Respirators for Wildfire Smoke

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 1910.134 Appendix D (voluntary use): Federal OSHA has no wildfire smoke standard; voluntary use of filtering facepieces is covered by 1910.134(c)(2) and Appendix D.

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 §5141.1(f)(3)(A): Where the current AQI for PM2.5 is equal to or greater than 151, but does not exceed 500, the employer shall provide a sufficient number of respirators to all employees for voluntary use in accordance with section 5144 and encourage employees to use respirators. Respirators shall be NIOSH-approved devices that effectively protect the wearers from inhalation of PM2.5, such as N95 filtering facepiece respirators. For those employees whose only use of respirators involves the voluntary use of filtering facepieces, such as N95 respirators, fit testing and medical evaluations are not required by section 5144.

Title 8 §5141.1(f)(3)(B): Where the current AQI for PM2.5 exceeds 500, respirator use is required. Respirators shall be used in accordance with section 5144. The employer shall provide respirators with an assigned protection factor, as listed in section 5144, such that the PM2.5 levels inside the respirator correspond to an AQI less than 151.

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 wildfire smoke

Dräger's wildland kit (X-plore 3500 half mask with P100 filters, NA10752/3/4) and the X-plore 1350 and 1950 N95 disposables, and the North N95 disposables and P100 filters, are the particulate devices both makers list. The AQI categories in §5141.1: 151 to 200 Unhealthy, 201 to 300 Very Unhealthy, 301 to 500 Hazardous.

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).

North disposable respirators

Source: PIP Rich Product Data, October 2026.

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 disposable respirators

Source: Dräger X-plore 1300 NIOSH product information (DMC-109830).

Draeger X-plore 3500 Wildland Respirator Kit with P100 Filters

Source: Dräger X-plore Bayonet Filters NIOSH product information (DMC-109824) (application sets).

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 Wildfire Smoke questions

When does Cal/OSHA require respirators for wildfire smoke? Voluntary use must be offered at a current PM2.5 AQI of 151 or greater; use is required above an AQI of 500, with an APF such that the inside-mask level corresponds to an AQI under 151 (Title 8 §5141.1(f)(3)).

Is fit testing required for N95s under the wildfire rule? Not when the only use is voluntary use of filtering facepieces (§5141.1(f)(3)(A) note).