Respirator selection starts with the hazard, not the part number — pick the exposure and the tool returns the NIOSH cartridge class, its color code and a complete parts list from facepiece and size through filter, fit test and change schedule — plus the hard stops where no cartridge is safe. Stocked filters live on 3M cartridges & filters and the wider respiratory protection shelf.
How does respirator cartridge selection work?
Short answer: identify the contaminant, match it to the NIOSH cartridge class (organic vapor, acid gas, ammonia, formaldehyde, particulate), verify the color band on the cartridge body, and follow a change-out schedule — oxygen deficiency, IDLH and unknown atmospheres are supplied-air jobs, never cartridges.
Editor's pick — 3M 60923 OV/AG/P100
The mixed-exposure workhorse the tool cites most — organic vapor, acid gas and P100 particulate in one cartridge. Read the full listing.VIEW THE LISTING → CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON →
As an Amazon Associate, WC Safety earns from qualifying purchases. This has no bearing on which products appear here or in what order.
Pick your hazard, facepiece and size to see the NIOSH cartridge class, its color code, and a build-ready parts list. This tool assumes an air-purifying respirator is appropriate — read the red gates below first, because the most important respirator decision is often "don't use a cartridge at all."
- Oxygen below 19.5% (confined spaces, tanks, vessels): cartridges do NOT add oxygen. Use supplied-air or SCBA. Test first with a gas monitor.
- IDLH or unknown concentration: if the atmosphere is immediately dangerous to life/health or you can't quantify it, air-purifying respirators are not permitted — supplied air only.
- No end-of-service warning: most gas cartridges give no taste/smell warning until breakthrough. You must follow a change-out schedule, not wait to smell it.
Facepiece size
Size is a starting point only. A workplace fit test decides whether that model fits the wearer.
Answer the atmosphere check to continue.
Related reading: how to choose a respirator cartridge and the P95 vs R95 vs P100 filter class guide. Assigned protection factors are explained in assigned protection factors.
How NIOSH cartridge colors work
NIOSH assigns each contaminant class a standard color band (42 CFR 84): black = organic vapor, white = acid gas, yellow = organic vapor + acid gas, green = ammonia/methylamine, blue = carbon monoxide, orange = mercury/chlorine (with end-of-service-life indicator), olive = multi-contaminant, and magenta = P100 particulate. Combination cartridges stack a color band plus the magenta P100 ring. The full breakdown, with the number/letter filter classes, is in our cartridge color-code reference and the OV vs acid-gas guide.
Cartridge choice is one step of a program
A cartridge only works on a respirator that seals — which means fit testing and a seal check, a clean-shaven seal or a full-face/PAPR alternative for beards, and a change-out schedule based on your exposure, not on smell. Match the facepiece and cartridge system in the respiratory protection collection, understand protection limits via assigned protection factors, and if you're comparing US and EU filter ratings, use the standards converter.
General guidance, not a substitute for a written respiratory protection program, air monitoring, or a qualified industrial hygienist. Always confirm the cartridge against the chemical's SDS and the manufacturer's selection guide. WC Safety participates in the Amazon Associates Program; product links may earn us a commission.
The chart behind the selector
| Hazard class | NIOSH color | Verified example |
|---|---|---|
| Organic vapor | Black | 3M 6001 |
| Acid gas | White | 3M 6002 |
| Organic vapor + acid gas | Yellow | 3M 60923 (P100 combo) |
| Ammonia / methylamine | Green | 3M 6004 |
| Formaldehyde | OV class with specific approval | 3M 6005 |
| Multi-gas / mixed vapors | Olive | 3M 6006, 60926 (P100 combo) |
| Mercury vapor / chlorine (ESLI) | Orange | 3M 60927 |
| Particulates | Magenta (P100) | 3M 2091, 2097 |
Facepieces the builder covers
| Facepiece | Coverage | Sizes (S / M / L) | Assigned protection factor |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3M 6000 Series | Half face | 6100 / 6200 / 6300 | APF 10 |
| 3M 6500QL Series | Half face | 6501QL / 6502QL / 6503QL | APF 10 |
| 3M 7500 Series | Half face | 7501 / 7502 / 7503 | APF 10 |
| 3M 6000 Series full face | Full face | 6700 / 6800 / 6900 | APF 50 with quantitative fit test |
| 3M 7800S Series | Full face | 7800S-S / 7800S-M / 7800S-L | APF 50 with quantitative fit test |
| 3M Ultimate FX FF-400 | Full face | FF-401 / FF-402 / FF-403 | APF 50 with quantitative fit test |
All six take 3M bayonet filters and cartridges, so any element in the chart above fits any facepiece here. APF 50 for a negative-pressure full facepiece depends on a quantitative fit test: under 1910.134(f)(8) a qualitatively fit-tested full facepiece is limited to a fit factor of 100, which caps it at APF 10.
Our methodology
Classes and colors restate the NIOSH color-code scheme (42 CFR 84); example part numbers are verified against the live listings in this catalog (60923, 6002, 6004, 6005) and 3M’s published cartridge line — the change-out schedule and end-of-service duties come from OSHA 1910.134, not from odor. Authoritative duties live at OSHA regulations and exposure science at NIOSH. We hold no safety certification, and this tool is not a substitute for professional judgment.
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. This free tool is informational — it supports, and never replaces, a written program, a hazard assessment, or evaluation by a qualified safety professional.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do the respirator cartridge colors mean?
NIOSH assigns a band color per class: black organic vapor, white acid gas, yellow OV/AG combos, green ammonia/methylamine, magenta P100 particulate. Any 3m respirator cartridges chart uses the same bands — the color is NIOSH’s, not the brand’s.
When do I change a cartridge?
On a schedule computed from concentration, humidity and work rate — not when you smell breakthrough. Poor-warning chemicals are exactly why 1910.134 requires the schedule; see the change-out reference linked in the tool.
What is a respirator cartridge chart?
A lookup from hazard to cartridge class and color. The selector above is that chart made interactive, with the caveats each row needs.
Can one cartridge cover everything?
OV/AG/P100 combos like the 3M 60923 cover common mixes, but no air-purifying cartridge covers carbon monoxide, oxygen deficiency or IDLH — those are supplied-air hard stops.
Are 3M and Honeywell cartridges interchangeable?
Never across brands — bayonet and thread patterns are proprietary. Match cartridge to facepiece brand and family; the class and color logic is what transfers.
Do cartridges expire?
Yes — sealed cartridges carry shelf-life dates, and opened OV cartridges keep adsorbing from ambient air; bag them between shifts and follow the manufacturer’s in-use limit.
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.