The NIOSH Respirator Fit Evaluation Challenge

The NIOSH Respirator Fit Evaluation Challenge will crowdsource novel technologies and innovative approaches that deliver immediate evaluation and feedback to end users about the fit of filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) during use. Solutions should consider how to provide immediate feedback to a diverse group of end users, including faces within the NIOSH anthropometric grid^[2] as well as faces of under-represented populations or those falling on the edges of the NIOSH anthropometric grid are encouraged.

Some possible solutions for this challenge may include:

• Innovations for determining fit on initially putting on the respirator
• Innovations for determining fit continuously while being worn
• Qualitative or quantitative fit evaluation solutions

Please note: Solutions that may meet the criteria in ANSI standard Z88.10 for fit evaluation methods, and therefore may be considered by OSHA, and others, as a valid method are welcome. However, it is not a requirement of the challenge to meet the ANSI standard Z88.10.

^[2]NIOSH Anthropometric Data and ISO Digital Headforms; https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/data/datasets/rd-10130-2020-0/default.html