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This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice.
Short answer
There is no single downloadable NIOSH approved respirator list. NIOSH keeps the Certified Equipment List (CEL), which it calls the official listing of all NIOSH Approved respirators, as a searchable database that it updates as respirators are approved, made obsolete or change status. To check a product, search the CEL with the TC approval number printed on the respirator or its packaging.
Definition and scope
The CEL (also searched as the “NIOSH certified equipment list”) is the register behind the “NIOSH Approved” mark. NIOSH tests and approves respirators used in U.S. workplaces under 42 CFR Part 84, “Approval of Respiratory Protective Devices.” “NIOSH Approved” is a registered certification trademark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The CEL answers one question: does NIOSH list this approval number as an approved respirator? It does not rank products, and it does not tell you whether a respirator suits a given task or fits a given person. Those are separate questions; see respirator fit testing requirements and the laboratory respiratory protection program guide.
How the list is used in practice
NIOSH says the easiest way to confirm approval is to search the CEL by TC number. Every NIOSH approved respirator carries a testing and certification (TC) number, shown as 84A-XXXX: an approval code, a dash and four digits. It is printed on the respirator and on a label on or in the packaging. The CEL has three search tabs:
- Approval number: look up a specific TC number; separate several numbers with a semicolon.
- Quick search: search by schedule, manufacturer or brand, facepiece type or protections, with links for certain respirator types and a CBRN search. Private label assignees do not appear here.
- Advanced search: combine criteria such as protections and manufacturer. It also covers supplied-air and self-contained breathing apparatus types and includes a private label search.
If an approval number search returns nothing, NIOSH says the number is not valid and the product is not NIOSH approved. The default is 50 results per page, and selecting several protection checkboxes returns only results that match all of them. Clicking an approval number opens its details page; components are shown only for CBRN respirators.
Which tab to use: a lookup guide
| What you hold | Where to look on the CEL | What NIOSH says |
|---|---|---|
| A TC number from the respirator or packaging | Approval number tab | No result means the number is not valid and the product is not NIOSH approved. |
| Only a manufacturer or brand name | Quick search | Searches by schedule, manufacturer or brand, facepiece type or protections. |
| A brand that is not the manufacturer (private label) | Advanced search, private label search | Private label products carry the same approval number as the manufacturer’s; quick search does not list private label assignees. |
| Older stock whose approval may be obsolete | Advanced search | Obsolete approvals are found with advanced search; they can still be sold, used and recognized as NIOSH approved until the approval is revoked or rescinded. |
| A supplied-air or self-contained breathing apparatus | Advanced search | Advanced search covers these types. |
Source for the table: NIOSH, “How the Certified Equipment List Works”, checked 2026-11-01.
Fields to confirm with a supplier
For filtering facepiece respirators, NIOSH lists the markings expected on the exterior: the approval holder name or logo (the private-label name or logo for private-label products), “NIOSH” in block letters or the NIOSH logo, the TC approval number (required on products made after September 2008), a model number, and the filter designation such as N95, N99, N100, R95, P95 or P100. Lot number and manufacture date are recommended but not required. NIOSH calls the part number the most precise identifier. A checklist that follows from those markings:
- The approval holder, and whether the product is sold under a private label.
- The full TC number, so it can be entered on the approval number tab.
- The model or part number, to compare with the CEL record.
- The filter designation printed on the product, compared with the one the CEL entry shows.
NIOSH states that some products marketed as “N95” without the full required labeling are not NIOSH approved and may not provide the expected protection. For label markings and counterfeit warning signs on N95s specifically, see N95 NIOSH approved masks: how to verify approval.
Where it matters for labs, clinics and supply decisions
A product page, quote or invoice that says “NIOSH approved” is a claim; the CEL entry for the TC number is the check NIOSH itself points to. Recording the TC number, model and approval holder for each respirator model stocked gives later reviewers something to look up again, because NIOSH changes CEL entries as status changes. Related reading: what an N95 respirator is, respirator cartridges and NIOSH filter classes and N95 vs N100.
Common misunderstandings
- “There is a list I can download.” NIOSH presents the CEL as a searchable database with three search tabs.
- “Not found in quick search means not approved.” Quick search leaves out private label assignees and, per NIOSH, obsolete approvals need advanced search. The approval number tab is the direct check.
- “Obsolete means unapproved.” NIOSH says obsolete respirators can still be sold, used and recognized as NIOSH approved until the approval is revoked or rescinded.
- “The CEL ranks respirators.” It is a list of approvals, not a ranking or a fit or suitability judgment.
- “FDA clearance equals NIOSH approval.” They are separate; see why FDA does not certify devices.
FAQ
Is there a NIOSH approved respirator list?
Yes, in the form of the Certified Equipment List, NIOSH’s official listing of all NIOSH Approved respirators. It is searched online by approval number, quick search or advanced search rather than read as a fixed document.
What is the NIOSH certified equipment list?
It is the same list: NIOSH’s database of approved respirators, updated as respirators are approved, made obsolete or change status.
What do I do if a TC number returns no result?
NIOSH says the number is not valid and the product is not NIOSH approved. If you suspect an obsolete approval, search again with advanced search.
Sources
- NIOSH (CDC), “How the Certified Equipment List Works,” https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ppe/niosh-approved-respirators/cel-tips.html, checked 2026-11-01 (page updated October 28, 2026).
- NIOSH (CDC), “Identifying NIOSH Approved Respirators,” https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ppe/niosh-approved-respirators/index.html, checked 2026-11-01 (page updated October 28, 2026). This page also cites 42 CFR Part 84, “Approval of Respiratory Protective Devices.”
