Fit-testing
Every wearer of tight-fitting RPE needs a fit-test. Typical UK cost £60–£120 per test, every 24 months.
Free resource · UK procurement and HSE teams
The true three-year cost of RPE
Procurement is judged on unit price. Two FFP3 masks at £3.20 and £4.10 produce one obvious answer — until you do the maths properly. This calculator gives you the maths. UK defaults built in. No email required.
Step 01 · Read first
Read the guide first (.pdf)
Step 02 · Then calculate
Download the calculator (.xlsx)
Excel workbook + 6-page PDF guide · UK pricing defaults · No email needed
The hidden cost in RPE buying
Unit-price decision making misses five cost categories that quietly change the answer: fit-testing, replacement frequency, training, health surveillance, and programme admin overhead. Fold those in over three years and the cheaper mask is often the more expensive programme.
The calculator surfaces all five. The guide tells you where the numbers come from.
Five cost categories that change the answer
The workbook starts with UK-typical defaults, then lets you replace them with your own programme numbers.
Replacement frequency
Disposables are single-shift. Reusable filters last 5–20 shifts. Mask bodies last 2–5 years.
Training
Required under COSHH. Typical UK cost £30–£50 per worker. Amortise over expected tenure.
Health surveillance
Mandatory where there is a respirable hazard. £25–£40 per worker per year. Often forgotten.
Programme admin
Records, reviews, supplier management, audit prep. Typically 8–12% of direct programme cost.
What's in the resource
Excel workbook
RPE cost calculator
Enter your workforce and current RPE programme. The calculator returns three-year cost per worker for disposable and reusable scenarios, the break-even month, and a cost breakdown by category. UK defaults built in.
6-page PDF guide
How to use it and where the numbers come from
A short companion guide explaining the five hidden cost categories, how to fill in the calculator, the optional risk-adjusted line, and the sources behind every default value.
What this tool does and does not do
- All figures in GBP. UK-only defaults.
- This is a planning aid, not a legal compliance assessment. Where in doubt, consult a qualified occupational hygienist.
- Defaults come from BSIF testing data, the HSE prosecution register, HSG53, BOHS, and public-sector framework pricing.
- Updated annually. Current version: 1.0, May 2026. Next review May 2027.