1926.1101(h)(3)(iv): Respirators for Class I Asbestos Work
Employers must provide specific respirators to employees in a regulated area doing Class I asbestos work when no negative exposure assessment is available. If exposure is expected at or below 1 f/cc as an 8-hour TWA, workers get a tight-fitting PAPR or a full facepiece pressure-demand supplied-air respirator with HEPA egress cartridges or an auxiliary SCBA. Above 1 f/cc, a full facepiece pressure-demand supplied-air respirator with auxiliary SCBA is required.
Key takeaways
- 1926.1101(h)(3)(iv) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart Z).
- OSHA cited it 27 times in the last 3 years, in 27 inspections, with $14,570 in current penalties.
- Most citations: MI (26), OR (1).
- Related part: 1926.1101(h) Respiratory protection (204 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.1101(h)(3)(iv) is one requirement inside 1926.1101 Asbestos, an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart Z). It includes 2 sub-paragraphs. The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
(iv) Employers must provide employees with: 27 citations
(A) A tight-fitting powered air-purifying respirator or a full facepiece, supplied-air respirator operated in the pressure-demand mode and equipped with either HEPA egress cartridges or an auxiliary positive-pressure, self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) whenever the employees are in a regulated area performing Class I asbestos work for which a negative exposure assessment is not available and the exposure assessment indicates that the exposure level will be at or below 1 f/cc as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA). Open (h)(3)(iv)(a) 16 citations
(B) A full facepiece supplied-air respirator operated in the pressure-demand mode and equipped with an auxiliary positive-pressure SCBA whenever the employees are in a regulated area performing Class I asbestos work for which a negative exposure assessment is not available and the exposure assessment indicates that the exposure level will be above 1 f/cc as an 8-hour TWA. Open (h)(3)(iv)(b)
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.1101.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 10 |
| 2025 | 11 |
| 2026 | 6 |
Top states: MI (26), OR (1)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| RIGHTWAY REMEDIATION LLC | BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI | $4,000 |
| PRIME CONTRACTING LLC | MONTAGUE, MI | $2,800 |
| SUPREME ABATEMENT COMPANY LLC | SOUTHGATE, MI | $2,100 |
| ASBESTOS CONTRACTORS, INC. | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $1,470 |
| RIGHTWAY REMEDIATION LLC | FLINT, MI | $1,400 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1926.1101(h)(3)(iv), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Respirators for asbestos Class I work (2024-01-04)
- The relationship between OSHA standards and the usage of particulate respirators. (1996-03-18)
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.1101(h) Respiratory protection 204 citations
- 1926.1101(h)(2) Respirator program 80 citations
- 1926.1101(h)(2)(i) 80 citations
- 1926.1101(h)(1) General 76 citations
- 1926.1101(h)(3) Respirator selection 48 citations
- 1926.1101(h)(3)(iv)(A) 16 citations
- 1926.1101(h)(3)(iii) 13 citations
- 1926.1101(h)(3)(iii)(A) 12 citations
- 1926.1101(h)(3)(i) 8 citations
- 1926.1101(h)(3)(i)(A) 8 citations
- 1926.1101(h)(2)(ii)
- 1926.1101(h)(3)(i)(B)
Get your crew competent
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Frequently asked questions
When does this respirator rule apply?
When employees are in a regulated area doing Class I asbestos work and a negative exposure assessment is not available.
What respirator is needed at or below 1 f/cc?
A tight-fitting powered air-purifying respirator, or a full facepiece supplied-air respirator in pressure-demand mode with HEPA egress cartridges or an auxiliary positive-pressure SCBA.
What is needed above 1 f/cc?
A full facepiece supplied-air respirator in pressure-demand mode equipped with an auxiliary positive-pressure SCBA.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.1101 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-10-23
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.