Respirator selection · particulate
Wood dust respirator selection— (cellulosic organic particulate; species-dependent)
Sawmills, furniture and cabinet making, millwork, flooring, carpentry, pattern making, and general woodworking/construction operations such as sawing, sanding and routing.
OSHA standard: 29 CFR 1910.1000, Table Z-1 (enforced under the PNOR limits; no wood-dust-specific standard)
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.
Particulate hazard. Measured in mg/m³ and captured by N/R/P particulate filters — not gas/vapor cartridges. Coarse-to-fine solid organic particulate, non-oil - N-series acceptable; N95 is generally adequate for nuisance loading. Upgrade to N100/P100 for hardwood dust (associated with sinonasal cancer) and for high dust concentrations or long durations. See the cartridge & filter guide.
Calculator for Wood dust
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 Wood dust by respirator
MUC = APF × the OSHA PEL (15 mg/m3) (no IDLH cap — none established). Use this as a reference for the highest concentration each respirator class may be used at.
| Respirator | APF | MUC (mg/m3) |
|---|---|---|
| Air-Purifying Respirator · Quarter mask | 5 | 75 |
| Air-Purifying Respirator · Half mask | 10 | 150 |
| Supplied-Air Respirator (Airline) · Half mask · Demand | 10 | 150 |
| Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus · Half mask · Demand | 10 | 150 |
| Powered Air-Purifying Respirator · Helmet / hood | 25 | 375 |
| Powered Air-Purifying Respirator · Loose-fitting facepiece | 25 | 375 |
| Supplied-Air Respirator (Airline) · Helmet / hood · Continuous flow | 25 | 375 |
| Supplied-Air Respirator (Airline) · Loose-fitting facepiece · Continuous flow | 25 | 375 |
| Air-Purifying Respirator · Full facepiece | 50 | 750 |
| Powered Air-Purifying Respirator · Half mask | 50 | 750 |
| Supplied-Air Respirator (Airline) · Full facepiece · Demand | 50 | 750 |
| Supplied-Air Respirator (Airline) · Half mask · Continuous flow | 50 | 750 |
| Supplied-Air Respirator (Airline) · Half mask · Pressure-demand / positive-pressure | 50 | 750 |
| Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus · Full facepiece · Demand | 50 | 750 |
| Powered Air-Purifying Respirator · Full facepiece | 1,000 | 15,000 |
| Supplied-Air Respirator (Airline) · Full facepiece · Continuous flow | 1,000 | 15,000 |
| Supplied-Air Respirator (Airline) · Full facepiece · Pressure-demand / positive-pressure | 1,000 | 15,000 |
| Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus · Full facepiece · Pressure-demand / positive-pressure | 10,000 | 150,000 |
Notes
Current OSHA enforcement is via the PNOR limits (15 mg/m3 total / 5 mg/m3 respirable) because the wood-dust-specific 1989 PEL (5 mg/m3 TWA, 10 mg/m3 STEL) was vacated by the 11th Circuit in 1992. NIOSH is far lower (1 mg/m3, or 0.5 mg/m3 for Western red cedar) and classifies wood dust as a carcinogen (nasal cancer, chiefly hardwoods). No IDLH is established for wood dust.
Sources
- https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0667.html
- https://www.osha.gov/wood-dust/hazards
- 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.