Somewhat on point, back when I was in the fire service, some vendors put out some SCBA masks especially designed for people with beards. I had read articles in the fire journals that in some areas of the US and Canada, the volunteer fire departments were staffed with Amish and other people who wear full beards for religious reasons. Those departments generally had to get a waiver from the OSHA requirements that firefighters be clean-shaven for purposes of mask fit. The last time I looked at the NFPA standards, they required only that a mask fit test be passed and did not forbid a beard.
This is still quite the issue of controversy in the fire service, and most departments will allow only a mustache, and some of them will allow a beard as long as you can pass a mask fit test. A short beard generally allows a fit test. There have been a lot of lawsuits and human rights complaints on the issue of a beard in the fire service.
I know some members on the board were active duty USN during the Zumwalt years when beards were permitted. What is your recollection with the SCBA gear and gas masks?
