3M Supports Respirator Face Fit Tester Scheme

3M has voiced its support for the British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) Fit2fit accreditation scheme for respirator face fit testers. Developed in conjunction with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), 3M said it had an active part in producing the syllabus and sits on the technical committee and the governing body of the scheme. Fit testing is a requirement of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 and the Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002, It is required to make sure respiratory protective equipment (RPE) incorporating a tight-fitting facepiece can fit the wearer well, helping to ensure they are correctly protected.

However, due to different face shapes and sizes, tight-fitting facepieces do not always fit all wearers adequately. Fit testing by a competent person identifies wearers who cannot achieve a good fit with a particular facepiece so they can be provided with an alternative model. Although not a legal requirement, the Fit2fit scheme is designed to confirm the competency of any person performing fit testing by passing an industry recognised assessment, based on the competencies required by the HSE.

The assessment includes a multiple choice exam and a demonstration of a practical fit test to show that participants have a thorough knowledge of the HSE guidance on fit testing and can put it into practice. A Fit2fit accreditation proves that a fit test service provider has been independently assessed and can operate to the standard required. It also gives employers a means of assessing the competencies of their in-house fit testers.

Fluke Offers T5-600 Tester In Limited-Edition Kit

Fluke is offering a special kit consisting of either the Fluke 1653B or 1652B multifunction installation tester with a free Fluke T5-600 electrical tester for a limited period. The tester is worth GBP99, and the special part number for ordering the limited-edition kit is Fluke 1652B/T5 or 1653B/T5.

The 1650B series testers are designed to ensure that fixed wiring is safe and correctly installed to meet the latest BS7671 17th Edition. They have features that offer faster high-current loop testing, a variable RCD current mode for customised settings, a Pass/Fail indication for RCD tests, and voltage measurement selection between L-N, L-PE and N-PE without changing connections.

The Fluke 1652B is ideal for professional trouble-shooters working in both domestic and commercial. The Fluke 1653 is the complete tester: with phase-rotation test and in-built memory for documenting results, it is ideal for industrial applications. The Fluke T5-600 electrical tester measures voltage, current and resistance and tests continuity, all in a single slim and compact package.

With a 600V Category III safety rating, the OpenJawO technology body ensures easy and safe measurement of AC currents up to 100A without breaking the circuit. It measures voltages up to 600V AC/DC and resistance to 1000W. A sleep mode ensures battery conservation.

Seaward Updates Powerplace 1557 Tester

Seaward has added a label printer to its Powerplace 1557 electrical installation tester, to allow on-the-spot cable tagging and distribution-board marking. The Powerplace 1557 is an integrated 17th edition inspection and certification tester. It incorporates electronic versions of mains-test certificates so that test data is automatically entered into the correct certificate fields as testing is undertaken.

The PowerSolutions concept has been extended with the availability of a new battery-powered Test n Tag thermal transfer printer for cable tags and labels, giving contractors the ability to clearly label electrical wiring in line with circuit drawings and system schematics. Bluetooth connection to the Powerplace 1557 enables the printer to produce durable tags and labels at the press of a button, allowing immediate identification of all cables and wiring systems.

The Test n Tag printer comes with a range of cartridge options. Self-laminating wire markers can be produced for standard periodic inspection requirements, as well as laminated labels for use on consumer units, distribution boards and electrical circuits. For new wiring installations, the Test n Tag system can print heat-shrink sleeves for individual wire and cable marking.

The printed sleeving can be produced in a range of colours with all appropriate inspection, maintenance and identification information. The Powerplace 1557 labelling system ensures the correct marking of electric cables while testing is being carried out, saving time and money and eliminating the use of hand-written labels.

The lightweight Powerplace 1557 multifunction tester provides maximum productivity and improves efficiency, compared with paper or PDA-based systems. Onboard electronic certificate software enables test data to be recorded directly by the tester using a replica of the inspection and test certificate. Data can be validated in the field to check for errors or omissions, avoiding the need for costly repeat-site visits.

The instrument's integral certificate assistant software also holds many of the commonly used tabulated values and look-up tables, avoiding the need to take bulky reference material onsite. When inspection and testing is complete, the certificate held inside the Powerplace 1557 tester can be transferred to the accompanying Powerplace PC software to produce PDF or printed certificates for customers in line with the 17th edition wiring regulations.