What is the assigned PF for a full-face air-purifying mask if tested qualitatively?

• A. PF of 10
• B. PF of 50
• C. PF of 5
• D. PF of 100

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is how protection factor is determined based on the fit-testing method. Protection Factor (PF or APF) shows how much protection a respirator is expected to provide when used properly. A full-face air-purifying mask that has only undergone a qualitative fit test relies on the wearer’s ability to detect a test agent to judge the seal. That method is qualitative and doesn’t quantify leakage, so the assigned protection factor is the lower, conservative value of 10. If the same respirator had a quantitative fit test, you could justify a higher protection factor, typically around 50 for a full-face respirator. The other numbers don’t reflect this testing approach: 50 would come from quantitative testing, 5 isn’t a standard assigned value for this scenario, and 100 is associated with higher-end or powered systems, not a basic full-face APR tested qualitatively.