Respirator Fit Testing

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, and
• 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 a respirator fit test:

Whether you're completing a quantitative respirator fit test or a qualitative respirator fit test, you'll be asked to complete the following seven exercises. Each activity takes about 30 seconds. 

1. Normal breathing
2. Deep breathing: Be certain breaths are deep and regular
3. Turn head 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. Bend over: Bend at the waist, and 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

Watch the video below to learn more about what to expect during a quantitative or qualitative fit test.

How often must respirator 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 recommend quantitative respirator fit testing as the more accurate test.

About 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 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 participants learn during respirator fit test training

During the fit test, our respiratory technicians will address the following topics:

• 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-facepiece 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.