On July 10, 1995, 30 CFR 11 was replaced by 42 CFR 84 as an active regulation. As of that date, NIOSH no longer accepts applications for new approvals or for extension of approvals under Part 11 regulations. All nonpowered, air-purifying, particulate-filter respirators approved under Part 84 must meet the new performance standard. However, the new regulation permits the manufacture and sale of nonpowered particulate respirators certified under Part 11 until July 10, 1998. This 3-year period will provide time for manufacturers to have new respirators approved and manufactured to meet demand. OSHA, MSHA, and other regulatory agencies have the authority to set a use deadline for 30 CFR 11 filters purchased before July 10, 1998.
All particulate respirators approved under Part 84 will have a certification label bearing the NIOSH and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) emblems, whereas those approved under Part 11 have the emblems of NIOSH and MSHA. This allows the user to distinguish particulate respirators certified before July 10, 1995, under Part 11 from particulate respirators certified after that date under Part 84.
The revised testing requirements for particulate filters are much more demanding than the old Part 11 tests, and they provide much better evidence of the filter’s ability to remove airborne particles. The new requirements are consistent with 20 years of advances in respiratory protection technology.
Figure 1
NIOSH 42 CFR 84 Filter Classes:
The Part 84 certification regulation provides for nine classes of filters (three levels of filter efficiency, with three categories of resistance to filter efficiency degradation). The three levels of filter efficiency are 95%, 99%, and 99.97%.
The three categories of resistance to filter efficiency degradation are labeled N (Not resistant to oil), R (Resistant to oil), and P (oil Proof) (see figure 1).
These new certification categories apply only to nonpowered, air-purifying, particulate-filter respirators. PAPRs for particulates will be approved only with high-efficiency filters. PAPRs will not be approved with DM or DFM filters under Part 84. This rule also eliminates the combination categories of paint spray and pesticide respirator approvals; however, other combination respirators (e.g., particulates and acid gases or organic vapors) will be certified under Part 84.
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