National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL)

NPPTL - NIOSH National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory
How to Tell if Your N95® Respirator is NIOSH Approved
Video for How to tell if your N95 Respirator is NIOSH Approved

NIOSH Approved® N95 respiratory protective devices are the most common type of filtering facepiece respirator (FFR) used in U.S. workplaces. Our new video explains how to determine if an N95 FFR is NIOSH approved, including required labeling and where to look to confirm an approval number. It also provides tips for recognizing counterfeit and misrepresented respirators.

Improve Respirator Fit Evaluations by entering NIOSH-sponsored Challenge
Respirator Fit Evaluation Challenge logo

Small and disadvantaged workplaces often do not have the resources to conduct initial and annual respirator fit testing. We need innovators to design a respirator fit evaluation and feedback solution that delivers users real-time information on a filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) fit. NIOSH, Capital Consulting Corporation, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration recently launched a Respirator Fit Evaluation Challenge, a 3-phase challenge with a total of $350,000 in prize money. To learn more about the challenge, see the recording and slides from the February 2nd orientation webinar. Submission deadline for Phase 1 is May 1st, 2023 at 5 PM ET.


N95 and NIOSH Approved are certification marks of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) registered in the United States and several international jurisdictions.