Respirator selection
Formaldehyde respirator selectionHCHO (CH2O)
Resins/adhesives, particleboard & plywood, embalming/pathology, textiles, disinfectants; wood-products and healthcare industries.
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.
Cartridge (limited use): Formaldehyde-specific cartridge/canister — Olive band
An APR fitted with the correct cartridge is only adequate up to its MUC (below) — the cartridge must be able to capture formaldehyde. VERIFIED against NIOSH npgd0293: formaldehyde is a carcinogen (Ca) and the Pocket Guide itself lists the air-purifying gas-mask canister for ESCAPE ONLY (APF 50), with SCBA/SAR required at any detectable concentration. Routine APR use is an OSHA 1910.1048 provision, which permits a NIOSH-approved formaldehyde cartridge within its concentration table but mandates a NIOSH-approved end-of-service-life indicator (ESLI) OR a strict change-out schedule. Standard OV carbon does NOT reliably retain formaldehyde (migration/early breakthrough); a formaldehyde-approved cartridge is required. Poor warning at/below the PEL (odor threshold ~1 ppm); no dedicated ANSI K1 color, sold as a special/olive multi cartridge. You must establish a change-out schedule; never rely on taste or smell. See the cartridge & filter guide.
Calculator for Formaldehyde
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 Formaldehyde by respirator
MUC = APF × the OSHA PEL (0.75 ppm), capped at the IDLH (20 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 | 3.75 |
| Air-Purifying Respirator · Half mask | 10 | 7.5 |
| Supplied-Air Respirator (Airline) · Half mask · Demand | 10 | 7.5 |
| Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus · Half mask · Demand | 10 | 7.5 |
| Powered Air-Purifying Respirator · Helmet / hood | 25 | 18.75 |
| Powered Air-Purifying Respirator · Loose-fitting facepiece | 25 | 18.75 |
| Supplied-Air Respirator (Airline) · Helmet / hood · Continuous flow | 25 | 18.75 |
| Supplied-Air Respirator (Airline) · Loose-fitting facepiece · Continuous flow | 25 | 18.75 |
| Air-Purifying Respirator · Full facepiece | 50 | 20IDLH |
| Powered Air-Purifying Respirator · Half mask | 50 | 20IDLH |
| Supplied-Air Respirator (Airline) · Full facepiece · Demand | 50 | 20IDLH |
| Supplied-Air Respirator (Airline) · Half mask · Continuous flow | 50 | 20IDLH |
| Supplied-Air Respirator (Airline) · Half mask · Pressure-demand / positive-pressure | 50 | 20IDLH |
| Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus · Full facepiece · Demand | 50 | 20IDLH |
| Powered Air-Purifying Respirator · Full facepiece | 1,000 | 20IDLH |
| Supplied-Air Respirator (Airline) · Full facepiece · Continuous flow | 1,000 | 20IDLH |
| Supplied-Air Respirator (Airline) · Full facepiece · Pressure-demand / positive-pressure | 1,000 | 20IDLH |
| Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus · Full facepiece · Pressure-demand / positive-pressure | 10,000 | 20IDLH |
Notes
Verified via NIOSH IDLH page + NPG search data (live NPG card fetch was 403 — re-verify card directly). OSHA 1910.1048: TWA 0.75 ppm, STEL 2 ppm, action level 0.5 ppm. NIOSH REL Ca: TWA 0.016 ppm with 15-min Ceiling 0.1 ppm. IDLH Ca [20 ppm]. Conversion 1 ppm = 1.23 mg/m3; MW 30.0.
Sources
- https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0293.html
- https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/idlh/50000.html
- https://www.osha.gov/annotated-pels/table-z-1
- https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.1048
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.