Fit Testing

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires fit tests to ensure proper fit for workers who use respirators.

There are two accepted methods to verify an adequate face-to-facepiece seal: quantitative and qualitative testing.

Quantitative testing methods rely on objective data to determine a proper fit. With this type of test, special facepiece adapters or probed facepieces allow air samples to be drawn from inside a facepiece to determine if there are any breaks in the facepiece seal. As a result, the test produces quantifiable results.

Qualitative fit test methods are subjective in nature and rely on the judgment of the test subject. A proper fit is determined if the respirator wearer does not detect the taste or odor of a test solution in a controlled environment.