Regulations last checked for updates: Nov 22, 2024

Title 42 - Public Health last revised: Nov 19, 2024
§ 84.172 - Airflow resistance test.

(a) Resistance to airflow will be measured in the tight-fitting respiratory inlet covering of a complete particulate respirator mounted on a test fixture with air flowing at continuous rate of 85 ±2 liters per minute, before each test conducted in accordance with § 84.173.

(b) Resistance of a complete tight-fitting powered air-purifying particulate respirator system will be measured with the blower off if the manufacturer indicates that the respirator should not be doffed in the event of a blower failure.

(c) The maximum allowable resistance requirements for air-purifying particulate respirators are as follows:

Maximum Resistance

[mm water-column height]

Respirator type Inhalation Exhalation
Initial Final
Non-Powered (N, R, and P)35N/A25
Powered (tight fitting) (HE class and PAPR100 class)507020
authority: 29 U.S.C. 651
source: 60 FR 30355, June 8, 1995, unless otherwise noted.
cite as: 42 CFR 84.172