Respirator Fit Testing – Quantitative

Respirator fit testing ensures that respirators have an appropriate seal and fit in order to protect workers who need them. Many workers must pass a fit test before being issued their respirator. Workers must be tested with the same make, model, and size respirators as the one that will be used in the workplace. There are two types of testing available to detect if any air is leaking into the face piece.

A quantitative test is one of the methods of testing. During a quantitative respirator fit test, a machine or software objectively measures and calculates if there is an leakage present. Testing results in a numeric value for the level of contaminants within the mask which is compared to the concentration outside of the mask. This fit factor indicates the level of leakage.