Abstract
The effect of facial hair on the performance of half-mask and full-facepiece respirators was measured with quantitative aerosoll respirator-man-test systems. Different test subjects having varying degrees of facial slubble, sideburns, and beards were used in the study. Test results showed that the effect of facial hair on the performance of a respirator depends upon the degree to which the hair interferes with the sealing surface of the respirator, the physical characteristics of the facial hair, the type respirator worn in relation to the subject's facial characteristics, and other factors. It is concluded that persons with excessive facial hair such as facial stubble, sideburns, and beards which interfere with the respirator seal, cannot expect to obtain as high a degree of respirator performance as persons who are clean shaven.