How to Fit Test a N95 Respirator

An N95 respirator is a piece of personal protective equipment commonly used by healthcare workers and those who may be exposed to airborne diseases. The mask must be properly fitted to the individual to create a good seal. Because an N95 respirator is for one-time use and the mask must be molded to your face at the time of use, learning the proper technique to fitting the mask is imperative for safety reasons.

Things You'll Need

• Mask
• Plastic hood
• Saccharin
• Water
• Mirror
• Nebulizer

Show More

Instructions

• 1

  Choose which style and size respirator is the best fit. The mask should cover your nose and mouth, resting at your chin and over the bridge of your nose. It should be small enough to leave room for eye protection, but large enough so that you can breathe and talk easily. If you have any facial hair, you will not get a proper seal.

• 2

  Place the mask over your face, and adjust the straps across the back of your head to create a secure fit. Crimp down the mask over the bridge of your nose to create a good seal without any gaping. Use a mirror to check placement.

• 3

  Practice breathing normally. Breathe deeply and even jog in place to be sure the mask does not impede proper air flow. Move your head back and forth to make sure the mask won't slip.

• 4

  Conduct a taste threshold screening using a saccharin solution. Multiple ways exist to conduct the taste threshold screening, but saccharin is the most widely used. Create a solution of .83 grams of Sodium Saccharin and 100 ml water and prepare the nebulizer. A hood or tent is a plastic dome-shaped enclosure that covers your head and shoulders. A small hole should be on the front of the hood to insert the nebulizer tubing. Place the tent over your head, and start the nebulizer. You should not taste the saccharin. If you do, the fit is not secure and you need to start back at the beginning and try a new mask and size.