We are proud to be Canada’s leader in respirator fit testing.
It’s a position we take seriously. We’ve seen an increased demand for fit testing because of COVID-19 and will do our best to prioritize your appointment.
When to book a respiratory fit test:
Any person required to wear a tight-fitting facepiece in the following situations should be fit tested to ensure an effective respirator seal:
- during the course of their normal day-to-day duties, or
- for emergency response activities.
People working in the following industries may need to be fit tested:
- Healthcare including nurses, doctors, long-term care homes, dentists, orthodontists, dental hygienists
- First responders including emergency medical services (EMS), firefighters and police officers
- Oil and gas
- Mining
- Chemical production
- Pharmaceutical and research laboratories
Note: Clients must bring their own mask to their fit testing appointment. Levitt-Safety will not be able to provide a mask at this time.
What to expect during your fit test:
Test exercises to determine fit factor:
Each activity takes about 30 seconds.
| No. | Activity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Normal breathing | |
| 2 | Deep breathing | Be certain breaths are deep and regular. |
| 3 | Turn head from side to side | Perform this action within your comfortable range of motion. Remember to inhale and exhale when the head is at each side and avoid bumping your shoulder. |
| 4 | Nod head up and down | Complete this action within a comfortable range of motion. Inhale when the head is in the fully up position and exhale when the head is in the fully down position. Avoid bumping the respirators against your chest. |
| 5 | Talking | Talk slowly and loudly to be understood for the duration of the exercise. Recite the alphabet or count to 100. |
| 6 | Bending over | Best at the waist, keep the head and back parallel to the floor. Repeat the movement at a comfortable pace and pause long enough to inhale twice at each extreme position. |
| 7 | Normal breathing |
How often does fit testing need to be done?
Compliance standards mandate fit testing before first use and every one to two years after.
Both quantitative respirator fit testing (QNFT) and qualitative respirator fit testing (QLFT) protocols are CSA approved. However, we highly recommend quantitative respirator fit testing as the more accurate test.
Quantitative Fit Testing (QNFT):
Quantitative respiratory fit testing uses an instrument to measure the effectiveness of the respirator seal that is suitable for use on the following filtering facepiece respirator types:
- air purifying
- air supplying, and
- N, R and P series.
Quantitative fit testing does not rely on your sense of taste, smell, or irritation in order to detect the leakage.
Instead, the respirator fit testing equipment measures real-time fit while the user simultaneously performs a series of moving, breathing and talking exercises designed to simulate the same movements made in the field.
What you’ll learn during training:
Our respiratory technicians will also address:
- the proper donning and doffing of the respirator
- how to perform seal checks
- respirator care
- use and maintenance of the respirator
- the defining differences between N, R, and P-Series respirators, and
- the difference between half and full face piece respirators.
Every participant who successfully completes the test is provided with a wallet card indicating the respirator they were fitted with and its size.
Their employer will receive a record of training as a report that they can use for record-keeping purposes.
The new world of respirator fit testing options:
Not everyone’s needs are the same when looking for a respirator fit tester, so you should have more than one choice– as the leaders in respirator fit testing, we understand that! That’s why we’re introducing two new products to the market: The Sibata MT-05C and the AccuFit 9000™.
AccuFIT9000™ Quantitative Respirator Fit Tester:
- Faster tests (3.5 minutes) means less down time
- Proven CNC Fit Testing technology
- Tests all full and half mask respirators and most N95 masks
- Offers stand-alone mode for use with or without a computer
- Data logging means results can be stored and downloaded at a time that works for you
- One operating mode for all types of respirators
- Four language options
Sibata MT05C Quantitative Respirator Fit Tester:
- Faster tests (3.5 minutes) means less down time
- Quiet operation for continual testing of large groups
- No alcohol required equals less consumables and no dangerous goods
- Offers stand-alone mode for use with or without a computer
- Data logging means results can be stored and downloaded at a time that works for you
- Tests filtering facepiece (N95) half-mask and full-facepiece respirators
- Integrated mirror & protective cover
If you’re interested in purchasing a fit test kit, fill in the form on the contact us page and a member of our team will contact you.