Directive #13

• Philadelphia Fire Department Directive #13, issued in May 2018, concerns safety and personal grooming standards

Policy

• All department members must maintain a clean, neat, and well-groomed appearance
• Restrictions on hair length and facial hair are necessary for personal safety and the use of protective gear
• Acceptance of these grooming restrictions is a job requirement
• Uniforms must be kept clean and be presentable

Definitions

• Grooming is defined as tending carefully to person and dress to be neat or tidy
• Proper hair grooming and uniform dress complement the personal safety and professional image of PFD members

Responsibilities

• Officers ensure members under their command comply with the directive by monitoring them
• Officers must conduct personal inspections of all members at roll call, addressing any policy violations immediately
• All members must comply with this directive

General Information

• Grooming and uniform standards prioritize safety, neatness, cleanliness, and professional image
• Safety is the most important factor in determining grooming standards
• Standards promote safety, esprit de corps, morale, public image, and uniformity
• Personal safety has legal and moral priority over grooming preferences
• All uniformed members must accept grooming standards as a job requirement
• Grooming includes head hair, facial hair, cosmetics, fingernails, and jewelry/ornamentation

Head Hair

• Hairstyles that prevent proper headgear use or interfere with the SCBA facepiece seal are prohibited

Hair Length

• Short hair must not extend past the top of the uniform shirt collar when worn combed, brushed, or otherwise
• Longer hair needing ties may touch but not fall below a horizontal line with the lower back collar edge when in uniform
• Hair cannot extend over the forehead below the uniform cap
• Hair must be worn so that it does not interfere with the proper wearing of the uniform cap
• Hair bulk will not exceed 2” on the top of the head or 1.5" on the sides/back, regardless of length
• Bulk is defined as the distance the mass of hair protrudes from the scalp

Hair Appearance

• Hair may be dyed, tinted, or frosted in naturally occurring human hair colors
• Hair can be pinned or fastened to comply with the directive using authorized devices
• These authorized devices are plain, small scrunchies, bobby pins, hairpins, hair combs, rubber bands, and hair bands
• Fastening devices must be unobtrusive and match the hair color
• These guidelines apply to all hairstyles, including braids, ponytails, locks, crewcuts, and cornrows

Facial Hair

• Sideburns cannot interfere with SCBA facepiece placement or contact its sealing surface
• Sideburns should be uniform, neatly trimmed, and not extend below the earlobe or be excessively heavy/bushy
• Facial hair below the bottom lip cannot exceed ½” in any dimension and must not touch the SCBA facepiece seal
• Mustaches should be neatly trimmed and not extend beyond the top of the upper lip
• Mustaches can only extend ½” beyond a vertical straight line from the mouth corners
• Mustaches extending beyond ½" may pose a safety hazard and are prohibited
• No other facial hair is permitted

Cosmetics

• Cosmetics must align with the Philadelphia Fire Department's professional appearance standards
• Cosmetics should be applied lightly, avoiding bright or dark colors. False eyelashes are prohibited
• Lipstick colors that contrast, detract from the uniform, or are extreme will not be worn
• Prohibited lipstick colors include purple, gold, blue, black, white, bright red, khaki, camouflage, and fluorescent

Fingernails

• Fingernails must not exceed 1/4 inch from the fingertip
• Nail polish is allowed without designs or multi-tone polish
• Only French and American manicures are authorized

Jewelry/Ornamentation

• Neck jewelry must not be exposed while on duty
• Wrist and finger jewelry/ornamentation is allowed if consistent with the Philadelphia Fire Department's professional appearance standards
• Arm jewelry is prohibited
• All worn jewelry should be modest and conservatively styled
• Permitted jewelry includes one ring per hand (wedding/engagement ring count as one), one watch, and one wrist bracelet
• One neck chain is allowed if worn inside the shirt and is not a choker-type

Earrings

• Only one pair of post-type, stud earrings is permitted
• Earrings must be gold, silver, diamond, or white pearl, unadorned, and spherical, and 6mm or smaller
• Earrings must fit securely and be worn as a matched pair, with one earring per lobe
• All jewelry not specifically approved is prohibited, including hoop earrings, ear gauges, tunnels/plugs, tongue rings, lip rings, and nose rings

Tattoos / Body Art / Brands

• Tattoos must be in good taste and comply with Philadelphia's Anti-Discrimination policy
• Visible tattoos/body art/brands violating this policy or offensive in nature such as those that are obscene, sexually explicit, or advocate discrimination based on sex, race, religion, ethnic, sexual orientation, or national origin, must be covered on duty

Fire Commissioner Authority

• The Fire Commissioner can alter or waive any directive provision for unique or extenuating circumstances