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Respirator Fit Testing Requirements and Procedures

Document Number: 140
Regulations
When OSHA's revised Respiratory Protection Standard, 29 CFR
1910.134, became effective on April 8, 1998, it provided employers
with an all-inclusive reference source for fit testing guidelines.
Before its revision, the standard made reference to testing a
respirator's "face-piece-to-face seal," but provided no
additional guidance on how to perform the test. The standard now
specifies what needs fit testing, the kinds of fit tests allowed, the
procedures for conducting them, and how frequently fit tests must be
performed.
What's Covered
29 CFR 1910.134(f) states, "Before an employee may be required
to use any respirator with a negative or positive pressure
tight-fitting facepiece, the employee must be fit tested with the same
make, model, style, and size of respirator that will be used."
This statement is noteworthy because it mandates that tight-fitting
positive pressure facepieces such as those used in PAPRs and
airline
respirators be fit tested. The statement also does not exclude
disposable particulate respirators from fit
testing.
Two methods are acceptable for fit testing a tight-fitting
positive pressure mask:
1. The mask can be converted into a negative pressure respirator
and equipped with filters appropriate to the fit test protocol being
followed, or
2. An identical negative pressure respirator can be used as a
surrogate for fit testing as long as it has the same sealing surfaces
as the positive pressure respirator.
Fit Testing Procedures
Within the standard, employers are provided the option of conducting
either a quantitative or qualitative fit test. The individual performing
the fit test procedure requires no special certification. However, the
individual must be able to prepare the test solutions, calibrate the equipment
and perform the tests properly, recognize invalid tests, and ensure that
test equipment is in proper working order. The ability to calculate fit
factors is also a requirement for the individual administering a quantitative
fit test (QNFT).
As defined in the standard, a QNFT means "an assessment of the adequacy
of respirator fit by numerically measuring the amount of leakage into
the respirator." A QNFT is necessary for respirators that must achieve
a fit factor of greater than 10.
A QNFT uses an instrument to take a sample from within the wearer's breathing
zone while the respirator is being worn. In addition to the instrument,
a challenge agent and a probed respirator (or probed adapter for a standard
respirator) are necessary to perform a QNFT. Please see Table
1 for a complete list of quantitative fit test adaptors for
respirators carried by LSS. A QNFT is more precise than a qualitative
fit test; it's also less commonly performed because of the complexity
of the procedure and the prohibitive cost of the analyzation instrument.
The protocol for a QNFT is detailed in Appendix A, subpart C to 29 CFR
1910.134.
The standard defines a qualitative
fit test (QLFT) as "a pass/fail fit test to assess the adequacy
of respirator fit that relies on the individual's response to the test
agent." A QLFT, according to 29 CFR 1910.134(f)(6), "may only
be used to fit test negative pressure air-purifying respirators that must
achieve a fit factor of 100 or less."
The downside to a QLFT is that it relies upon the subjective response
of the individual being tested, so that reproducibility and accuracy may
vary. The upside is that a QLFT is simpler to perform than a QNFT; the
necessary testing equipment is also more accessible and economical.
Within appendix A of the standard, the following four acceptable QLFT
protocols are defined: Isoamyl
Acetate (more commonly known as banana oil), Saccharin
Solution Aerosol, Bitrex
Solution Aerosol, and Irritant
Smoke (Stannic Chloride).
The test method performed will dictate the type of air-purifying element
that's used on the facepiece. The isoamyl acetate QLFT requires respirators
equipped with organic vapor cartridges. Both the saccharin and bitrex
QLFT require respirators equipped with particulate filters (either 95,
99 or 100 series filters are acceptable). To perform the irritant smoke
test, the respirator needs to be equipped with either a P100 series particulate
filter or HEPA filter.
It's important to note that when performing the irritant smoke
test, no form of enclosure or hood for the test subject is to be used.
The other QLFTs all require the use of an enclosure. Complete
instructions for all QLFTs are detailed within appendix A to 29 CFR
1910.134.
Three Approved Methods for QNFT
- Generated Aerosol Booth System QNFT utilizes an aerosol mixture (commonly
corn oil) administered in a test chamber or booth. The subject being
tested stands inside the booth or chamber and performs a series of exercises
as the instrument samples how much challenge agent leaks into the respirator.
This system is not widely used due to the high maintenance required
to clean the equipment and the relatively large size of the system.
- Ambient Aerosol QNFT instruments measure aerosol concentrations inside
and outside the test respirator and compute the fit factor. The challenge
agents used in this test is ambient microscopic dust in the air and
other aerosols. Ambient aerosol fit testers use a technology referred
to as condensation nuclei counting (CNC) or condensation particle counting
(CPC). These testers use laser technology to count particles. The respirator
used in the test is equipped with P100 (HEPA) filters that prevent the
ambient particles from passing into the respirator. Accessories are
also available to conduct a QNFT on lower class filters, such as the
95 class filters, commonly found in the disposable filtering facepiece
respirators. One of the more common ambient aerosol fit testers is the
TSI Portacount.
- Controlled Negative Pressure (CNP) QNFT involves the instrument pulling
affixed vacuum on the respirator and the instrument measuring the airflow,
or leak rate, needed to maintain the vacuum. The instrument then computes
an estimated or equivalent fit factor. Two shortcomings of this type
of testing are the person being tested must hold their breath during
the measurement and remain motionless, and CNP testing can not be performed
with filtering facepiece respirators.
Advantages of QNFT vs. QLFT
There are several advantages to QNFT:
- QNFT is an objective test and eliminates the subjectivity of a person’s
sense of smell, taste and sensitivity to challenge agents.
