Thats correct, hoods and helmets do not require fit testing.

I can see why you want to take this path, it would be awesome to have a tight fitting half face PAPR that you can wear with facial hair. it would be a great marketing point of difference. Strange that no other major RPE manufacturer make the same claim especially any that have a product with certification under EN12942 as a TM.

Personally I would only fit test tight fitting face pieces when the wearer is clean shaven and if it is a PAPR or supplied air that it is under negative conditions.

From Cleanspace's website: https://cleanspacetechnology.com/faqs/
How do I know if the mask is fitted correctly?
Cleanspace is a tight fitting respirator and should be fitted so that the mask fits to the face.

Also AS/NZS1716 does not have a provision for the certification of half face loose fitting PAPR only tight fitting half face. Loose fitting under this standard requires a complete hood or helmet.

EN12942 does have a loose fitting half face category (TH) but Cleanspace is categorised as a TM which is a tight fitting face piece.

RPE standards are reasonably intricate and with the recent adoption of the ISO standards by AS/NZS we have seen two standards replaced by 31 standards. Get ready for the next 5 years of transferring over.

Thanks for the reply MattD2,
You may want to check with WorkSafe about their position on this as I understand they require Cleanspace to be fit tested in negative mode for it to be a valid fit test.

So the answer is in the standards and methods for RPE Fit Testing (ISO16975-3, OSHA 1910.134).

All tight fitting facepieces for respiratory protective devices (RPD) including those as part of PAPR or supplied air systems are to be fit tested. They must be fit tested in a negative mode and not have anything that interferes with the seal between the facepiece and the skin such as facial hair.

A fit test not done in accordance with a recognised method or varies the method is generally considered invalid.

Cleanspace is certified as a tight fitting facepiece under AS/NZS1716. It therefore requires fit testing in a negative mode. Fit testing in the positive mode is a variation against the fit testing methods and would be considered an invalid test despite the manufacturer's claims.

See the answer from Resp-Fit website FAQs for 11 & 12 https://respfit.org.au/faqs/

From Resp-Fit FAQ's:
Why is it a requirement to be clean shaven when wearing a respirator? (both postive and negative pressure tight fitting facepieces)
Many studies show that the presence of facial hair between the sealing surface area and the skin can significantly reduce the expected level of protection. Many hazards of concern e.g. asbestos, silica, DPM, mould, bioaerosols are many times smaller than a single facial hair and can bypass between them. Gases and vapours can bypass between facial hair as well. A tight-fitting respirator has been selected as part of a control strategy to provide an expected level of protection. With facial hair the expected protection is not predictable or reliable.

From Resp-Fit:
What type of respirators are required to be fit tested?
All types of tight-fitting respirators (negative and positive pressure) must be fit tested as required by AS/NZS 1715, ISO 16975-3 and all other international RPE guidance.

This includes all disposable/filtering facepieces (FFP), reusable half face, reusable full face including those attached to a powered air purifying respirator (PAPR) or supplied air source such as SCBA cylinder and compressed airline hose.

It is commonly asked why do positive pressure tight-fitting respirators require fit testing? Generally, the assigned protection factor for these positive pressure combinations is higher than a negative pressure equivalent style facepiece. This higher assigned protection factor is based on the wearer achieving an adequate seal in addition to the positive pressure. A positive pressure respirator would be temporarily converted to be negative pressure or use a negative pressure respirator with an equivalent sealing surface to conduct the fit test.