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HHS is publishing this rule to propose a new performance standard designed to allow the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to test the fit characteristics of air purifying, half-facepiece respirators during the approval process. The new standard, developed by ASTM International in collaboration with the NIOSH National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory, would be incorporated by reference into the existing respirator regulations for both filtering facepiece respirators and elastomeric respirators equipped with any type of particulate filter. The intent of the new standard is to ensure that an approved non-powered, air-purifying respirator is capable of fitting its intended population. HHS expects that this action will result in improved respiratory protection for healthcare workers and emergency responders who may be exposed to airborne aerosolized infectious organisms such as SARS-CoV-2.