The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has selected three winners for the third and final phase of the Respirator Fit Evaluation Challenge.

The Challenge was a three-phase, $350,000 competition aimed at improving respirator fit evaluation. It sought out practical solutions that delivered real-time information on filtering facepiece respirator fit. These winners progressed through Phase 1, where they submitted concept papers outlining their innovative solutions, and Phase 2, where they developed and demonstrated prototypes. In this third and final phase of the Challenge, the winners delivered functional prototypes for NIOSH evaluation.

“We are thrilled by how each of these innovators rose to our challenge to identify practical solutions that deliver real-time monitoring of respirator fit,” stated Maryann D’Alessandro, Ph.D., director of NIOSH’s National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory. “For those who rely on respiratory protection to safeguard their health, this knowledge that a respirator fits and is providing the expected level of protection is crucial.” 

The Phase 3 winners presented a diverse range of solutions, each earning a share of the $150,000 Phase 3 prize purse. The winning technologies were designed to provide immediate evaluation and feedback to users on the fit of filtering facepiece respirators, enhancing both safety and effectiveness in real-world settings.

From the Phase 3 submissions, NIOSH selected three winners. The Phase 3 winners were awarded a total of $150,000, with 1st place receiving $75,000, 2nd place receiving $50,000, and 3rd place awarded $25,000.

1^st Place: MOBOMO with the “Fit and Breathe” app, which detects leaks (gaps) along the faceseal of a respirator using an infrared camera. 

2^nd Place: OpenAeros with a low-cost, open source, quantitative fit tester that pairs a unique non-destructive sampling probe with an open-source condensation particle counter to calculate a fit measurement. 

3^rd Place: Consequent Labs with a continuous pressure/temperature sensor that uses machine learning to notify the user of a respirator’s fit condition while being worn.

To learn more about the Phase 3 Challenge winners, please visit the Challenge website.

This Challenge is a collaboration between NIOSH, Capital Consulting Corporation, and the NASA Tournament Lab.