Respirator Fit Testing

There are two Fit Testing methodologies we use at Draeger; Qualitative (QLFT) and Quantitative (QNFT) Fit Testing.

A Respirator Fit Test identifies if the chosen respirator is suitable for an individual’s facial characteristics. It provides wearers with a pass value which determines how well the respirator is sealing to the wearer’s face.

As required by AS/NZS 1715 and ISO 16975-3, all types of tight-fitting respirators (negative and positive pressure) must be Fit Tested.

All disposable/Filtering Face Pieces (FFP), reusable half-face respirators, and reusable full-face respirators, including those attached to a Powered Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR) or supplied air sources such as an SCBA cylinder and compressed airline hose, are included.

In general, the protection factor appointed to these positive pressure respirators is greater than that of a negative pressure equivalent style respirator. This greater appointed protection factor is in contingent on the wearer achieving an adequate seal in addition to positive pressure. To perform the Fit Tests, a positive pressure respirator would need to be used in negative pressure mode or a negative pressure respirator with an equivalent sealing surface would be used.

In general, using the modified (fast) OSHA 1910.134 Fit Test protocol a Fit Test takes at least 7.5 min-10.5 min per respirator.

A Fit Test is an annual test that ensures a respirator is suitable to the wearer’s facial characteristics and ensures there is an adequate seal between the wearer’s face and the respirator being worn. A Fit Test should be conducted prior to the use of a tight-fitting respirator.

User Seal Check is the procedure conducted by the respirator wearer each time the respirator is worn to determine whether the respirator is sealing on the face and if the respirator is being properly worn.

There are two types of seal checks. Positive-Pressure and Negative Pressure.

A positive pressure check: Seal with the palm of your hand the exhalations cover of the mask and then breath out to inflate the cavity of the mask. If there is a small buildup of pressure, it implies that air is not seeping from around the sides of the respirator.

A negative pressure check: Positive Pressure: Seal with the palm of your hand the exhalations cover of the mask and then breathe out to inflate the cavity of the mask. The seal is sufficient if no air enters and creates negative pressure inside the respirator for filtering facepieces the respirator slightly moulds in.

Throughout a Fit Test, a different style, brand, size, or model should be chosen until an appropriate fit is found. The same style, brand, size, and model can be tested 2-3 times to achieve a fit. If no fit is achieved after 3 tries, the next style, brand, size, or model should be chosen.