CDC Revises National Handbook on CBRN Respirators to Reflect Emerging Hazards
NIOSH has released a revised CBRN Respiratory Protection Handbook, updating standards to expand protection lists, clarify fit testing, and align guidance with modern fire and emergency response protocols.
- By Stasia DeMarco
- Sep 24, 2025
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has released a revised version of its Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Respiratory Protection Handbook, updating standards to address newly identified hazards and aligning respirator guidance with current fire protection protocols. The 2025 edition expands the CBRN air-purifying respirator protection list and amends prior language concerning fit testing for positive pressure respirators, correcting earlier inconsistencies with NFPA guidance.
The updated handbook stems from a coordinated hazard assessment involving NIOSH, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Defense, and is intended to help safety professionals, emergency responders, and industrial operators better calibrate respirator selection and use under modern threat conditions. Among key changes, the handbook tightens alignment with NFPA standards, clarifies acceptance of qualitative vs. quantitative fit testing, and introduces additional hazard coverage for which NIOSH-approved canisters will now offer protection under the revised list.
NIOSH emphasized that these updates are not mere technicalities but critical refinements to ensure respiratory protection remains effective in the face of evolving chemical and radiological risks. The agency said these enhancements will aid in preventing failures in selection or usage of respirators during high-risk operations.
The revised handbook replaces the 2018 edition, responds to feedback and identified errors, and will serve as a reference standard in the occupational safety and emergency response communities.
About the Author
Stasia DeMarco is the Content Editor for OH&S.