What OSHA requires you to record
A respirator only protects a worker if it has been fit tested and the test was documented. Under 29 CFR 1910.134(m)(2)(i), the employer must keep a fit-test record for each employee, and the record must contain five specific things. The log above captures all of them — plus the tester and a medical-clearance confirmation — so the file you hand an inspector is complete.
| Required field | CFR | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Employee name | 29 CFR 1910.134(m)(2)(i)(A) | Each tested wearer, by name. |
| Type of fit test | 29 CFR 1910.134(m)(2)(i)(B) | QLFT or QNFT, and the specific protocol/agent. |
| Respirator make, model, style & size | 29 CFR 1910.134(m)(2)(i)(C) | The exact facepiece the employee will wear (f)(4). |
| Date of the test | 29 CFR 1910.134(m)(2)(i)(D) | Sets the annual re-test clock (f)(2). |
| QNFT pass/fail & fit factor | 29 CFR 1910.134(m)(2)(i)(E) | The measured fit factor for a quantitative test. |
The order of operations (do not skip step 1)
- Medical evaluation first. A medical evaluation must determine the employee's ability to use a respirator BEFORE the employee is fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace. (29 CFR 1910.134(e)(1)) Testing or working a respirator before medical clearance breaks the required order — the log's per-row medical-clearance checkbox documents that you did it in the right order.
- Fit test the exact respirator. The fit test must use the same make, model, style, and size of respirator the employee will actually wear — 1910.134(f), chapeau; the trigger is (f)(2). Note: (f)(4) is a different rule — the retest owed when an employee reports the fit is unacceptable.
- Re-test on schedule. Before initial use, on any facepiece change, and at least annually (29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2)). Each row auto-sets the next-due date to 12 months after the test date.
Pass criteria by respirator class
A qualitative fit test (QLFT) is pass/fail only and is valid for a fit factor of 100 or less. A quantitative fit test (QNFT) must meet a minimum measured fit factor, which depends on the facepiece:
| Respirator class | APF | Fit test | QNFT pass fit factor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Half / quarter-mask facepiece | 10 | QLFT or QNFT | ≥ 100 |
| Full facepiece (APR, PAPR, SCBA, SAR) | 50–1000 | APR: QNFT (a QLFT caps it at APF 10) · PAPR, SAR, SCBA: QLFT or QNFT, negative-pressure mode (f)(8) | ≥ 500 |
| Loose-fitting PAPR / hood / helmet | 25 | No fit test (no seal) | — |
Source: 29 CFR 1910.134(f)(6)–(f)(8) and Appendix A. A QLFT is limited to negative-pressure air-purifying respirators that need a fit factor of 100 or less (f)(6), so it qualifies a full-facepiece APR at an APF of 10, not 50 (f)(7). Tight-fitting PAPRs and atmosphere-supplying respirators may be fit tested by QLFT or QNFT, in negative-pressure mode (f)(8).
Worked examples
Half-mask APR, drywall crew, qualitative test. The worker is medically cleared, then QLFT'd with Bitrex on a 3M 6200 (medium) and passes. You log: method QLFT — Bitrex, no fit-factor number (QLFT measures none), result PASS, test date June 26, 2026 → next due June 26, 2027. Retain the record until that next test (29 CFR 1910.134(m)(2)(ii)).
Full-facepiece APR, lead-abatement, quantitative test. The crew needs the APF of 50, so a QNFT is required. The PortaCount reads a fit factor of 320. Because a full facepiece must pass at 500, 320 is a FAIL — the log flags it if you mark it PASS. Refit with a different size and re-test.
What to do next
- Clear every wearer medically before scheduling fit tests (29 CFR 1910.134(e)(1)).
- Download the PDF after each fit-test session and file it with your written respiratory-protection program.
- Diary the next-due dates and re-test early on any facial change or a change of make, model, or size.
- Keep the record until the next test (29 CFR 1910.134(m)(2)(ii)); keep medical-evaluation records separately under 29 CFR 1910.1020.
Frequently asked questions
What has to be recorded on a respirator fit-test record?
29 CFR 1910.134(m)(2)(i) requires the employer to keep a record of fit tests that contains the employee's name, the test date, the fit-test method (QLFT or QNFT), the specific make, model, style, and size of respirator, and — for a quantitative fit test — the measured fit factor and the pass/fail result. This log captures every one of those fields plus the tester and medical-clearance confirmation.
How long do I have to keep a fit-test record?
Fit-test records must be retained until the next fit test is administered (29 CFR 1910.134(m)(2)(ii)) — in practice at least one year, since fit testing is annual. Respirator medical-evaluation records are kept separately under 29 CFR 1910.1020 for the duration of employment plus 30 years. Keep the two record sets in different files.
How often must respirator fit testing be performed?
Per 29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2), a tight-fitting respirator must be fit tested before initial use, whenever a different facepiece (size, style, model, or make) is used, and at least annually thereafter. A new fit test is also required whenever the employee, supervisor, or PLHCP reports facial changes that could affect the seal (weight change, scarring, dental work, cosmetic surgery). This log auto-sets the next-due date to 12 months after each test date.
What fit factor must a quantitative fit test (QNFT) pass?
A QNFT of a half-mask must pass at a fit factor of at least 100; a QNFT of a full facepiece (including full-facepiece SCBA and supplied-air respirators) must pass at a fit factor of at least 500 (29 CFR 1910.134(f)(7)). The log warns you if you mark a QNFT row "PASS" while the entered fit factor is below the required minimum for that respirator class.
What is the difference between a qualitative and quantitative fit test?
A qualitative fit test (QLFT) is a pass/fail check of the wearer's sense of taste, smell, or irritation (saccharin, Bitrex, isoamyl acetate, or irritant smoke). It measures no number and is acceptable only for a fit factor of 100 or less — an APF up to 10 (29 CFR 1910.134(f)(6)). A quantitative fit test (QNFT) uses an instrument (e.g. PortaCount) to measure an actual fit factor and is required whenever the respirator is relied on above a fit factor of 100 (1910.134(f)(7)).
Does the medical evaluation come before the fit test?
Yes, always. A medical evaluation must determine the employee's ability to use a respirator BEFORE the employee is fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace. (29 CFR 1910.134(e)(1)). Fit testing — or putting an employee to work in a respirator — before medical clearance is not allowed: (e)(1) puts the evaluation first. The "medical clearance obtained" checkbox on each row documents that the order of operations was correct.
Who can perform respirator fit testing?
OSHA does not require a specific certification, but the person administering the test must follow the fit-test protocols in 29 CFR 1910.134 Appendix A exactly. Many employers use a trained safety staff member or a third-party industrial hygienist. Record the tester's name on each row so the record is traceable.
Does the same fit-test rule apply on a construction site?
Yes. Construction adopts the general-industry respiratory-protection standard through 29 CFR 1926.103, which states the requirements are identical to 29 CFR 1910.134. The fit-test fields, annual schedule, recordkeeping, and medical-evaluation-first rule are the same on a construction project as in general industry.
Sources & verification
- https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/subtitle-B/chapter-XVII/part-1910/subpart-I/section-1910.134
- https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/subtitle-B/chapter-XVII/part-1926/subpart-D/section-1926.103
- 29 CFR 1910.134 Appendix A (OSHA-accepted fit-test protocols).
Respiratory-protection facts verified 2026-08-26 against the eCFR. This log is a compliance aid for record-keeping only — it is not legal advice. State-Plan states may adopt additional requirements.
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