Respirator fit test
safety procedure for testing PPE air-tightness
A respirator fit test checks if a respirator properly fits the face of a user. A fitted respirator must be able to separate a user's respiratory system from ambient air.
The test involves tightly pressing the mask against the face (without gaps) to ensure an efficient seal on the mask perimeter. Protection depends on an airtight seal, making testing necessary before entering contaminated air. Mask size and shape correctly fitted to the user's face provides better protection in hazardous environments. Facial hair, such as beards, can interfere with proper fit.
History
The effectiveness of various types of respirators was measured in laboratories and the workplace. The measurements indicated that the effectiveness of negative-pressure, tight-fitting respiratory protective devices (RPD) depends on leakage between mask and face, rather than on filters or canisters. A decrease in efficiency due to leakage occurred on a large scale during World War I, when gas masks were used to protect against chemical weapons; poor fit or poorly-situated masks could be fatal. The Russian army began to use short-term exposure to chlorine at low concentrations to solve this problem in 1917.
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