N95 respirator

An N95 respirator^[1] is a particulate-filtering facepiece respirator or elastomeric filter that meets the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) N95 classification of air filtration, meaning that it filters at least 95% of airborne particles that have a mass median aerodynamic diameter of 0.3 micrometers^[2] under 42 CFR Part 84. This standard does not require that the respirator be resistant to oil; two other standards, R95 and P95, add that requirement. The N95 type is the most common particulate-filtering facepiece respirator.^[3] It is an example of a mechanical filter respirator, which provides protection against particulates but not against gases or vapors.^[4] An authentic N95 respirator is marked with the text "NIOSH" or the NIOSH logo, the filter class ("N95"), and, for filtering facepiece respirators (respirators with non-replaceable filters), a "TC" approval number of the form XXX-XXXX, the approval number. All N95 respirators, regardless of type, must be listed on the NIOSH Certified Equipment List (CEL)^[5] or the NIOSH Trusted-Source page,^[6] and it must have headbands instead of ear loops.^[7]

Examples of N95 Respirators

A 3M 8210 filtering facepiece respirator

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)

An elastomeric respirator with N95 filters installed. Note the lack of a TC number; TC numbers are absent on elastomeric respirators.

All of these respirators have been approved by NIOSH under 42 CFR Part 84,^[8] and have been listed in the CEL.

N95 respirators are considered similar to other respirators regulated under non-U.S. jurisdictions, but slightly different criteria are used to certify their performance, such as the filter efficiency, test agent and flow rate, and permissible pressure drop. For example, FFP2 respirators of the European Union are required to meet at least 94% filtration, and KN95 respirators of China are expected to meet at least 95% filtration.^[9] However, NIOSH found that some products labeled "KN95" failed to meet these standards, some of them filtering out as little as one percent.^[10] Both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Health Canada require such KN95 products failing to meet the filtration standards to be re-labeled as "face masks" instead of "respirators",^[11][12] when being sold in the U.S. and Canada.

The N95 respirator is commonly made of a fine mesh of synthetic polymer fibers, specifically a nonwoven polypropylene fabric.^[13] It is produced by melt blowing and forms the inner filtration layer that filters out hazardous particles.^[14]