Flat Fold and Cup-Shaped N95 Filtering Facepiece Respirator Face Seal Area and Pressure Determinations: A Stereophotogrammetry Study

Twenty subjects underwent quantitative respirator fit testing with two styles (flat fold, cup-shaped) of N95 filtering facepiece respirators (N95 FFRs). Passing a fit test was followed by stereophotogrammetry to determine the face seal area and computation of seal pressure. There were significantly...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of occupational and environmental hygiene Vol. 10; no. 8; pp. 419 - 424
Main Authors Niezgoda, George, Kim, Jung-Hyun, Roberge, Raymond J., Benson, Stacey M.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Philadelphia, PA Taylor & Francis Group 2013
Taylor & Francis
Taylor & Francis LLC
Subjects
3-D technology
Adult
Atmospheric pressure
Biological and medical sciences
Chemical filters
Equipment Design
Ergonomics. Workplace layout
Ergonomics. Workplace layout. Occupational psychology
face seal area
Female
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
N95 filtering facepiece respirators
Occupational Exposure - prevention & control
Occupational medicine
Occupational safety
Photogrammetry
Photography
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Respiratory Protective Devices
seal pressure
stereophotogrammetry
Studies
face seal area
Protective mask
seal pressure
Face
Individual safety equipment
N95 filtering facepiece respirators
Stereophotogrammetry
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Summary:Twenty subjects underwent quantitative respirator fit testing with two styles (flat fold, cup-shaped) of N95 filtering facepiece respirators (N95 FFRs). Passing a fit test was followed by stereophotogrammetry to determine the face seal area and computation of seal pressure. There were significantly different seal pressures (p < 0.01) between standard size flat fold and cup-shaped N95 FFRs but no significant differences in face seal area. No significant differences were noted in fit factors, but more individuals passed fit testing wearing flat fold respirators. The ability of flat fold N95 FFRs, at lower seal pressures, to obtain similar fit factors as cup-shaped N95 FFR at higher seal pressures offers the possibility of enhanced facial comfort without a loss of protection. Stereophotogrammetry offers a relatively simple, non-invasive technology to evaluate various properties of N95 FFR fit.
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ISSN:1545-9624
1545-9632
1545-9632
DOI:10.1080/15459624.2013.801246