Respirator selection
Benzene respirator selectionC6H6
Solvent and chemical feedstock (styrene, phenol, cumene), gasoline component; petroleum refining, petrochemicals, coke/steel.
Calculator for Benzene
Result
Enter a concentration and an exposure limit to see the
compliant respirators and their Maximum Use Concentration.
Hazard ratio = concentration ÷ OEL · Minimum APF must meet or exceed it · MUC = APF × OEL (capped at IDLH). Source: OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134(d)(3)(i)(A), Table 1 — Assigned Protection Factors. Last verified 2026-07-16.
Maximum use concentration for Benzene by respirator
MUC = APF × the OSHA PEL (1 ppm), capped at the IDLH (500 ppm). Use this as a reference for the highest concentration each respirator class may be used at.
| Respirator | APF | MUC (ppm) |
|---|---|---|
| Air-Purifying Respirator · Quarter mask | 5 | 5 |
| Air-Purifying Respirator · Half mask | 10 | 10 |
| Supplied-Air Respirator (Airline) · Half mask · Demand | 10 | 10 |
| Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus · Half mask · Demand | 10 | 10 |
| Powered Air-Purifying Respirator · Helmet / hood | 25 | 25 |
| Powered Air-Purifying Respirator · Loose-fitting facepiece | 25 | 25 |
| Supplied-Air Respirator (Airline) · Helmet / hood · Continuous flow | 25 | 25 |
| Supplied-Air Respirator (Airline) · Loose-fitting facepiece · Continuous flow | 25 | 25 |
| Air-Purifying Respirator · Full facepiece | 50 | 50 |
| Powered Air-Purifying Respirator · Half mask | 50 | 50 |
| Supplied-Air Respirator (Airline) · Full facepiece · Demand | 50 | 50 |
| Supplied-Air Respirator (Airline) · Half mask · Continuous flow | 50 | 50 |
| Supplied-Air Respirator (Airline) · Half mask · Pressure-demand / positive-pressure | 50 | 50 |
| Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus · Full facepiece · Demand | 50 | 50 |
| Powered Air-Purifying Respirator · Full facepiece | 1,000 | 500IDLH |
| Supplied-Air Respirator (Airline) · Full facepiece · Continuous flow | 1,000 | 500IDLH |
| Supplied-Air Respirator (Airline) · Full facepiece · Pressure-demand / positive-pressure | 1,000 | 500IDLH |
| Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus · Full facepiece · Pressure-demand / positive-pressure | 10,000 | 500IDLH |
Notes
REL Ca TWA 0.1 ppm ST 1 ppm; PEL TWA 1 ppm ST 5 ppm (substance-specific standard 1910.1028, not Z-1). IDLH Ca [500 ppm] (older 3,000 ppm obsolete). NPG conversion 1 ppm = 3.19 mg/m3; MW 78.1. Potential occupational carcinogen (NIOSH Appendix A).
Sources
- https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0049.html
- https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/idlh/71432.html
- https://www.osha.gov/annotated-pels/table-z-1
Data confidence: high. Values are cited from OSHA and NIOSH but should be verified against the current source and a qualified professional before use. See how this works.