Identifying NIOSH Approved® Respirators

Facts

All NIOSH approved respirators come with a NIOSH approval label on or within the respirator packaging. This label includes a testing and certification (TC) approval number (e.g., TC 84A-XXXX).

The easiest way to confirm that a product is a NIOSH approved respirator is to search for it on the NIOSH Certified Equipment List (CEL). You can search the CEL by the TC approval number.

Required labeling for NIOSH Approved FFRs

Filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) that have NIOSH approval will have specific labeling printed on the facepiece. Some respirators on the market may be labeled as “N95” (the most common type of FFR). However, if a respirator does not contain all of the components of the required label, it is not a NIOSH approved respirator and cannot be relied on to provide the same level of respiratory protection. (See Counterfeit and Misrepresented Respirators for more information.)

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The infographic explains where required identification markings appear on the exterior of a NIOSH-approved N95 filtering facepiece respirator. A centered illustration of the respirator is labeled with arrows pointing to example markings:

• Approval holder: the approval holder's name or logo; for private-labeled products, the private-label name or logo appears instead.
• NIOSH: the name "NIOSH" in block letters or the NIOSH logo.
• TC-Approval Number: an example such as "TC-84A-XXXX." For products manufactured after September 2008, the TC Approval Number is required on the product.
• Model number: an example such as "Model Number."
• Lot number and date of manufacture: recommended but not required.
• Filter designation: the NIOSH filter series and efficiency rating, such as N95, N99, N100, R95, P95, or P100, or "Surgical N95 Respirator" when applicable. The registration symbol does not appear on the actual product.

The respirator illustration includes sample markings reading "Manufacturer's Name," "NIOSH," "TC-84A-XXXX," "N95," "Model Number," and "Lot Number." The graphic also includes a QR code and the URL www.cdc.gov/niosh/ppe/niosh-approved-respirators/index.html for more information. CDC and NIOSH logos appear at the lower right. A footer states that N95 and NIOSH Approved, along with several NIOSH filter designations, are registered certification trademarks of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The infographic is marked "Updated October 2026."

Show Text Description

FFR approval markings

• Name of approval holder/manufacturer business name

• Part number (which may be the model number, but looking for the part number, even on FFRs, is the most accurate way to identify a particular respirator.)

• NIOSH filter series and filter efficiency level, which will most often be N95^® (For other FFR types, it could be N99^®, N100^®, R95^®, R99, R100, P95^®, P99, or P100^®.)

• NIOSH testing and certification approval number, e.g., TC-84A-XXXX

• NIOSH in capital block letters

• Lot number may be on the N95 abbreviated label or the product packaging

NIOSH approval criteria

NIOSH only approves respirators that pass its strict quality assurance and performance requirements. As part of these tests, NIOSH uses a near worst-case penetrating aerosol size (i.e., particles that are best able to make it through a filter). This ensures that every respirator that passes these tests will filter potentially hazardous particles as expected when used in real-world situations. For example, an N95 respirator must not allow more than 5% of these particles to penetrate through.

Resources

How to tell if your N95 Respirator is NIOSH Approved (2021)

What you should look for to determine if an N95 is NIOSH approved.