NIOSH recently updated the format of its Certified Equipment List, a tool intended to help respirator users, safety managers, industrial hygienists, and others determine whether the respirator they are currently using or considering using is NIOSH-certified. The Certified Equipment List also helps users select the appropriate respirator to protect against the hazards to which they are exposed; locate the correct replacement component parts for respirators with chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) protections; and learn which respirators are designed to provide protection from CBRN agents and which manufacturers produce units meeting NIOSH’s standards. According to NIOSH, the 2016 edition of the Certified Equipment List has an expanded “Quick Search” feature, which allows users to search by TC (approval) number, schedule, manufacturer or brand, manufacturer of respirators with CBRN protection, facepiece type, and protection. Users can also search only on filtering facepiece respirators.

The 2016 Certified Equipment List is available on NIOSH’s . The NIOSH National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory provides about the update.