Harvard (photo 3)

Bearded since: On and off. I am an occasional or seasonal beard grower.

Comments:
Current regulations concerning the use of respiratory protection (29 CFR Part 1910.134) require the "The employer shall not permit respirators with tight-fitting facepieces to be worn by employees who have....Facial hair that comes between the sealing surface of the facepiece and the face or that interferes with valve function..." So, as an industrial hygienist, I started thinking, what kind of beard would meet this requirement, i.e. no facial hair at the sealing surfaces. So I grew out my beard (photo 1), took a standard half-face respirator, powdered it with talcum powder and pressed it to my beard (photo 2). Anywhere there was powder, I shaved. I did this repeatedly, until I had no facial hair in contact with the sealing surfaces of the mask (photo 3). This type of beard may be worn while wearing a half-face respirator, in compliance with 1910.134.

How do I feel about my beard? I was not too keen on my respirator compliant beard, but when my eight-year-old daughter said she would not kiss me goodnight, it had to go. But if someone who wears a respirator really, really, REALLY wants to have a beard, this one is regulatory compliant.