Respiratory Protection

Respiratory Fit Testing

Our team of Safety Specialists have the industry-leading expertise, testing equipment and training to ensure that your staff and contractors are properly kitted out and protected with the right Respiratory Protection for every job. Fit Testing requirements cover all industry sectors and job roles that need respiratory equipment to be worn when working.

The vital importance of Respiratory Fit Testing.

Fit testing for Respiratory equipment is required by the Australian & New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 1715:2009. The testing process is designed to determine if the respiratory equipment to be worn provides an adequate seal to the user’s face in order to deliver effective protection. A proper seal compliance measure is vital to ensure effective respiratory safety!

Test Methods Used for Respiratory Fit Testing

• Qualitative Fit Test (QLFT) - checks the ability of the wearer’s senses to detect particular approved test agents, for example some smells. A pass/fail result depends on the wearer’s own recognition and ability to detect the test limited to certain types of respiratory equipment.
  
  
• Quantitative Fit Test (QNFT) - uses a machine to measure leakage around the seal of the respirator against the wearer’s face to provide a numerical outcome called the Fit Factor, and hence why this test method is deemed ‘Quantitative’.
  
  URSafeRite provides in-house and onsite Respiratory Fit Testing services to provide accurate and standardised test results for all wearers to ensure they provide adequate protection for the wearer. This includes reusable Full Face and Half Face respirators and fit testing should be performed whenever a user wears a different brand, model or size of respirator or alters their facial RPE continues to provide proper sealing for all wearers and thus deliver ongoing effective Respiratory Protection for workplaces.

Importance of the Fit Factor Provided by Quantitative Fit Testing

URSafeRite uses our PortaCount® equipment to measure and record the concentration of microscopic particles within the surrounding ambient air and the relative number of particles that pass into the respirator. The end result of testing provides the numerical Respiratory Fit Factor being the ratio between the two measures. The Fit Factor provides a reliable indication as to whether or not the particular respiratory equipment worn by the user provides an adequate level of protection.

Quantitative Fit Testing as performed by URSafeRite is why such testing is considered the preferred and most comprehensive method to assess the suitability of any

Evidence of Fit Testing Results URSafeRite records each wearer’s full test report and provides it as an emailed PDF. URSafeRite can provide that the testing has taken place in accordance with AS/NZS 1715:2009.

How the Fit Testing is Performed

URSafeRite typically takes between 15-20 minutes per user, and our involves the following main steps:
• The respirator is connected to the Fit Testing machine.
• The user dons the selected respiratory equipment, including any ancillary Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) that they may generally wear together with the respirator, for example glasses or face shields.
• This incorporates a number of physical movements and actions to test the seal of the respirator.
• The machine measures and records the Respiratory Fit Factor test results.