Qualitative & Quantitative Fit Testing

The two main types of fit test are qualitative and quantitative. Qualitative fit tests expose a person wearing a respirator to a test agent, such as a sweet or bitter solution or mild irritant. If the wearer is unable to detect the test agent, the test is considered successful. Quantitative fit tests measure the amount of a substance both inside and outside the mask using a monitoring device, assigning the device a numerical "fit factor."

During each fit test, the wearer must perform several test exercises: normal breathing, deep breathing, moving the head side to side and up and down, reciting a passage or poem, smiling or frowning, bending over, and then breathing normally again. Each of these exercises must be done for one minute except for smiling or frowning, which is only required to be done for 15 seconds.

To learn more about Respiratory Protection visit our Cal/OSHA Respiratory Protection Online Training web page.