Armco Asbestos Training
Contact us 0161 761 4424
Armco Asbestos Training
Are you looking for face fit testing in Manchester?
The approved code of practice for the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 recommends face fit testing of all respiratory protective equipment.
The performance of respiratory protective equipment (RPE) with a tight-fitting face piece depends on good contact between the wearer’s skin and the face seal of the mask, according to The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations, 2002.
The COSHH Approved Code of Practice states that employers should ensure the selected facepiece is the right size and fits each wearer correctly.
For a tight-fitting face piece, the initial selection should include fit testing to ensure the wearer has the most suitable respirator.
Also, employers must ensure that whoever carries out the fit testing is competent to do so.
We have over 25 years of experience working with asbestos and have performed face-fit testing in Manchester for over 1,000 individuals in the last 3 years.
Armco Asbestos Training are Fit2Fit Accredited.
When it comes to Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE), a “pass” certificate is only as good as the person issuing it. The HSE’s operational circular INDG 479 states that RPE fit testing should be conducted by a competent person.
The Fit2Fit Accreditation Scheme, developed by the BSIF in collaboration with the HSE, is the only industry-recognised way to confirm that competence.
If an employee develops a respiratory illness and your fit testing was conducted by an unaccredited individual, your “competence” may be challenged in court. By using a Fit2Fit accredited provider like Armco, you have documented proof that your testing meets the highest UK standards, significantly reducing your corporate liability.
A poorly fitted mask offers zero protection against invisible killers like asbestos fibres or silica dust. Our accredited testers don’t just “go through the motions”—we use scientifically proven protocols to ensure the seal is airtight, even when the wearer is moving, talking, or breathing heavily.
What happens if a mask fails? An unaccredited tester might just tell you it didn’t work. A Fit2Fit expert will identify why it failed—whether it’s due to facial hair, the wrong mask size, or poor donning technique—and provide the solution to get your staff safely back to work.
Accreditation means we are trained to train others. During every test, we educate your operatives on:
How to perform a “pre-use” fit check every single time.
The correct way to clean and store their RPE.
When a mask has reached the end of its life.
The Bottom Line: Hiring an unaccredited tester might save a few pounds today, but it could cost a life—or a business—tomorrow. Demand Fit2Fit.
Quantitative vs. Qualitative: Which Test Do You Need?
Not all masks are tested the same way. The method used depends entirely on the type of respirator your team uses.
1. Qualitative Testing (The “Taste” Test)
This is the most common method for disposable (FFP1, FFP2, FFP3) and half-mask respirators.
How it works: It relies on the wearer’s sense of taste. We use a bitter or sweet aerosol (Bitrex or Saccharin) inside a hood. If the wearer cannot taste the solution while performing seven specific exercises, the seal is successful.
Best for: Construction sites, asbestos removal (standard masks), and healthcare workers.
2. Quantitative Testing (The “Computer” Test)
This is a more technical method required for full-face masks or when a higher “Assigned Protection Factor” (APF) is needed.
How it works: We use a specialized machine (like a PortaCount) to physically count the particles inside the mask versus the particles outside. It provides a numerical “Fit Factor” and removes any human error or guesswork.
Required for: Full-face respirators, SCBA, and high-hazard environments.
Our Qualitative Testing Process
As Fit2Fit accredited providers, our qualitative process is meticulous. We don’t just “spray and go”; we follow the strict HSE-mandated steps:
Step 1: The Sensitivity Test – Before the mask is even on, we ensure the wearer can detect the test agent.
Step 2: Seven Fit Test Exercises – To simulate a real workday, the wearer performs:
Normal breathing
Deep breathing
Turning head side to side
Moving head up and down
Talking out loud (reading a set passage)
Bending over (or jogging in place)
Normal breathing again
Step 3: Certification – Once passed, we issue an immediate digital or hard-copy certificate. This certificate is your proof of compliance for HSE inspectors or site managers.
A Quick Compliance Tip for Manchester Sites:
If you are working with asbestos (especially higher-risk removals), ensure you check if your operatives are using half-masks or full-face masks. If they use full-face, you must book a Quantitative test. We can advise you on this during your booking to ensure you don’t waste money on the wrong test type.
So if you need face fit testing in Manchester, you’re in our experienced and capable hands.
We charge £35 per person for a face fit test and can fit test up to a maximum of 20 people on any one day.
Face fit testing is required where RPE is used as a safety measure. Face fit testing should be repeated if the wearer:
Once a user has passed a face fit test for a particular face piece, they can wear other face pieces of the same make, model, type and size.
However, if they need to use a different make, model, type of size then that face piece will also need to be face fit tested.
Re-testing is recommended to check that the face piece remains suitable and that the wearer is taking care to wear and remove the mask correctly.
A one year retest is suggested for work with asbestos.
We also provide a training course called Face Fit train the Tester for individuals who are required to train others on how to wear RPE correctly.
We offer total flexibility for businesses in the North West. You can send your staff to our Bury training clinic, or our Fit2Fit accredited testers can travel directly to your site, factory, or office.
We provide full coverage across all 10 Greater Manchester boroughs and surrounding areas:
Manchester City Centre: Including Spinningfields, Ancoats, and the Northern Quarter.
Salford: Serving MediaCityUK, Swinton, and Eccles.
Trafford: Regular site visits to Trafford Park, Altrincham, and Sale.
Stockport: Covering the town centre, Cheadle, and Hazel Grove.
Bolton: Serving Horwich, Farnworth, and the surrounding industrial estates.
Bury: Visit our head office or we can come to you in Radcliffe, Tottington, or Ramsbottom.
Rochdale: Covering Heywood, Middleton, and Littleborough.
Oldham: Serving Chadderton, Royton, and Failsworth.
Tameside: Including Ashton-under-Lyne, Hyde, and Denton.
Wigan: Covering Leigh, Atherton, and Ashton-in-Makerfield.
Site Manager Tip: Booking a full-day “On-Site Session” is the most cost-effective way to ensure your entire team is compliant without the downtime of travelling to our Bury office.
In the high-pressure environment of a Greater Manchester construction site, respiratory protection is a life-saving requirement, not just a box to tick. Whether you are dealing with Silica dust (RCS) from concrete cutting or Asbestos fibres during a refurbishment, a leaking mask is a major health liability.
Under HSE Law, all tight-fitting RPE must be fit tested by a competent person. We provide Fit2Fit accredited testing to ensure your workforce is protected against “invisible killers” like wood dust, mists, and fumes.
A “pass” certificate is only valid if the tester is competent. As Fit2Fit Accredited providers, we offer:
Choose the option that suits your business best:
We cover all of Greater Manchester including Salford, Trafford Park, Bolton, and Stockport.
For more information about face fit testing in Manchester or to enquire about one of our asbestos training courses, please contact us on 0161 761 4424 or complete the contact form on this page and one of our team will contact you shortly.
Or perhaps you need an asbestos survey? Whether you need an asbestos management survey, or a refurbishment demolition survey, contact us on 0161 763 3727 or by visiting our asbestos surveys website armco.org.uk
As well as face fit testing Manchester, we also offer asbestos awareness training and a number of online training courses covering health and safety in the workplace. For more details on these courses, please click here.
