NIOSH stands for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. It is a federal agency in the United States under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). NIOSH is responsible for conducting research, providing recommendations, and developing guidelines to ensure the safety and health of workers in various industries.
One of NIOSH's notable contributions is the development of the NIOSH Respirator Approval Program, which includes the establishment of respirator ratings. The NIOSH respirator ratings provide a standardized way to assess the effectiveness of different types of respirators in filtering out airborne contaminants.
The NIOSH respirator ratings consist of two key components:
1. NIOSH Approval Code: This code, usually in the format "TC-XXX-XXXX," indicates that the respirator has met the testing and performance requirements set by NIOSH.
2. NIOSH Filter Classifications: NIOSH assigns different filter classifications based on the respirator's ability to filter out airborne particles. The most common classifications include:
- N95, N99, N100: These ratings indicate that the respirator filters out at least 95%, 99%, or 99.97% of airborne particles, respectively, when tested using a specific particle size (0.3 microns) under specified testing conditions.
- P95, P99, P100: These ratings are similar to N-series ratings but are oil-resistant in addition to filtering out the specified particle sizes.
- R95, R99, R100: These ratings are also similar to N-series ratings but are oil-resistant and can be used for a maximum of eight hours in environments containing oil-based aerosols.
It's important to note that the NIOSH ratings specifically apply to respirators used for respiratory protection, particularly in occupational settings. These ratings do not encompass other types of personal protective equipment (PPE) or safety standards.
If you require detailed information about specific NIOSH respirator ratings or other safety guidelines provided by NIOSH, it is advisable to visit the official NIOSH website or consult the official NIOSH publications and resources.
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