Tight-fitting RPE relies on creating a seal between the mask body and the wearer’s face to provide protection – a poorly fitted facepiece that leaks around the face seal cannot provide the correct level of protection to the wearer.

Facial hair, such as beards, certain moustaches, and even stubble, can compromise the seal of disposable respirators, half masks and full face masks, reducing the level of protection offered.

The HSE state in HSG53 ‘Respiratory protective equipment at work’ that users of tight-fitting RPE must be clean-shaven around the face seal area. This is defined as having shaved within 8 hours of starting work. It should be noted, however, that each individual’s rate of hair growth varies, some may need to shave during their working day to ensure an effective face seal can be maintained.

Some styles of moustache that fit within the face seal area can allow an individual to achieve a fit with a tight-fitting respirator, but it is important not to let hair grow into the face seal area and to make sure other areas are clean-shaven.

 To test the effects of facial hair on mask fit, we carried out quantitative fit checks with the Force®8 half mask. Fit checks conducted using the TSI PortaCount®quantitative fit testing device demonstrated that both a full beard and stubble did not allow the respirator to seal with the face, whereas the same test performed clean-shaven delivered an extremely high fit factor and showed the mask sealed effectively.

Have any more respiratory protection questions? Take a look at our respiratory protection faq! Find out more about our range of respiratory protection. Take a look at our new respiratory guide. Have a beard? Read this article for Respiratory Protection options for facial hair