Petronas Approval MPM Respirator Fit Test: Qualitative & Quantitative

Petronas MPM Respirator Fit Test: Qualitative & Quantitative 

Petronas MPM (Malaysia Petroleum Management) requires respirator fit testing to ensure that workers using tight-fitting respirators receive adequate protection against hazardous airborne contaminants. This testing follows OSHA (29 CFR 1910.134), ANSI, NIOSH, and other industry standards for workplace safety.

Respirator fit testing is classified into two methods:

1. Qualitative Fit Testing (QLFT) – Subjective testing based on the wearer's sense of taste, smell, or irritation.
2. Quantitative Fit Testing (QNFT) – Objective measurement using specialized equipment to assess the fit.

1. Qualitative Fit Test (QLFT)

🔹 Used For: Disposable masks (N95, FFP3) & half-face respirators.
🔹 Test Type: Pass/Fail test based on wearer’s sensory response.
🔹 Fit Factor: Subjective response; no numerical measurement.
🔹 Common Agents Used:

• Saccharin (Sweet Taste) – Water-soluble, used if the subject can taste sweetness.
• Bitrex (Bitter Taste) – Bitter-tasting solution, often preferred for accuracy.
• Isoamyl Acetate (Banana Oil) – Detectable through smell (mainly for organic vapor respirators).
• Irritant Smoke (Stannic Chloride) – Causes coughing if leakage occurs (rarely used).

🔹 Test Procedure:

1. Sensitivity Test – The test subject determines their ability to detect the chosen test agent.
2. Donning the Respirator – The worker wears the selected mask and performs a seal check.
3. Exposure to Test Agent – The agent is introduced while the subject performs different movements:
   • Normal breathing
   • Deep breathing
   • Head movements (side to side, up and down)
   • Talking (reading a passage)
   • Bending over or jogging in place
4. Pass/Fail Determination – If the subject detects the agent, the respirator fails the test, and adjustments or a different mask are needed.

✅ Advantages: Simple, low-cost, and widely used.
❌ Limitations: Subjective, dependent on individual sensitivity.

2. Quantitative Fit Test (QNFT)

🔹 Used For: Full-face, half-face, and tight-fitting respirators.
🔹 Test Type: Provides an objective, numerical fit factor (FF).
🔹 Fit Factor Required:

• Half-face respirators: FF ≥ 100
• Full-face respirators: FF ≥ 500

🔹 Methods Used:

1. Ambient Aerosol (Condensation Nuclei Counter - CNC) - TSI PortaCount

   • Measures particles inside and outside the mask to determine leakage.
   • Uses a PortaCount machine for real-time monitoring.

2. Controlled Negative Pressure (CNP) - OHD Fit Tester

   • Creates a vacuum inside the respirator and measures air leakage.
   • Uses the OHD Quantifit machine for precise results.

🔹 Test Procedure:

1. The worker wears the respirator and connects to the fit testing device.
2. The machine measures the number of particles or pressure changes inside the mask.
3. The subject performs the same movement exercises as in QLFT.
4. The device calculates the fit factor (FF) and determines pass or fail.

✅ Advantages: Objective, provides numerical results, highly accurate.
❌ Limitations: Expensive equipment, requires trained personnel.

Petronas MPM Fit Test Compliance & Requirements

✔ Fit testing is mandatory for workers required to wear tight-fitting respirators.
✔ Must be performed annually and whenever a worker:

• Changes respirator model/type.
• Gains/losses weight significantly.
• Undergoes facial surgery or changes affecting fit.

Which Test is Suitable?

• N95, Half-face Respirators → QLFT or QNFT
• Full-face Respirators, SCBA → QNFT required
• Critical Work Environments (High-Risk Areas, Chemical Exposure) → QNFT preferred