Respirator selection
Hydrogen fluoride respirator selectionHF
Aluminum production, glass/semiconductor etching, stainless-steel pickling, petroleum alkylation catalyst, fluorochemical manufacture.
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): Acid Gas (AG) — HF-specific NIOSH approval required — White band
An APR fitted with the correct cartridge is only adequate up to its MUC (below) — the cartridge must be able to capture hydrogen fluoride. HF is a severe systemic/percutaneous poison; use only a cartridge NIOSH-approved specifically for hydrogen fluoride. IDLH 30 ppm caps use; above it supplied air/SCBA required. Skin/eye protection is critical because HF penetrates tissue. You must establish a change-out schedule; never rely on taste or smell. See the cartridge & filter guide.
⚠ Skin absorption hazard: a respirator alone is not enough
Hydrogen fluoride penetrates skin and causes deep, delayed burns plus systemic fluoride toxicity, so skin and eye protection are essential in addition to a respirator. Wear chemical-protective gloves and clothing rated for this substance, plus eye and face protection. Flame-resistant (FR) clothing guards against flash fire, not chemical permeation, so it is not a substitute for a chemical-protective suit.
⚠ Skin absorption hazard: a respirator alone is not enough
Hydrogen fluoride penetrates skin and causes deep, delayed burns plus systemic fluoride toxicity, so skin and eye protection are essential in addition to a respirator. Choose gloves and protective clothing rated against this chemical (check the Safety Data Sheet for permeation data), and use eye protection.
Calculator for Hydrogen fluoride
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 Hydrogen fluoride by respirator
MUC = APF × the OSHA PEL (3 ppm), capped at the IDLH (30 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 | 15 |
| Air-Purifying Respirator · Half mask | 10 | 30 |
| Supplied-Air Respirator (Airline) · Half mask · Demand | 10 | 30 |
| Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus · Half mask · Demand | 10 | 30 |
| Powered Air-Purifying Respirator · Helmet / hood | 25 | 30IDLH |
| Powered Air-Purifying Respirator · Loose-fitting facepiece | 25 | 30IDLH |
| Supplied-Air Respirator (Airline) · Helmet / hood · Continuous flow | 25 | 30IDLH |
| Supplied-Air Respirator (Airline) · Loose-fitting facepiece · Continuous flow | 25 | 30IDLH |
| Air-Purifying Respirator · Full facepiece | 50 | 30IDLH |
| Powered Air-Purifying Respirator · Half mask | 50 | 30IDLH |
| Supplied-Air Respirator (Airline) · Full facepiece · Demand | 50 | 30IDLH |
| Supplied-Air Respirator (Airline) · Half mask · Continuous flow | 50 | 30IDLH |
| Supplied-Air Respirator (Airline) · Half mask · Pressure-demand / positive-pressure | 50 | 30IDLH |
| Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus · Full facepiece · Demand | 50 | 30IDLH |
| Powered Air-Purifying Respirator · Full facepiece | 1,000 | 30IDLH |
| Supplied-Air Respirator (Airline) · Full facepiece · Continuous flow | 1,000 | 30IDLH |
| Supplied-Air Respirator (Airline) · Full facepiece · Pressure-demand / positive-pressure | 1,000 | 30IDLH |
| Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus · Full facepiece · Pressure-demand / positive-pressure | 10,000 | 30IDLH |
Notes
NIOSH REL TWA 3 ppm (2.5 mg/m3) AND 15-min Ceiling 6 ppm (5 mg/m3). OSHA PEL (Table Z-2) TWA 3 ppm. Values expressed as HF. IDLH 30 ppm. Conversion 1 ppm = 0.82 mg/m3; MW 20.0.
Sources
- https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0334.html
- https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/idlh/7664393.html
- https://www.osha.gov/annotated-pels/table-z-2
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.