Informing the public’s unassisted use of diverse facepieces designed to form a seal : Quantitative, comparative testing using the ASTM F3502 leakage assessment test method

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Baglin, Chris and Baglin, Paul and Bawor, Axel and Henriquez, Fiona and Mackay, William (2025) Informing the public’s unassisted use of diverse facepieces designed to form a seal : Quantitative, comparative testing using the ASTM F3502 leakage assessment test method. Journal of the International Society for Respiratory Protection, 42 (2). pp. 50-72. ISSN 0892-6298 (https://doi.org/10.66828/001c.160200)

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Abstract

Introduction: A National Academies of Science study details the need for respiratory protection for the public. However, assistance with facepiece selection, fit, and use, is rarely available in the community resulting in suboptimal use of facepieces. This study evaluated filtering facepiece respirators (FFR) and a barrier face covering in unassisted conditions. Objective: This study compares the effectiveness of diverse facepieces in blocking aerosols during unassisted use, by employing the ASTM F3502 Leakage Assessment, which adopts the ASTM F3407 fit capability test method with modifications designed to model unassisted donning. Methods: An ASTM F3502-2021 Standard Specification for Barrier Face Coverings Leakage Assessment was conducted with a TSI Portacount 8048, for facepiece models worn by participants given no coaching or assistance. The F3502 method follows ASTM F3407 Standard Test Method for Respirator Fit Capability but with modifications to account for unassisted facepiece use outside of a respiratory protection program. The performance target, a leakage ratio of 10, would reflect 90% blocking of particles. Two FFR models and a reusable Barrier Face Covering were studied on 59 participants. Results: The facepieces performed above the target performance level, indicating, on average, more than 90% protection, with one FFR achieving 94% and the reusable barrier face covering achieving 93%. Conclusion: Disposable respirators and reusable face coverings can be compared quantitatively using the Leakage Assessment test method in ASTM F3502, which provides a critical tool for understanding and improving unassisted use of facepieces by the public.

ORCID iDs

Baglin, Chris, Baglin, Paul, Bawor, Axel, Henriquez, Fiona ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5534-1019 and Mackay, William;
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)