Reference

N95 is a NIOSH (US) filtering facepiece rating; FFP2 and FFP3 come from Europe's EN 149. The filtration numbers look close — 95%, 94%, 99% — but the test methods, leakage requirements, and legal acceptance differ. Here is the honest conversion logic, the markings that prove authenticity, and what each jurisdiction accepts.

NIOSH 42 CFR Part 84 governs respirator certification in the U.S., replacing the Bureau of Mines standard in 1995. It defines the N/R/P oil-resistance classification and 95/99/100 filtration tiers. This guide covers the approval process, TC number anatomy, and step-by-step Certified Equipment List verification with a worked example.

Can You Reuse an N95: N95 filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) are designated as single-use devices under NIOSH's 42 CFR Part 84 approval system. NIOSH does not approve any N95 for routine reuse.