Honeywell Full Face Respirator Lineup — North 5400, 6500, 7600

Which Honeywell full face respirator should you buy?

Short answer: this shelf holds three Honeywell North full-face series, each a single listing with its sizes as variants: the North 5400 value line in thermoplastic elastomer, the mid-range North RU6500, and the North 7600 premium silicone line. Whether North, 3M or MSA fits your program, the facepiece is only half the system — pair it with the right cartridge using the cartridge selection guide and the 3M vs Honeywell North cartridge comparison.

Editor's pick — North 7600 series
The silicone facepiece with APF 50 credentials that survives daily industrial wear — the buy-once answer where the 5400’s TPE would age out first. Read the full listing.

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Honeywell Full Face Respirator Decisions — North 5400, 6500 and 7600 Series.

NIOSH TC-14C | APF 50 | North Bayonet Cartridge | ANSI Z87.1 Integrated Eye Protection | Fit Test Required

The North 760008AS is the best Honeywell North full-face respirator overall — premium silicone facepiece, integrated ANSI Z87.1 polycarbonate lens, and a small fit geometry that passes fit testing for a broader range of workers than the M/L 760008A. For budget programs or high-headcount facilities, the North 54001 and 54001S deliver the same NIOSH TC-14C approval and APF 50 in a TPE facepiece at a fraction of the silicone cost. Three decisions determine which of these eight models fits your program: facepiece material (silicone 7600 vs. TPE 5400), size (S vs. M/L), and lens configuration (standard polycarbonate vs. integrated welding lens). All eight models accept every North 75-series cartridge and filter without adapters.

→ Full Expert Rankings: Best Honeywell North Full Face Respirators 2026 — All 8 Models Ranked

Quick Picks — North 5400 & 7600 Variants at a Glance

All eight models: NIOSH TC-14C | APF 50 | North's own connector dual cartridge | ANSI Z87.1 integrated eye protection | Fit test required before occupational use.

Decision 1 — Facepiece Material: 7600 Silicone or 5400 TPE?

The North 7600 series (760008AS, 760008A, 760008ASW, 760008AW) uses a soft silicone facepiece — superior UV stability, chemical resistance, and seal conformability over repeated industrial cleaning cycles. For workers wearing a full-face respirator every shift in chemical processing, confined space entry, or hazmat operations, silicone's service life advantage justifies the higher cost. The North 5400 series (54001S, 54001, 54001SW, 54001W) uses TPE at noticeably less per unit — same NIOSH TC-14C, same APF 50, same North's own connector cartridges, lower facepiece longevity. For programs with periodic replacement schedules or budget constraints, the 5400 series delivers full APF 50 compliance at a lower entry cost.

Decision 2 — Lens Configuration: Standard or Welding?

Standard models (760008AS, 760008A, 54001S, 54001) use a clear polycarbonate lens rated to ANSI Z87.1 — suitable for chemical splash, dust, vapor, particulate, and most industrial environments. Welding models (760008ASW, 760008AW, 54001SW, 54001W) add an integrated shade-5 welding lens assembly that provides arc flash and UV/IR eye protection required for welding and cutting — a welding helmet and full-face respirator in a single unit. All standard and welding models use identical North's own connector cartridges; lens configuration is the only operative difference.

Decision 3 — Size: Small or Medium/Large?

Unlike the North half-mask series (which offers three sizes), the full-face 7600 and 5400 series use two fit ranges: M/L (760008A / 54001 / 760008AW / 54001W) for most adult workers, and S (760008AS / 54001S / 760008ASW / 54001SW) for workers with shorter face length or narrower cheekbones — commonly including many women workers and smaller-statured adults. OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2) requires a successful fit test before operational use regardless of size. Start with M/L for most workers; evaluate the small variants when M/L fails fit testing or when workers report seal discomfort at the chin or cheeks.

Upgrading from a Half-Mask: All Honeywell North half-mask and full-face respirators share the same North's own connector cartridge mount. If your workers currently use the North 770030 or 550030 half-mask and need to step up to APF 50 — for higher exposure concentrations, eye protection requirements, or Class I asbestos compliance — the transition requires only a new facepiece. Every N75001, N75003, N750014, 75FFP100, and N75021 cartridge transfers directly to the 760008A or 54001 without adapters or program changes.

Frequently Asked Questions — Honeywell North Full Face Respirators

Is the Honeywell North RU6500 part of this lineup?

Yes — it is the third listing on this shelf, sold in small, medium and large as variants of one record. It is the mid-price route into a North full face respirator mask.

Why do some older links show a different product than expected?

Honeywell model records were consolidated into series listings; legacy single-model URLs now redirect to the 5400 series page. Every link on this page targets the correct series listing.

Do these respirators satisfy OSHA fit-testing rules?

A full-face respirator only counts as protection under OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134 after a successful fit test on your face, repeated annually — buy the size the fit test supports, not a guess.

Which size should I order?

Each series listing carries its sizes as variants (for example 54001S small versus 54001 medium/large). Size names differ by series, so read the variant list rather than assuming S/M/L conventions transfer between the 5400, 6500 and 7600.

