Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
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This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice.
Short answer: an N95 is NIOSH approved only if its label carries the required markings and its model name and approval number match an entry on the NIOSH Certified Equipment List (CEL). A seller calling a mask “genuine” or “NIOSH approved” is not evidence either way. Who uses it: clinic and hospital staff, laboratory workers, and the buyers and safety officers who supply them.
What “NIOSH approved” means
NIOSH, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, is the federal agency responsible for testing and approving respirators used in U.S. workplace settings. For an N95, the filtration test uses a near worst-case particle size, and the respirator must not allow more than 5% of those particles to penetrate. Only respirators evaluated by NIOSH that meet its minimum requirements are NIOSH Approved. For what an N95 is and how it differs from a surgical mask, see What Is an N95 Respirator? and What Is a Surgical Mask?.
What the label must show
NIOSH states that a respirator missing any component of the required label is not a NIOSH approved respirator and cannot be relied on. Check each marking:
| Marking | What NIOSH says |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer or approval holder name | Must appear on the respirator; private-label products show the private-label name or logo. |
| “NIOSH” | Printed in capital block letters (or the NIOSH logo). |
| TC approval number | A NIOSH testing and certification number in the form TC-84A-XXXX, which must be printed on the respirator. |
| Filter designation | Usually N95; N99, N100, R95, R99, R100, P95, P99 and P100 also exist. |
Source: NIOSH, “NIOSH-Approved Particulate Filtering Facepiece Respirators”, cdc.gov, read 2026-10-29.
How to check the Certified Equipment List
NIOSH calls the Certified Equipment List the official listing of all NIOSH Approved respirators and says the easiest way to confirm a product is to search it by TC approval number. Two points matter:
- Match both the model name and the approval number to the list. NIOSH specifically says it is important that a product’s model name and approval number match the CEL, so a real TC number copied onto a different product does not pass.
- Employers and respirator users are expected to use the CEL to verify approval; a retailer’s description is not a substitute.
Counterfeit and misrepresented respirators
NIOSH separates two problems. Counterfeit respirators are products designed to look like a genuine NIOSH Approved model. Misrepresented respirators misuse NIOSH’s certification marks or are falsely sold as NIOSH Approved. NIOSH lists these warning signs:
| Where | Red flag named by NIOSH |
|---|---|
| Marketplace listing | Calls the product “legitimate” or “genuine” (NIOSH says such listings likely are not). |
| Marketplace listing | “Unlimited stock” during a shortage may indicate a product NIOSH has not approved. |
| Marketplace seller | Inventory that shifts toward trending items, price swings, or deals that seem too good to be true. |
| Website | Primary contact email from a free email service rather than the company’s own domain. |
| Website | Typos, bad grammar, photo editing, dummy text, broken links or a misspelled domain. |
Source: NIOSH, “Counterfeit Respirators / Misrepresentation of NIOSH-Approval”, cdc.gov, read 2026-10-29. To report a suspect product, NIOSH asks for the manufacturer name, model or part number, photos of the respirator and packaging, the approval number if present, and the web address where it was found; the contact address is [email protected].
Filter classes beyond N95
The filter designation on the label pairs a series letter with an efficiency level: N, R or P series at 95, 99 or 100 (for example N95, R100, P100). The N95 level is the one covered by the 5% penetration limit above. Whichever designation a product shows, the same label and CEL checks apply.
Safe use and handling basics
An approved respirator still has to be selected and used within the workplace’s respiratory protection program. For fit testing and program requirements, see respirator fit testing and respiratory protection programs for laboratories; for where respirators sit among precautions in healthcare, see transmission-based precautions.
Common mistakes
- Treating “N95” printed on a package as proof of approval. The designation is only one of the required label elements.
- Checking the TC number but not the model name against the CEL.
- Accepting a seller’s own use of the words “genuine” or “legitimate” as verification.
- Keeping a product whose label is missing a required element.
FAQ
How can I tell if an N95 is NIOSH approved?
Read the label for the manufacturer name, “NIOSH” in block letters, a TC approval number and the filter designation, then confirm the model name and TC number against the NIOSH Certified Equipment List.
What if the label is missing the TC number?
NIOSH says a respirator without all components of the required label is not NIOSH approved and cannot be relied on.
Where do I report a counterfeit respirator?
NIOSH asks that reports go to [email protected] with the details listed above.
Sources
- NIOSH, NIOSH-Approved Particulate Filtering Facepiece Respirators: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ppe/niosh-approved-respirators/ (read 2026-10-29)
- NIOSH, Counterfeit Respirators and Misrepresentation of NIOSH-Approval: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ppe/counterfeit_respirators/index.html (read 2026-10-29)
