The DOI matches its Crossref record; 8 of the 8 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Fitting Characteristics of Eighteen N95 Filtering-Facepiece Respirators
Abstract
Four performance measures were used to evaluate the fitting characteristics of 18 models of N95 filtering-facepiece respirators: (1) the 5th percentile simulated workplace protection factor (SWPF) value, (2) the shift average SWPF value, (3) the h-value, and (4) the assignment error. The effect of fit-testing on the level of protection provided by the respirators was also evaluated. The respirators were tested on a panel of 25 subjects with various face sizes. Simulated workplace protection factor values, determined from six total penetration (face-seal leakage plus filter penetration) tests with re-donning between each test, were used to indicate respirator performance. Five fit-tests were used: Bitrex, saccharin, generated aerosol corrected for filter penetration, PortaCount Plus corrected for filter penetration, and the PortaCount Plus with the N95-Companion accessory. Without fit-testing, the 5th percentile SWPF for all models combined was 2.9 with individual model values ranging from 1.3 to 48.0. Passing a fit-test generally resulted in an increase in protection. In addition, the h-value of each respirator was computed. The h-value has been determined to be the population fraction of individuals who will obtain an adequate level of protection (i.e., SWPF >/=10, which is the expected level of protection for half-facepiece respirators) when a respirator is selected and donned (including a user seal check) in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions without fit-testing. The h-value for all models combined was 0.74 (i.e., 74% of all donnings resulted in an adequate level of protection), with individual model h-values ranging from 0.31 to 0.99. Only three models had h-values above 0.95. Higher SWPF values were achieved by excluding SWPF values determined for test subject/respirator combinations that failed a fit-test. The improvement was greatest for respirator models with lower h-values. Using the concepts of shift average and assignment error to measure respirator performance yielded similar results. The highest level of protection was provided by passing a fit-test with a respirator having good fitting characteristics.
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“The Quality Factor (QF) is commonly used to compare the performance of materials used to filter particulates under similar experimental conditions [62–81];”
From The protective performance of reusable cloth face masks, disposable procedure masks, KN95 masks and N95 respirators: Filtration and total inward leakage (2021) · cites this paper as [71]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Coffey, C. C., Lawrence, R. B., Campbell, D. L., Zhuang, Z., Calvert, C. A., & Jensen, P. A.
- Affiliations
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (US)
- Venue
- Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2004-04
- Volume
- 1
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 262-271
- ISSN
- 1545-9624 (ISSN-L)
- 1545-9632
- OpenAlex
- W2023424240
- Cited by
- 119
- References
- 8
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 4.98
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Infection Control and Ventilation
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Occupational Health and Safety in Workplaces
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Occupational Health and Performance
- Keywords
- N95 respirators, filtering facepiece respirators, respirator fit testing, workplace protection factor, H-value, respirator selection, filter penetration, face size
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Equipment Design, Face, Female, Filtration, Humans, Male, Materials Testing, Respiratory Protective Devices, Sensitivity and Specificity, Occupational Exposure, Workplace
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