What is the difference between the North 7600 and 5400 series full-face respirators?

The 7600 series uses a silicone facepiece with superior UV stability and chemical resistance; the 5400 series uses TPE at a lower price. Both carry NIOSH TC-14C, APF 50, integrated ANSI Z87.1 eye protection, and North's own connector cartridge compatibility. The difference is facepiece durability and daily-wear comfort, not protection level.

What does NIOSH TC-14C mean, and how is APF 50 different from APF 10?

TC-14C is the NIOSH approval designation for full-facepiece, tight-fitting, air-purifying respirators under 42 CFR Part 84. APF 50 means the respirator reduces properly fit-tested worker exposure by a factor of 50 — five times the protection of a half-mask (APF 10). Required when concentrations are 11–50× the OEL, when eye hazards exist, or when OSHA mandates full-face (Class I asbestos, 1926.1101). Above 50× OEL, SCBA or SAR is required.

Do all eight North full-face models use the same cartridges?

Yes. All eight — 760008A, 760008AS, 760008AW, 760008ASW, 54001, 54001S, 54001W, 54001SW — use the North's own connector dual-cartridge mount. Every North 75-series cartridge and filter fits all eight facepieces without adapters. North's own connector cartridges are not compatible with 3M, MSA, Moldex, or any other brand.

What is the difference between standard and welding versions?

Welding versions (760008AW, 760008ASW, 54001W, 54001SW) add an integrated shade-5 welding lens assembly for arc flash and UV/IR protection required during welding and cutting operations. Standard versions (760008A, 760008AS, 54001, 54001S) use a clear ANSI Z87.1 polycarbonate lens suitable for chemical, dust, and vapor environments but not arc welding. Both types accept identical North's own connector cartridges.

Is a fit test required before using a North full-face respirator?

Yes. OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2) mandates a successful fit test before any occupational use of a tight-fitting respirator, including all eight full-face models. Annual retesting is required, as is retesting after dental work, facial surgery, or significant weight change. Medical evaluation (1910.134(e)) and a written respiratory protection program (1910.134(c)) are also required.

Are North full-face respirators approved for Class I asbestos abatement?

Yes. OSHA 1926.1101 requires a minimum full-facepiece APF 50 respirator for Class I asbestos operations. Any of the eight North full-face models with 75FFP100 P100 filters meets this minimum. Confirm site-specific concentrations don't exceed 50× the PEL — operations above APF 50 require a PAPR or SCBA. Consult a certified industrial hygienist for site-specific asbestos respiratory program decisions.

What size should I order — Small or Medium/Large?

Start with M/L (760008A or 54001) for most adult workers. Select the small variants (760008AS or 54001S) for workers with shorter face length or narrower cheekbones — commonly including many women workers. OSHA 1910.134(f)(2) requires formal QLFT or QNFT fit testing before operational use; size is ultimately determined by the fit test, not appearance or body size.

Can a North full-face respirator be used in confined spaces?

For permit-required confined spaces where the atmosphere is not IDLH and concentrations are confirmed within APF 50 limits, the North full-face respirators with appropriate cartridges are OSHA-compliant. If the space is IDLH, OSHA 1910.134(d)(2)(i) requires SCBA — air-purifying respirators are never acceptable in IDLH atmospheres regardless of APF. Atmospheric testing and continuous monitoring are required for all confined space entries under OSHA 1910.146.

Every listing on this shelf

• Honeywell North 5400 Series Full Face Respirator 54001S 54001M/L
• Honeywell North 7600 Series Full Face Respirator 760008AM/L 760008AS
• Honeywell North RU6500 full face respirator

What about the RU6500 series?

The North RU6500 (RU65002S / RU65002M / RU65002L variants) is the third listing here and sits between the 5400 and 7600 on price. The decision tables above focus on the 5400 and 7600 lines — that is a gap in this page’s earlier copy, not a verdict on the RU6500; check its listing for series-specific cartridge and sizing detail.

A note on the Quick Picks links

Earlier versions of this page linked eight separate model records; those records now redirect to the consolidated series listings, and per-variant prices have drifted — so the table above links each variant row to its series listing and defers pricing to the live page.

Our methodology

We compared all three North full-face series listings — variants, materials and stated approvals — from the live records, and verified every product link resolves to the correct series after Honeywell’s listing consolidation. Respirator selection and use rules come from OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134, and every NIOSH approval is verifiable on the NIOSH Certified Equipment List. We do not fit-test or lab-test respirators and hold no safety certification.

Why trust this page

WC Safety is an independent review site with no products of its own — nothing here is stocked, warehoused or shipped by us. Purchase links go to Amazon and earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you; no manufacturer pays for placement, which is why this page discloses broken links, duplicate listings and price drift instead of hiding them — in respiratory protection, a wrong link is a wrong facepiece.

Researched and written by Steven Eaton, editor of WC Safety. Steven holds no safety certification and does not test products; this page compares what manufacturers publish, with the gaps in that record marked. Last reviewed July 2026.