Rules for Beards and Sideburns

NFPA standards and OSHA regulations prohibit the use of SCBA by members with beards or other facial hair that may interfere with the proper seal of a facepiece.

The following is quoted from a ruling regarding facial hair and SCBA or respirator use, issued in February 1990 by the Directorate of Compliance Programs, OSHA, U.S. Department of Labor:

With respect to regulating the use of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) for protecting employees with beards, 29 CFR 1910.134 (e)95) (I) contains the statement, “Respirators shall not be worn when conditions prevent a good face seal.”  This prohibition applies to any negative or positive pressure personal respiratory protection device of a design relying on the principle of forming a face seal to perform at maximum effectiveness.

A beard growing on the face at points where the seal with the respirator is to occur is a condition that has been shown to prevent a good face seal.  Thus an employer using an SCBA to protect an employee with a growth of beard at points where the SCBA facepiece is designed to seal with the face is violating 29 CFR 1910.134 (e) (5) (I).  This is so regardless of what fit test measurement can be obtained.  If the beard is styled so no hair underlies the points where the SCBA facepiece is designed to seal with the face, then the employer may use the SCBA to protect the employee, however.

Wearers of beards or sideburns and long hair which interfere with the complete and effective seal of breathing apparatus facepiece shall be prohibited from participating in any drill conducted by the fire company involving use of breathing apparatus or using such breathing apparatus on the fireground on other incidents.

April 2001