- QNFT is suitable for determining higher levels of fit that may be required
for full-face, gas masks, or other respirators.
- QNFT provides faster, more precise and hard copy documentation of the
instrument’s results.
- QNFT eliminates the chances of deception often found in QLFT.
Frequency
29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2) states, "The employer shall ensure that an employee
using a tight-fitting facepiece respirator is fit tested prior to initial
use of the respirator, whenever a different respirator facepiece (size,
style, model or make) is used, and at least annually thereafter."
In addition, fit testing must be repeated "whenever the employee
reports, or the employer, PLHCP (physician or other licensed healthcare
professional), supervisor, or program administrator makes visual observations
of changes in the employee's physical condition that could affect respirator
fit. Such conditions include, but are not limited to, facial scarring,
dental changes, cosmetic surgery, or an obvious change in body weight."
Also, an employee who's passed a fit test but later finds the fit of the
respirator unacceptable must be given a reasonable opportunity to select
a new facepiece and be retested.
Record Keeping
The employer is responsible for recording the results of fit
testing. As stated under 29 CFR 1910.134(m)(2), the following
information must be recorded: The name of the employee; the type of
test performed (QLFT or QNFT); specific respirator tested; date of the
test; and the results of the test. This information must be retained
until the next fit test is administered.
Fit Checking
Fit testing should not be confused with a respirator fit check. A
fit check, or "user seal check" as it's referred to in
appendix B to 29 CFR 1910.134, should be performed each time a
tight-fitting respirator is donned to ensure there's an adequate seal.
The appendix provides guidelines for performing positive- and
negative-pressure fit checks but states, "User seal checks are
not substitutes for QLFTs or QNFTs."
Table 1: Quantitative
Fit Test Adaptors |
Vendor Respirator Description |
LSS # for Respirator |
LSS # for Quantitative Adaptor |
LSS # for S, M, L Probed
Facepiece (unless otherwise noted) |
3M |
5000 Series (HM)
|
12384, 12387, 41449
|
NA |
SPDM1424338
SPDM14243381
SPDM14243382 |
6000 Series (HM)
|
15255, 89041 |
38080 |
SPDM1424338
SPDM14243381
SPDM14243382 |
6000 Series (FF)
|
38011
|
38080 |
NA |
7000 Series (HM & FF)
|
93911, 10516 |
38080 |
NA |
| Bacou Dalloz / Survivair |
| T-Series |
|
|
|
| Value Air Plus T-Series |
124369, 124370
|
22560 |
Bacou Dalloz #
301599
302599
303599 |
| Premier T-Series |
124374 |
22560 |
Bacou Dalloz #
311099
312010
313099 |
| Premier Plus T-Series |
124378 |
22560 |
Bacou Dalloz #
321099
322099 (M/L) |
| Survivair Max 5-Strap T-Series |
124380 |
22560 |
Bacou Dalloz #
821099
822099
823099 |
| Survivair Max Tite-seal T-Series |
124381 |
22560 |
Bacou Dalloz #
831099
832099
833099 |
| Survivair Max Mesh T-Series |
124382 |
22560 |
Bacou Dalloz #
841099
842099
843099 |
| Survivair Max Economy T-Series |
124383 |
22560 |
NA |
| Opti-Fit T-Series |
124379 |
22560 |
NA |
| S-Series |
|
|
Bacou Dalloz # |
Value Air Plus S-Series
|
124368 |
22562 |
Bacou Dalloz #
301599
302599
303599 |
Value Blue 1 S-Series
|
124371, 124372 |
22562 |
Bacou Dalloz #
B210099
B220099
B230099 |
Value Blue 2000 S-Series
|
16484 |
22562 |
Bacou Dalloz #
B250099
B260099
B270099 |
| Premier S-Series |
124373 |
22562 |
NA |
| Premier Plus S-Series |
124377 |
22562 |
Bacou Dalloz #
322599
321599 (M/L) |
| Opti-Fit S-Series |
54690 |
22562 |
NA |
Survivair 4000 FF S-Series
|
9559 |
22562 |
Bacou Dalloz #
B410099
B420099 (STD) |
| Moldex |
| 8000 Series |
33826 |
SPA585633 (probed cartridge) |
NA |
| MSA |
Comfo Silicone (HM)
|
30455 |
SP7101224
|
SP01486026
SP014860261
SP7124168 |
Comfo Hycar (HM)
|
30456 |
SP7101224
|
MSA #808253
MSA #808247
MSA #808259 |
Ultra-Twin Silicone (FF)
|
18803 |
SP7101224
|
SP4649631
SP6183707
SP61837071 |
Ultra-Twin Hycar (FF)
|
18804 |
SP7101224
|
SP35611191
SP3561119
SP35611192 |
| NORTH |
| 5000 Series (HM) |
26736, 54636
|
22561 |
NA |
| 7000 Series (HM & FF) |
7210, 9838
|
22561 |
NA |
| SCOTT |
O-Vista/AV-2000 (FF)
|
22719, 13867
|
15399
|
NA |
642 (HM)
|
13862, 13863
|
15399
|
NA |
Xcel 742 (HM)
|
94186, 94187
|
SPQD00133029
|
NA |
| US SAFETY-LSS Brand |
| (HM) |
11291 |
SP9721053
|
NA |
| (FF) |
24733, 24734 |
SP9721053
|
NA |
| Low-Maintenance (HM) |
24600, 30683, 30684 |
SP9721053
|
NA |
HM = Half Mask
FF = Full Face Mask
NA= Not Available |
Sources for More Information
29
CFR 1910.134 , Respiratory Protection Standard
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