Originally Posted by
orca
Has anyone ever actually done leak and flow checks with and without a beard on O2 masks, firefighting BA or CBRN rig? In the sense that a report would be available identifying the actual (if any) degradation of performance? That would be a far more useful document for the thread than service dress regs.
Try searching on fire fighter breathing apparatus and respiratory protection equipment. The HSE has some very good advice on not having a beard - lot’s of global academic and scientific research on that too. Beards are banned by the majority of firefighting duties (including in the RAF).
Fit testing basics - Respiratory protective equipment (RPE)