of Labor Statistics conducted a voluntary survey
of U.S. employers regarding the use of respirators. The findings are
intended to provide information to develop interventions and to increase
the frequency and effectiveness of respirator use in the workplace.
NIOSH-Approved
Disposable Particulate Respirators (Filtering Facepieces)
Provides a listing of NIOSH-approved disposable particulate respirators
that health care workers can use to help protect themselves from diseases
potentially spread through the air, such as SARS or Tuberculosis.
Understanding
Respiratory Protection Against SARS
Q & A about respirators and SARS, including what types of respiratory
protection should be used by health care workers and others to protect
against SARS.
Respirators: Your TB Defense
/ TB Respiratory Protection: Administrator's Review
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2002-114d. DVD.
Includes the programs 'Respirators: Your TB Defense', 'TB Respiratory
Protection: Administrator's Review', and written materials in electronic
format.
TB Respiratory Protection Program
in Health Care Facilities
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 99-143.
This manual is designed to serve as a practical guide for those individuals
responsible for initiating and running a TB respiratory protection program
in health care facilities.
Medical Aspects of Wearing Respirators
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 91-119
PDF only
1.61 MB (28 pages)
Appendix H — Criteria for a Recommended Standard: Occupational
Exposure to Ethylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether, Ethylene Glycol Monoethyl
Ether, and Their Acetates.
NIOSH Guide to Industrial Respiratory
Protection
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 87-116
Covers types of Respirators, guidance for selection and use, user notices,
more....
NIOSH Guide
to the Selection and Use of Particulate Respirators Certified Under
42 CFR 84
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 96-101
Explains the federal regulation for certifying air-purifying particulate
respirators [42 CFR Part 84] and provides valuable information for selecting
and using respirators certified by NIOSH.
NIOSH Federal Respiratory Regulations 42 CFR Part 84
External Link: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_04/42cfr84_04.html
NIOSH Respirator Decision Logic (1987)
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 87-108
Includes criteria for selection, restrictions and requirements, decision
logic sequence, more...
Cleaning and Maintenance
Suggested Respirator Cleaning
and Sanitation Procedures
Guidance for selecting cleaning equipment and supplies, procedures for
respirator maintenance.
Fact Sheet for Workers in Secondary
Response and Other Supporting Roles
FAQs About Exposure to Dusts and Gases.
Certification
Certified
Equipment List
The Certified Equipment List (CEL) is a database of all certified respirators
and coal mine dust personal sampler units.
NIOSH Approved Respirators
NIOSH is testing and certifying Self-contained
Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) and Air
Purifying Respirators (APR) for use by emergency responders
in chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) environments.
These pages list all currently certified models.
Statement
of Standard for CBRN Full Facepiece Air Purifying Respirators for Use
by Emergency Responders in Terrorist Attacks
Includes Statement of Standard, Inspection and Certification
Fees, Cautions and Limitations, Guidelines for Identification of Test
Configurations, more...
Criteria
for Certifying Air-Purifying Escape Respirators and Self-Contained Escape
Respirators for Use Against CBRN Agents
This letter informs manufacturers of voluntary requirements that air-purifying
escape respirators and self-contained escape respirators must meet in
order to obtain NIOSH approval. It also provides the procedures for
the submission of applications for these approvals.
Statement
of Standard and Approval Criteria — SCBAs for Emergency Response
Workers in Terrorist Attacks
Statement of standard, testing procedures, info for respirator manufacturers.
Certification
Program Support for Respirator Manufacturers
Centralized support services for respirator manufacturers. Includes
lists of certification projects that are currently being processed,
applications, application procedures, logos, more...
Standards and Rulemaking
CBRN
Respirator Standards Development Efforts
Ongoing efforts to develop standards and test procedures for all classes
of respirators that will provide respiratory protection against Chemical,
Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear inhalation hazards. Includes Powered
Air Purifying Respirators (PAPR), Escape
Respirators, Full
Facepiece APRs, and Self
Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA).
Standards
Development Efforts for Respiratory Devices Used to Protect Workers
in Hazardous Environments
Ongoing efforts to develop standards and test procedures for all classes
of respirators used to protect workers in hazardous environments. Includes
Close-circuit
Self-contained Self Rescuers (SCSR),
multifunction Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPR), Total
Inward Leakage (TIL) Concepts, and concepts
for the Quality Assurance Module.
Full
Text (PDF Only): Respiratory Protective Devices, 42 CFR Part 84
External Link: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getpage.cgi?dbname=1995_register&position=all&page=30335
Includes the test requirements that a filter and respirator must meet
for NIOSH to grant an approval to a manufacturer.
Technical Summary: Respiratory Protective Devices, 42 CFR Part 84
User Notices
Other Resources
OSHA Web site:
Respiratory
Protection
External Link: http://www.osha-slc.gov/SLTC/respiratoryprotection/index.html
Respiratory
Protection Standards — Training and Reference Materials
External Link: http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/ote/trng-materials/respirators/respirators.html
Deaths
Involving the Inadvertent Connection of Air-line Respirators to Inert
Gas Supplies
This Safety and Health Information Bulletin contains information about
fatalities that have occurred due to the inadvertent connection of air-line
respirators to inert gas supplies.
External Link: http://www.osha.gov/dts/shib/shib042704.html