CSA Z94 Test Standard for Selection, Use and Care of Respirators

The CSA Z94 standard specifies requirements by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) for the proper selection, use and maintenance of respirators. The aim is to protect respirator wearers from a known or potential respiratory hazard in their work environment. The standard also outlines the components for an effective respiratory protection program.

This standard does not address the selection of air-supplied clothing, underwater respirators, or respirators for use against radiological agents. This standard was revised in 2016 without any changes.

Air-purifying respirator – a respirator with an air-purifying element (i.e. filter, box, cartridge) that removes certain air pollutants by passing ambient air through the element

Atmosphere-supplying respirator – a respirator that supplies the respirator wearer with gas/breathing air from an independent source of ambient atmosphere

End-of-life indicator - a device combined with a filtering element to notify the wearer of the respirator that the item is saturated and is no longer useful

Fit testing – the use of a quantitative or qualitative method to evaluate the fit of a particular model, respirator on a person

Qualitative fit testing (QLFT) – a pass/fail test method based on an individual's sensory response to detect a compelling agent to assess ventilator fit

Quantitative compliance testing (QNFT) – a testing method that uses a tool to assess the amount of leakage into the respiratory tract to assess respiratory compliance

User Seal Check - to determine if the respirator fits face properly, a positive and negative pressure seal confirmation that the respiration is carried out by the user

Respiratory protection - provided to protect the user from inhaling hazardous pollutants:

• administrative or engineering control measures are not sufficient or practicable
• when implementing control measures
• during a shutdown due to repair, maintenance or an emergency

The Respiratory Protection Program must be in writing and prepared by the employer. The program will include:

• Roles and responsibilities of people managing the program
• Hazard assessment
• Appropriate respirator selection
• Respirator compliance test
• Training:
• Respirator use
• Inspection, maintenance, cleaning and storage of respirators
• Health surveillance of respirator users
• Program Evaluation
• record keeping

Testing services are also provided by our organization to enterprises within the framework of laboratory services of materials, within the scope of the Test Standard for the Selection, Use and Maintenance of CSA Z94 Respirators.