Respirator selection
Chlorine respirator selectionCl2
Water and wastewater disinfection, household/industrial bleach, and PVC/plastics and chemical manufacturing.
These are federal OSHA limits. The PEL shown is the federal OSHA value. About two dozen states run their own OSHA-approved plans, and some — notably California (Cal/OSHA) — enforce lower or additional exposure limits. If you work under a state plan, check your state's PEL and enter it as a custom limit in the calculator.
Recommended cartridge: Acid Gas (AG) — White band
An APR fitted with the correct cartridge is only adequate up to its MUC (below) — the cartridge must be able to capture chlorine. Low IDLH (10 ppm) sharply limits the maximum-use concentration; cartridge must be NIOSH-approved specifically for chlorine. Above ~5 ppm / at IDLH use supplied air or SCBA. Good warning properties (irritant odor near 0.3 ppm). You must establish a change-out schedule; never rely on taste or smell. See the cartridge & filter guide.
The OSHA limit for chlorine is a ceiling value, not an 8-hour average. The MUC method below is defined for time-weighted limits, so apply professional judgment.
Calculator for Chlorine
Result
Enter a concentration and an exposure limit to see the
compliant respirators and their Maximum Use Concentration.
Hazard ratio = concentration ÷ OEL · Minimum APF must meet or exceed it · MUC = APF × OEL (capped at IDLH). Source: OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134(d)(3)(i)(A), Table 1 — Assigned Protection Factors. Last verified 2026-07-16.
Maximum use concentration for Chlorine by respirator
MUC = APF × the OSHA PEL (1 ppm), capped at the IDLH (10 ppm). Use this as a reference for the highest concentration each respirator class may be used at.
| Respirator | APF | MUC (ppm) |
|---|---|---|
| Air-Purifying Respirator · Quarter mask | 5 | 5 |
| Air-Purifying Respirator · Half mask | 10 | 10 |
| Supplied-Air Respirator (Airline) · Half mask · Demand | 10 | 10 |
| Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus · Half mask · Demand | 10 | 10 |
| Powered Air-Purifying Respirator · Helmet / hood | 25 | 10IDLH |
| Powered Air-Purifying Respirator · Loose-fitting facepiece | 25 | 10IDLH |
| Supplied-Air Respirator (Airline) · Helmet / hood · Continuous flow | 25 | 10IDLH |
| Supplied-Air Respirator (Airline) · Loose-fitting facepiece · Continuous flow | 25 | 10IDLH |
| Air-Purifying Respirator · Full facepiece | 50 | 10IDLH |
| Powered Air-Purifying Respirator · Half mask | 50 | 10IDLH |
| Supplied-Air Respirator (Airline) · Full facepiece · Demand | 50 | 10IDLH |
| Supplied-Air Respirator (Airline) · Half mask · Continuous flow | 50 | 10IDLH |
| Supplied-Air Respirator (Airline) · Half mask · Pressure-demand / positive-pressure | 50 | 10IDLH |
| Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus · Full facepiece · Demand | 50 | 10IDLH |
| Powered Air-Purifying Respirator · Full facepiece | 1,000 | 10IDLH |
| Supplied-Air Respirator (Airline) · Full facepiece · Continuous flow | 1,000 | 10IDLH |
| Supplied-Air Respirator (Airline) · Full facepiece · Pressure-demand / positive-pressure | 1,000 | 10IDLH |
| Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus · Full facepiece · Pressure-demand / positive-pressure | 10,000 | 10IDLH |
Notes
NIOSH REL Ceiling 0.5 ppm [15-min]. OSHA PEL Ceiling 1 ppm (Table Z-1). IDLH 10 ppm. Neither agency sets an 8-hr TWA. NPG conversion 1 ppm = 2.90 mg/m3; MW 70.9.
Sources
- https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0115.html
- https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/idlh/7782505.html
- https://www.osha.gov/annotated-pels/table-z-1
Data confidence: high. Values are cited from OSHA and NIOSH but should be verified against the current source and a qualified professional before use. See how this works.