Respirator Fit Testing

RESPIRATOR FIT
TESTING

What is a fit test? A fit test is a test protocol conducted to verify that a respirator is both comfortable and correctly fits the user. Fit testing uses a test agent, either qualitatively detected by the wearer’s sense of taste, smell or involuntary cough (irritant smoke) or quantitatively measured by an instrument, to verify the respirator’s fit.

You must be fit tested before you use a respirator in the workplace, and you must be retested at least every 12 months as per WorkSafeBC Regulation 8.40 to make sure that the respirator you use still fits you. You must be fit tested with the specific make, model, style, and size of respirator that you will be using.

A fit test should not be confused with a user seal check. A user seal check is a quick check performed by the wearer each time the respirator is put on. It determines if the respirator is properly seated to the face or needs to be readjusted.

There are two types of fit tests: qualitative and quantitative.

Qualitative fit testing is a pass/fail test method that uses your sense of taste or smell with your reaction to an irritant in order to detect leakage into the respirator facepiece. Whether the respirator passes or fails the test is based simply on you detecting leakage of the test substance into your facepiece.

Qualitative fit testing is normally used for half-mask respirators - those that just cover your mouth and nose.

There are four qualitative fit test irritants:

Bitrex, which leaves a bitter taste in your mouth (most commonly used)
Isoamyl acetate, which smells like bananas
Saccharin, which leaves a sweet taste in your mouth, and
Irritant smoke, which can cause coughing

Qualitative fit testing determines whether or not your employees can detect various scents and flavors or can experience a negative reaction to a substance that can cause burning or watering of the eyes.

Quantitative fit testing uses a PortaCount to measure the actual amount of leakage into the facepiece and does not rely upon your sense of taste, smell, or irritation in order to detect leakage. The respirators used during this type of fit testing will have a probe attached to the facepiece that will be connected to the PortaCount by a hose.

Quantitative fit testing can be used for any type of tight-fitting respirator.

There are three quantitative fit test methods:

Generated aerosol
Ambient aerosol
Controlled negative pressure

At the conclusion of the testing each employee will receive a wallet size certificate. Employers will be emailed a certificate for their employee files.

FAQ - Respirator Fit Testing

How often is a fit test required?

Before initial use of a respirator and at least once a year as per WorkSafeBC regulation 8.40.
Whenever there is a change or replacement in respirator facepiece, including the brand, model, and size, and
Whenever changes to the user’s physical condition could affect the respirator fit.
Other personal protective equipment that is to be worn at the same time as a respirator and which could interefere with the respirator fit must be worn during the fit test.

As an employee, what are my responsibilities?

Before each use of a respirator which requires an effective seal with the face for proper functioning, a worker must perform a positive or negative pressure user seal check in accordance with CSA Standard CAN/CSA-Z94.4.02, Selection, Use, and Care of Respirators (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to the emergency use of an escape respirator.

My employee wears two different styles of respirators; do they need a fit test on both?

Yes. The fit test is specific to each respirator.

Once I am fit tested can I use any brand/make/ model respirator as long as it is the same size?

No. A fit test only qualifies the user to put on the specific brand/make/model of respirator with which an acceptable fit testing result was achieved. Users should only wear the specific brand, model, and size respirator(s) that they wore during successful fit tests. (Note: respirator sizing is variable and not standardized across models or brands. For example a medium in one model may not offer the same fit as a different manufacturer’s medium model.)

What is a user seal check?

It is a procedure conducted by the respirator wearer to determine if the respirator is properly seated to the face. The user seal check can be either a positive pressure or negative pressure check, which are generally performed as follows:

The positive pressure user seal check is where the person wearing the respirator exhales gently while blocking the paths for exhaled breath to exit the facepiece.
A successful check is when the facepiece is slightly pressurized before increased pressure causes outward leakage.
The negative pressure user seal check is where the person wearing the respirator inhales sharply while blocking the paths for inhaled breath to enter the facepiece.
A successful check is when the facepiece collapses slightly under the negative pressure that is created with this procedure.
A user seal check is sometimes referred to as a fit check.
A user seal check should be completed each time the respirator is put on (donned).
It is only applicable when a respirator has already been successfully fit tested on the individual.

How do I perform a user seal check on a particulate respirator such as an N95?

The following positive and negative user seal check procedures for filtering facepiece respirators are provided as examples of how to perform these procedures.

Positive pressure check –Once the particulate respirator is properly put on (donned), your hands over the facepiece, covering as much surface area as possible. Exhale gently into the facepiece. The face fit is considered satisfactory if a slight positive pressure is being built up inside the facepiece without any evidence of outward leakage of air at the seal. Examples of such evidence would be the feeling of air trickling onto your face along the seal of the facepiece, fogging of your glasses, or a lack of pressure being built up inside the facepiece.

If the particulate respirator has an exhalation valve, then performing a positive pressure check may be impossible. If so, then do a negative pressure check.

Negative pressure check – Negative pressure seal checks are conducted on particulate respirators that have exhalation valves. To conduct a negative pressure user seal check, cover the filter surface with your hands as much as possible and then inhale. The facepiece should collapse on your face and you should not feel air passing between your face and the facepiece.

When should a user seal check be done?

Once a fit test has been done to determine the best model and size of respirator for a particular user, a user seal check should be done by the user every time the respirator is to be worn to ensure an adequate seal is achieved.

Where can I purchase Respirators?

Respirators can be purchased from Gilbert Supply Co. located in Vernon, BC.