North cartridge and filter colors and codes: what each label color and NIOSH designation means
North N-Series cartridges carry a color label that matches the NIOSH color code for the contaminant class: black for organic vapor, white for acid gas, yellow for organic vapor and acid gas, green for ammonia and methylamine, olive for the Defender multi-purpose cartridge, orange for mercury vapor, and magenta for P100 particulate filters; a combination cartridge carries both colors. The protection wording below each part number is the manufacturer's own from the North Cartridge & Filter Reference Chart, and each cartridge's NIOSH approval label lists the facepieces it is approved with.
North N75001L Organic Vapor (OV) CartridgeOrganic vapor cartridge, black label, sold per pair (North chart)Why a color code? NIOSH approves each cartridge for a named contaminant class, and the industry color code (black organic vapor, white acid gas, yellow organic vapor and acid gas, green ammonia and methylamine, orange mercury vapor, magenta particulate) puts that class on the label so a worker can check the cartridge without reading the fine print. The North chart adds the text of each approval; where a cartridge carries a P100 filter its label adds magenta. A cartridge is only approved with the facepieces named on its NIOSH approval label, which is why every cartridge page here lists the approved North series.
The North N-Series cartridges by color
Protection wording as the North chart states it.
The North particulate filters
From the same chart; the NIOSH class letters are explained in the P100 vs N95 vs R95 guide.
- 75SCP100L: Organic Vapor, Ammonia, Methylamine, Formaldehyde and Acid Gas (Chlorine, Hydrogen Chloride, Sulfur Dioxide, Hydrogen Sulfide, Hydrogen Fluoride, Chlorine Dioxide), with a P100 particulate filter (99.97% minimum filter efficiency) for all particulates (sold per pair).
- 7581P100L: Organic Vapor, with a P100 particulate filter (99.97% minimum filter efficiency) for all particulates (sold per pair).
- 7582P100L: Acid Gas (Chlorine, Hydrogen Chloride, Sulfur Dioxide, Hydrogen Fluoride, Chlorine Dioxide) and Formaldehyde, with a P100 particulate filter (99.97% minimum filter efficiency) for all particulates (sold per pair).
- 7583P100L: Organic Vapor and Acid Gas (Chlorine, Hydrogen Chloride, Sulfur Dioxide, Hydrogen Fluoride, Hydrogen Sulfide, Chlorine Dioxide), with a P100 particulate filter (99.97% minimum filter efficiency) for all particulates (sold per pair).
- 7584P100L: Ammonia and Methylamine, with a P100 particulate filter (99.97% minimum filter efficiency) for all particulates (sold per pair).
- 75852P100L: Mercury Vapor and Chlorine, with End-of-Service-Life Indicator (ESLI) for Mercury Vapor, with a P100 particulate filter (99.97% minimum filter efficiency) for all particulates (sold per pair).
- 7586P100L: Nitrogen Dioxide, with a P100 particulate filter (sold per pair).
- 7580P100: P100 particulate filter (99.97% minimum filter efficiency) for all particulates (sold per pair).
- 75FFP100: Low profile P100 particulate filter (99.97% minimum filter efficiency) for all particulates (sold per pair).
- 75FFP100NL: Low profile P100 particulate filter (99.97% minimum filter efficiency) for all particulates; with odor relief from nuisance levels of organic vapors, acid gases and ozone (sold per pair).
- 7506N95: N95 non-oil particulate filter (95% minimum filter efficiency) for non-oil based aerosol particulates (sold per pack of 10).
- 7506N99: N99 particulate filter (99% minimum filter efficiency) for non-oil based aerosol particulates (sold per pack of 10).
- 7506R95: R95 particulate filter (95% minimum filter efficiency). The chart notes R class filters are limited to 8 hours of use in environments with oil based aerosol particulates (sold per pack of 10).
North N-Series cartridges and filters
19 items · prices liveEvery cartridge and filter on the North chart, with its color and the chart wording. Live prices; orders ship in 1–2 business days.
Every North and Dräger respirator, cartridge and filter we list is on the respirators hub, with a page per model and a page per hazard quoting the OSHA rule.
Questions people ask
What does the black cartridge protect against?
Organic vapor (North N75001L); the 7581P100L is the same with a P100 filter (black and magenta).
What does the white cartridge protect against?
Acid gas (chlorine, hydrogen chloride, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen fluoride, chlorine dioxide) and formaldehyde (North N75002L).
What is the olive cartridge?
The North Defender multi-purpose cartridge 75SCL: organic vapor, ammonia, methylamine, formaldehyde and acid gas including hydrogen sulfide (chart).
Which masks take N-Series cartridges?
The North 7700, 5500, 7600, 5400, RU6500, RU8500, RU8800 and 7800 facepieces; each cartridge's NIOSH approval label lists its approved series and the cartridge pages carry that list.
Do the colors follow a standard?
They follow the NIOSH cartridge color code used across makers; Dräger's filters use letter codes (OV, AG, HF, FM, CD, AM, MA, HS, P100) instead, explained in the bayonet filter codes guide.
Standards and ratings on this page are as published in the documents named and by the manufacturers named. The employer’s hazard assessment and written respiratory protection program decide what applies at a given workplace. Verify a rating on the product and its approval label before use.