Well ventilated room with an area for candidates to wait outside.
Supply of fresh water and cups for each candidate.
Small table or surface for test kit to be stored on.
How is the RPE Face fit test is conducted?
The test takes approximately 30-60 minutes to complete and consists of 2 parts. A sensitivity test and the face fit test.
Part 1: Sensitivity Test – The attendee is required to don a special hood, where a solution of Bittrex (a very bitter tasting solution) is atomised inside the hood. The amount of Bittrex required will determine the user’s sensitivity to tasting the solution.
Having cleansed their pallet completely of the taste. The user is then asked to don their face mask, and to wear it for approximately 5-10 minutes for the mask to mould to the face.
Part 2: Face Fit test. Attendee will then wear the hood again, and will be asked to conduct a series of 1 minute breathing and head movement exercises designed to test the fit of the dust mask.
If at any point, the user is able to taste the Bittrex whilst wearing the mask, the test would be classed as a fail.
A further repeat test can be carried out with the mask to check if it was due to fitting technique. If the user fails again, then it would be deemed that the type of mask is not suitable for the candidate, and a different type of mask should be tried.
