Questions? Get a Quick Response
Questions? Get a Quick Response
Choosing fit testing equipment is a bigger decision than it seems at first. You’re not just buying a machine; you’re making an investment that will shape your respiratory protection program for years to come. Your search should be about finding equipment that works for your specific program: your staff, your workflow, your testing volume, and your operational realities.
The right equipment becomes a reliable foundation that supports compliance, protects workers, and makes annual testing manageable. The wrong equipment creates ongoing operational friction that affects every part of your program.
If you’re researching fit testing equipment right now, here are two questions that will help you focus on what’s important and find equipment that works for your program.
Fit testing programs rarely stay static. Facilities expand. Staff counts increase. Compliance requirements change. And the types of respirators your teams use change as well. The equipment you buy today needs to support not just your current program, but the program you’ll have three years from now.
Scalability isn’t just about technical capacity, it’s about whether your equipment can adapt to new workflows, integrate with evolving systems, and remain current as regulations and best practices change.
Flexible operation modes: Programs change. You might start with standalone operation in the field and later want networked database management. You might begin testing at one location and expand to multiple sites. Equipment that only works one way becomes a constraint.
A machine for all masks: Not all fit testing machines are equipped to test every mask type. Some are only able to perform tests on elastomeric full face and half face masks but not filtering facepiece respirators (FFP). As the need for disposable respirators increases, purchasing a machine that can handle them all ensures your respiratory protection program is set up for success regardless of respirator type.
Flexible data options: Every program needs a reliable way to store records of fit tests for compliance, audits, and best practices. You need to be able to access the data when you want it and how you want it. However, not every fit testing device provides data flexibility for both remote and fixed locations. Some systems lock you into one storage method. If you test in the field, you might be stuck with USB drives that need manual transfer. If you test in a central location, you might not have remote access options. The reality is that different testing scenarios require different data workflows. Field testing requires local storage without network dependencies. Office-based testing benefits from centralized database management. Multi-location programs need cloud synchronization. Your equipment should support all of these workflows, not force you to choose just one. If you can’t access the data, then the tests never happened.
The AccuFIT 9000 and 9000 PRO operate standalone or connected to a PC, depending on what your program needs. The 9000 PRO has the ability to test full and half face elastomeric respirators along with disposable respirators like N95s.
For data management, the AccuFIT series provides four flexible options: USB drive storage or internal memory storage for standalone field testing, PC software for centralized database management with export to Excel, CSV, or PDF, and cloud synchronization for automatic backup and remote access. When you test in standalone mode, records can automatically upload to the cloud once connected back at your office, meaning field testing data flows into your centralized system without manual transfer. You’re not locked into one method. Use what works for your program today and adapt as your needs change.
When your fit testing equipment goes down, your entire program stops. Annual testing deadlines don’t move because your machine is in the shop. Audits don’t wait for your equipment to get fixed. Compliance requirements don’t pause for repairs.
The real question isn’t whether equipment will eventually need service. It’s how much protection you have when it does, how quickly you can get back to testing, and what the total cost of ownership looks like over the life of the equipment.
Purchase price is visible. Operating costs sneak up on you. When you’re comparing equipment, it’s easy to focus on the price tag and overlook the ongoing expenses that accumulate over years of operation. Total cost of ownership includes consumables, calibration fees, maintenance contracts, repair costs, and the hidden expense of downtime. Equipment that costs less upfront but requires frequent service, uses consumables inefficiently, or needs expensive repairs quickly becomes more expensive than equipment with a higher initial price.
Warranty length: Longer warranty coverage protects you against unexpected repair costs during critical years of equipment operation. Extended warranties mean you’re covered through multiple annual testing cycles without worrying about expiration right when you need the equipment most. Warranty length signals manufacturer confidence in their product and reduces your financial risk during the period when you’re most reliant on the equipment.
Service turnaround times: When equipment breaks, how long are you down? Days? Weeks? Does the manufacturer offer loaner equipment? What’s the process for getting repairs done quickly?
Responsive support: Can you reach someone who understands fit testing when you have a question? Or are you navigating phone trees and generic tech support that services multiple types of measurement devices?
Predictable maintenance costs: Annual calibration is required for all CNC-based fit testing equipment. What’s the cost? What’s the turnaround time? Are there hidden fees or surprise charges?
The AccuFIT 9000 and 9000 PRO come with a three-year warranty, 50% longer than the two-year coverage standard in the industry. That’s an additional 12 months of protection, which means you’re covered well into your third annual testing cycle.
The AccuFIT 9000 and 9000 PRO are backed by a distributor network that understands respiratory protection, not just generic test equipment. This network provides responsive technical support from people who know fit testing, not generic instrument repair. Annual calibration services are handled efficiently with clear turnaround expectations, and if issues are found during calibration while your equipment is still under warranty, repairs are covered at no additional cost. This means your annual calibration serves double duty as both compliance maintenance and preventive inspection.
If you’re evaluating fit testing equipment right now, use these two questions as a framework. Don’t just read spec sheets—think about how the equipment will work in your program.
And if you want to see how the AccuFIT series addresses these questions in practice, we’re happy to walk you through it. Schedule a demo, talk to someone who understands fit testing, and see the system in action before making a decision.
Ready to see the AccuFIT series in action? Schedule a demo or contact our team to discuss your specific program needs.
About Accutec: We focus exclusively on respiratory fit testing. Our equipment is designed around how fit testing happens, balancing scientific accuracy with operational reality. We support hospitals, fire departments, industrial facilities, and service providers with reliable tools and responsive support.
