Counterfeit/Misrepresented Respirators

At a glance

  • Counterfeit and misrepresented respirators may not provide the intended level of respiratory protection to workers and other users.
  • This page provides links to examples of counterfeit and misrepresented respirators and tips on how to spot them.
Alert icons on red background

About

NIOSH posts examples of counterfeit or misrepresented respirators to alert users, purchasers, and manufacturers.

Counterfeit respirators refer to products designed to look like a genuine NIOSH Approved® respirator model.

Misrepresented respirators include all products that misuse the registered certification marks or are falsely marketed and sold as NIOSH Approved respirators when they are not.

Only respirators evaluated by NIOSH that meet the minimum NIOSH requirements are NIOSH Approved respirators.

Neither counterfeit nor misrepresented products are approved by NIOSH and are not evaluated by NIOSH. These products may mislead consumers and may not provide the claimed level of protection associated with a genuine NIOSH Approved respirator.

Employers and respirator users should use NIOSH's Certified Equipment List to verify respirators are approved by NIOSH.

Resource

The Certified Equipment List is the official listing of all NIOSH Approved respirators. It is important to confirm that a product's model name and NIOSH approval number matches the Certified Equipment List.

Additionally, NIOSH registered several certification marks that are specific to NIOSH Approved respirators with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and other countries. Only NIOSH Approved respirators can be labeled with these registered marks and only manufacturers who are NIOSH approval holders may use these marks.

Spotlight

NIOSH provides a listing of all registered certification marks. Any misuse of these marks is a direct violation of applicable trademark law and may be subject to enforcement action.

Registered Certification Marks

Examples

Example of a counterfeit filtering facepiece respirator
Counterfeit/Misrepresented FFR Examples
Examples of counterfeit/misrepresented filtering facepiece respirators
Example of a counterfeit P100 filter
Counterfeit/Misrepresented Filter Examples
Examples of counterfeit/misrepresented filters
Example of a counterfeit cartridge
Counterfeit/Misrepresented Cartridge Examples
Examples of counterfeit/misrepresented cartridges
Example of a misrepresented mask
Misrepresented Masks and Other Face-Worn Products
Examples of counterfeit/misrepresented masks and other face-worn products

Tips to spot them

Before buying respirators from third-party marketplaces or unfamiliar websites, look for the following possible warning signs:

Third-party marketplaces

  • If a listing claims to be "legitimate" and "genuine," it likely is not.
  • Look at the transaction history and reviews if possible.
    • Most auction sites or third-party distributors have a link to the seller of the item and their past sales.
    • Many buyers will leave reviews about their experience or quality of the product.
  • Are there changes to the items sold over time (high or low periods of transaction)?
    • Is the seller marketing the same products over time, or are they mainly selling trending items? Legitimate businesses and suppliers typically sell the same items over time.
    • A buyer can view this by looking at the businesses' other products. Buyers should also be able to learn more about sellers on big online platforms (reviews of the seller).
  • Are there price changes or swings (Is it too good to be true?)
  • Look at the quantity a buyer has in stock.
    • During a time of shortage, advertising "unlimited stock" could indicate the respirator is not approved by NIOSH.
  • Does the seller break marketplace policy and hide their contact information within images?
    • Typical third-party marketplaces require the seller and buyer to interact within an on-site messaging system. Sellers should not try to bypass this system to display personal contact information.

On websites – look at the big picture

  • Is the primary contact email address connected to the website or is it a free email account?
    • Using a free email service may suggest the seller is not part of the company.
  • Look for bad grammar, typos, and other errors such as signs of photoshopping.
  • Watch for cookie-cutter websites, where the sellers interchange several websites, making mistakes:
    • Mixing up names/logos
    • Leaving the site partially undone with dummy text
    • Blank pages
    • An odd privacy policy page and/or broken links.
    • Domain squatting type activity (misspell the domain).

How to report

If you suspect you have a counterfeit or misrepresented respirator, contact NIOSH at [email protected].

Please provide the following details with your email:

  • Any manufacturer names present on the respirator
  • Respirator model or part number
  • Photos of the respirator and packaging
  • NIOSH approval number (e.g., TC 84A-XXXX), if present
  • Web url where respirator was purchased or found
Print
Content Source:
; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
  • N95 and NIOSH Approved are certification marks of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) registered in the United States and several international jurisdictions.
  • P100 is a certification mark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) registered in the United States.