PORTACOUNT TEST PROCEDURE FAILURE

Q:  During testing of an Avon Protection C50 APR and PAPR system, the instructions says that the blower should be turned off. Users have done it with the blower off and on and get a much better result when it’s off. Is this because it might be dust and other small particles in the hose/PAPR module that ”blow up” when the blower is on, hence creating a worse result?

A:  When the unit is ‘on’ it will be passing microscopic particles that will be seen by the Portacount – as a result you will get a false reading. 
Therefore the test should be carried out with the unit switched off.
This method will also prove that the unit is ‘leak tight’.

Testing while the unit is ON will confuse the Portacount as it requires a negative pressure in the mask / unit to take a reading.