Under the regulations for COSHH, Control of Asbestos, Control of Lead at Work and the HSG53, all Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) at work requires you to ensure that the selected RPE is adequate and suitable for the wearer, task and environment. To conform and provide evidence, a fit test is required.
If wearing a positive pressure breathing apparatus, studies have shown that during heavy exertion, it is possible for the pressure inside the face piece to momentarily become negative in relation to the outside atmosphere. If the face seal is not adequate this could result in inward leakage of extremely hazardous air.
WHAT IS FACE FIT TESTING?
It is a method for checking that a tight-fitting face piece matches the person's facial features and seals adequately to the wearer’s face. It will also help to identify unsuitable face pieces which should not be used. There are two types of Face Fit Testing, qualitative and quantitative, depending on your requirements, including type of RPE, availability of power, and finally timeframe, will determine which is best suited to you.
QUALITATIVE FACE FIT TESTING
Qualitative Face Fit Testing relies on a wearer’s subjective assessment of facial leakage. The method uses a nebuliser of a bitter or sweet tasting substance to challenge the mask’s seal throughout a series of tests. The test takes around twenty minutes and requires the user to wear a hood over their head and shoulders. The user will put on the RPE and secure it in position, then the hood will be fitted over their head and once in place, the bitter or sweet substance will be sprayed into the hood throughout the various exercises. If the substance is not tasted or smelt then the Face Fit Test has been successful, if it is tasted or smelt the RPE will be adjusted and the test repeated. Qualitative face fit testing can only be carried out on half masks and disposable masks.
QUANTATIVE FACE FIT TESTING
Quantitative face fit testing can give an objective assessment of facial fit and provides a direct numerical result called a fit factor. The Portacount machine measures the number of ambient particles inside and outside a face piece and proves a numeric result which is a ratio of the two over a given period. The mask is attached to the Portacount and the user completes a variety of exercises whilst stepping on an aerobics step. If the user successfully achieves a pass on each exercise at the end of the test a fit test report/certificate is produced.
SPECIALIST SERVICE
No other method can quantitatively test all types of respirators - SCBA masks, full face respirators, half face respirators or even disposable respirators. If the mask requires fit testing then our Fit2Fit accredited technician using a PortaCount Pro+ fit test machine provides the fastest and easiest approved fit test method. Self-contained breathing apparatus users who rely on their positive pressure mask to keep them alive require a quantitative fit test.