RE: Respirators with beards

["Samuel M. Stilwell" <sstilwel@PROTOPOWER.COM>]

I've had a beard (on and off) for 25 years. My beard was moderately 
heavy in years past and is now shorter. Whether fighting fires in the 
Navy, scuba diving, or working jobs in commercial nukes, I have 
never gotten a seal that is consistently satisfactory to ME from a 
safety or radiological standpoint. From personal experience, even a 
light beard cuts down on available SCBA, SCUBA, and rebreather 
air times by as much as 50% and leaves funny red and purple 
marks on your face, regardless of what goop someone can justify 
lathering on their face and regardless of how anally you pay 
attention to the fit. When required to wear a respirator, I just 
SHAVE, and I would highly recommend that as a requirement for 
any respirator fits. Besides, it grows back fast...

-------------------------------
Sam Stilwell
Senior Engineering Specialist
Proto-Power Corporation
15 Thames Street
Groton, CT 06340
860-405-7208, ext. 3037
FAX 860-446-3096
Pager: 860-820-8495
sstilwel@protopower.com
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