NIOSH-Approved N95 Respirators: How to Check, Fit and Choose

A NIOSH certified N95 respirator is one that appears on the NIOSH Certified Equipment List (CEL). To check one, find the TC approval number on the package, search it on the CEL, and confirm the manufacturer and part number match what you hold. Then fit matters: choose the size and style that seals on your face, and ask for a fit test if you wear one for work.

This guide is for safety managers, maintenance teams, contractors, small business owners and home buyers. It covers how to verify approval, how fit testing works, valved vs unvalved models, and the cases where an N95 is not enough. It is not medical advice and it does not replace your employer's respiratory protection program. Every product named below is in our Respirators collection, with more in Safety & PPE.

How to check that an N95 respirator is NIOSH approved

NIOSH keeps the official list of approved respirators, the Certified Equipment List. NIOSH says approved filtering facepiece respirators should show NIOSH and the protection level, such as N95 (NIOSH). The steps:

1. Read the respirator. Look for the NIOSH name, the filter class (N95) and the manufacturer on the product itself.
2. Find the TC number. The approval number starts with TC, then an approval code and four digits, for example TC 84A-XXXX. An approved filtering facepiece is marked with it (NIOSH).
3. Search the CEL. Enter the number on the NIOSH Certified Equipment List. If the number is not on the CEL, or it belongs to a different manufacturer, treat the product as not approved.
4. Match the details. Confirm that the manufacturer, part (model) number and approval number on your product match the CEL entry.

CDC says NIOSH does not approve KN95 masks, or any other respiratory device certified solely to international standards (CDC). Buy from a seller that lists the manufacturer's model number, and check the CEL if anything on the box looks off.

Our listing titles give the manufacturer and model number, so use the package and the CEL to check the approval number.

What N95 means

NIOSH classifies particulate filters by a letter and a number. The N means not resistant to oil, with R and P covering oil-resistant classes. The 95 means the filter captures at least 95 percent of airborne test particles (NIOSH). That makes an N95 a particulate filter for dust, sanding and similar non-oil particles.

Fit and fit testing basics

An N95 only filters what passes through it. Gaps at the face let air leak around the filter, so fit comes first.

OSHA's respiratory protection standard, 29 CFR 1910.134, requires a fit test for tight-fitting respirators at work. The employer must ensure the test happens before initial use, whenever a different respirator facepiece (size, style, model or make) is used, and at least annually after that. The same rule bars tight-fitting facepieces for employees with facial hair that comes between the sealing surface and the face, or that interferes with valve function (eCFR).

The rule also says employers must select a NIOSH-certified respirator. If you run a crew, fit testing belongs inside a written program, and a failed test means trying a different size or model, not wearing the mask anyway.

Unless the manufacturer limits the respirator to a single use, NIOSH says you can wear a filtering facepiece until it is damaged, soiled or causing noticeably increased breathing resistance (NIOSH). At work, your respiratory protection program decides. Teams go through respirators quickly, so compare pack counts.

Practical points when you choose:

• Buy more than one model for a trial so people can find the one that seals.
• Check whether a model is adjustable or non-adjustable. The Moldex 2200N95 is listed with a non-adjustable dual strap.
• A fit test only covers the model and size tested. If you change brands to save money, test again.
• Home buyers should read the maker's fit instructions and do a seal check each time.

Valved vs unvalved N95 respirators

An exhalation valve opens to let air escape when you breathe out, which NIOSH says reduces breathing resistance and can make the respirator more comfortable (NIOSH). If your setting or your safety officer requires exhaled air to be filtered, choose an unvalved model.

• As a rule of thumb, choose unvalved if you work around other people in shared or clean spaces, or your safety officer wants exhaled air filtered. The Moldex 2200N95 and Moldex 2600N95 do not list an exhale valve in the title. Confirm on the package.
• Consider valved for long solo shifts in warm areas. The Moldex 2300N95 and Moldex 2307N95 are listed with an exhale valve.

Check each model's approval on the CEL, valve or no valve.

N95 respirator comparison

To compare cost per respirator, divide the listed price by the pack count. A bigger pack locks you into one model, so test fit before you order a case.

When an N95 is not enough

A disposable N95 is not the right tool for every hazard:

• Oil mists. The N class is not oil resistant, so oil aerosols need a different filter class.
• Gases and vapors. A particulate filter does not remove them (NIOSH). You need a respirator with the right chemical cartridge.
• Unknown or high-level hazards. OSHA expects an employer to identify and evaluate respiratory hazards before choosing a respirator (29 CFR 1910.134), which means a hazard assessment, not a guess at the shelf.

If you would rather not discard a respirator every shift, a reusable half mask takes replaceable filters or cartridges. Your hazard assessment still decides whether it fits the job. The North 5501N95S is a half mask respirator kit that includes four cartridges. The listing does not state the filter class, so read the manufacturer's data sheet to confirm it fits your hazard before you order. Fit testing applies to half masks as well.

Buying for a business or at home

For a business, pick one or two models that pass your fit test, stock them in the sizes your crew needs, and reorder by SKU through Quick Order. Keep a copy of your hazard assessment and fit test records with the purchase record. For larger case quantities, send a request through Bulk Quotes.

If you are restocking PPE, you can add safety glasses and work gloves to the same order. For home use, the same checks apply: confirm the approval on the CEL, read the fit instructions, and use the product only as its maker describes. For mold, wildfire smoke or health questions, follow your local health agency's guidance.

Order terms:

• Free shipping on orders of $79 or more, and $7.90 on orders under $79.
• Orders placed by 2 PM ET on a business day ship within 1-2 business days.
• Returns are accepted within 30 days of delivery. The customer pays return shipping, except for damaged, defective or wrong items.
• Net-30 terms are available for approved business accounts. Apply through Business Accounts.
• Tax-exempt purchasing is supported for eligible buyers.

Related guides: How to choose nitrile gloves for a facility, ANSI cut level chart and Work glove size chart.

See the full range in Respirators and the wider Safety & PPE department.