NIOSH is the U.S. federal agency that conducts research and makes recommendations to

prevent worker injury and illness. NIOSH was established under the Occupational Safety

and Health Act of 1970. It is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

For more information

NATIONAL PERSONAL PROTECTIVE 

TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

The National Personal Protective Technology 

Laboratory (NPPTL) is a Division of the National 

Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 

(NIOSH). NPPTL prevents work-related injury, illness, 

and death by advancing the state of knowledge and 

application of personal protective technologies (PPT). 

NPPTL supports more than 20 million U.S. workers 

who rely on this equipment (e.g., respirators, clothing, 

gowns, gloves, eye protection and other types of 

protective gear) to keep them safe from on-the-job 

hazards.

NPPTL conducts laboratory 

and field research, 

surveillance, standards 

development, interventions, 

and conformity assessment 

activities. This work includes 

the respirator approval program and post-market 

evaluations to increase the compliant use of PPT and 

improve its usability and effectiveness. The division has 

the following goals: 

• Develop and implement science-based national 

guidance for respiratory and other PPT.

• Develop new methods to test effectiveness of PPT 

for workers, including workers across industry 

sectors.

• Create guidance and tools to help employers and 

workers use PPT as effectively and economically as 

possible.

• Develop and evaluate innovative PPT designs and 

test methods to improve comfort, fit, and usability.

NPPTL is responsible for evaluating and 

approving respirator models to ensure 

the expected performance level of 

respirators used within U.S. workplace 

settings. NPPTL also conducts site and 

product audits to ensure respirators 

continue to meet standards after approval. 

NPPTL also participates in 

international, federal, and 

consensus PPT standards 

development activities to facilitate 

translating research findings and 

sharing staff expertise.

Technology & Product Highlights

• NPPTL more than doubled respirator investigations 

and approval decisions in 2020 and achieved 730 

respirator approval decisions in 2021.

• In 2021, NPPTL completed 412 quality assurance 

audits, providing confidence that respirators

on the market continue to be effective for their 

intended purposes.

• NPPTL international respirator efficiency testing 

revealed that approximately 60% of more than 780 

international respirators tested demonstrated less 

than expected filtration efficiency and should not 

be used as respirators in U.S. workplace settings.

• NPPTL provided the scientific basis for the Strategic 

National Stockpile’s release of respirators and 

surgical gowns that were beyond manufacturerdesignated shelf life, providing millions of 

respirators and gowns to healthcare workers 

during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• NIOSH shortened the timeline for its approval 

of new N95 respirators to support the national 

effort to increase supplies of PPE, addressing more 

than 1300 new approval applicant requests and 

responses from non-domestic requesters (up from 

approximately 10 annually) and 460 new approval 

applicant requests from domestic requesters (up 

from 3-5 annually) in the first year of the COVID-19 

pandemic.

• NPPTL established guidance to identify the gowns 

and coveralls needed to protect users from harmful 

pathogens such as Ebola.

www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/contact.html

(412) 386-6111 @NIOSH_NPPTL
Find NIOSH products and get answers to workplace safety and health questions:

1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636) | TTY: 1-888-232-6348

cdc.gov/cdc-info | cdc.gov/niosh

NIOSH monthly newsletter: cdc.gov/niosh/eNews

This document is in the public domain and may be freely copied or reprinted.

https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHPUB2018141revised102022

DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2018-141 (revised10/2022)

October 2022

OUR SAFETY AND HEALTH RESEARCH AREAS

Personal Protective 

Technology

Post Market Assessment Healthcare

Emergency Response Public Safety Mining

Programs

Respirator Approval Program

The NIOSH NPPTL Respirator Approval Program is responsible 

for the testing and approval of respirators used in occupational 

settings. To be approved, a respirator model must meet the 

minimum performance requirements defined in Title 42, Part 

84 of the Code of Federal Regulations (42 CFR 84). This approval 

process ensures a minimum level of worker protection from 

airborne particulates, chemicals, and vapors. The approval 

process includes a laboratory evaluation of the respirator model, 

an evaluation of the manufacturer’s quality control plan, and 

audit testing of certified respirators. To facilitate these activities, 

NPPTL uses Standard Test Procedures. www.cdc.gov/niosh/

npptl/stps/respirator_testing.html

OUR STAFF

NPPTL has 103 full time positions and has offices and labs in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Morgantown, West Virginia. 

Staff have experience in the following areas:

Science: Biology | Chemistry | Physiology | Ergonomics

Engineering: Mechanical | Electrical | Chemical | Biomedical

Occupational Health: Nurses | Physicians | Epidemiologists

Health Communications: Health Communication Specialists

Quality Assurance: Quality Assurance Specialists | Statisticians