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1335665 
Journal Article 
Evaluation Of Irritant Smoke Qualitative Fitting Test For Respirators 
Marsh, JL 
1984 
Yes 
American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal
ISSN: 0002-8894 
NIOSH/00139272 
45 
4 
245-249 
Results of quantitative fit tests of half mask and full face respirators were compared. The quantitative test involved a nontoxic aerosol, di-2-ethyl-hexyl-sebacate (117817), dispersed in an exposure chamber and continuously sampled inside and outside the respirator, using a forward light scattering photometer. The qualitative test involved wearer response to an irritant gas. After establishing that the smoke was irritating, the test subject, wearing the respirator to be tested and facing away from the exhaust hood, took shallow and then deep breaths, then performed test exercises for 30 seconds. Four models of negative pressure respirators were examined. The fit factor (FF) was then determined. For all four respirators, 38 exercises had an FF of less than 10, and all 38 failed the qualitative test; 70 exercises had an FF from 10 to 100, of which 4 passed and 66 failed the qualitative test; 22 exercises had an FF between 101 and 500, of which 9 passed and 13 failed the qualitative test; and 70 exercises had an FF greater than 500, of which 55 passed and 15 failed the qualitative test. When an inadequate FF was defined as less than 10, the upper 95 percent confidence interval was 0.08; that is, less than 8 percent of the population with an FF of less than 10 would pass the qualitative fit test. When adequate fit was defined as one with an FF greater than or equal to 100, the upper confidence interval was 0.30. The author concludes that for these fit factor distributions, at the 95 percent confidence value, the irritant smoke qualitative fitting test is expected to identify at least 92 percent of face piece fit with fit factors of less than 10 and at least 92 percent of the face piece fit with fit factors of less than 100. 
DCN-127055; Smoke inhalation; Respirators; Quantitative analysis; Qualitative analysis; Exposure chambers; Laboratory testing; Equipment reliability; Ergonomics; Humans; Personal protection; Respiratory irritants