Respirators for Lead

The exposure limits

What the federal rule says

Each entry is condensed from the paragraph cited; the paragraph itself is the rule and the link opens it.

29 CFR 1910.1025(f)(1): Respirators must be used during periods necessary to install or implement engineering or work-practice controls; work operations for which engineering and work-practice controls are not sufficient to reduce employee exposures to or below the permissible exposure limit; and periods when an employee requests a respirator.

29 CFR 1910.1025(f)(3)(i): Employers must select, and provide to employees, the appropriate respirators specified in paragraph (d)(3)(i)(A) of 29 CFR 1910.134; provide employees with full facepiece respirators instead of half mask respirators for protection against lead aerosols that cause eye or skin irritation at the use concentrations; provide HEPA filters for powered and non-powered air-purifying respirators.

29 CFR 1910.1025(f)(3)(ii): Employers must provide employees with a powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) instead of a negative pressure respirator when an employee chooses to use a PAPR and it provides adequate protection to the employee.

29 CFR 1910.252(c)(7)(iii) (welding and cutting on lead): In confined spaces or indoors, welding or cutting operations involving metals containing lead, other than as an impurity, or metals coated with lead-bearing materials, including paint, must be done using local exhaust ventilation or airline respirators. Such operations, when done outdoors, must be done using respirators approved for this purpose by NIOSH under 42 CFR part 84.

Source: 29 CFR, Occupational Safety and Health Standards, as published by OSHA (ecfr.gov / osha.gov), read Nov 2–3 2026.

California (Cal/OSHA)

Each entry is condensed from the paragraph cited; the paragraph itself is the rule and the link opens it.

Title 8 §5198(f)(1): Respirators must be used during work operations for which engineering and work practice controls are not sufficient to reduce exposures to or below the PEL; periods necessary to implement engineering or work practice controls; periods when an employee requests a respirator; and periods when an employee performs PSLW, as interim protection in accordance with subsection (d)(2).

Source: California Code of Regulations, Title 8, as published by Cal/OSHA (dir.ca.gov), read Nov 2–3 2026.

What the makers' data lists for lead dust and fume

The federal lead standards require HEPA filters on air-purifying respirators; P100 filters meet the 99.97% definition. Filtering facepieces are not HEPA-filter respirators under these standards.

North cartridges and filters whose chart entry covers it

Source: North Cartridge & Filter Reference Chart; NIOSH approval labels (PIP).

North facepieces

Source: North product sheets (PIP).

Dräger filters listed for it

Source: Dräger Guide for Selection and Use of Respiratory Filtering Devices, NIOSH (DMC-104642); Dräger X-plore Bayonet Filters NIOSH product information (DMC-109824); Dräger X-plore 8000 product information (DMC-102510).

Dräger masks

Source: Dräger Product Catalog, Industrial Applications (DMC-107423).

Dräger X-plore 8000 PAPR blowers

Source: Dräger X-plore 8000 product information (DMC-102510).

Dräger selection guide entries

2 entries in the Dräger respiratory selection guide match lead dust and fume; each names the filters by part number.

Source: Dräger Respiratory Protection Selection Guide (PIP document library).

Assigned protection factor

Source: OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134 Table 1 (Assigned Protection Factors). The APF applies only when the respirator is used in a program that meets the standard, including fit testing of tight-fitting facepieces (29 CFR 1910.134(f)) and a cartridge change schedule (29 CFR 1910.134(d)(3)(iii)).

Guides: half mask vs full facepiece · assigned protection factors · cartridge change schedules · P100 vs N95 vs R95 · what OSHA requires for fit testing · cleaning and storing respirators.

Respirators for Lead questions

What filter does the lead standard require? HEPA filters for powered and non-powered air-purifying respirators (29 CFR 1910.1025(f)(3)(i)(C) and 1926.62(f)(3)(i)(C)). P100 filters are 99.97% minimum efficiency.

What is the lead PEL? 50 μg/m³ (8-hour) under federal OSHA; 10 μg/m³ under Cal/OSHA Title 8 §5198 and §1532.1.