D-19A

Policy

• The Philadelphia Fire Department's (PFD) uniform policy establishes standards for the appearance and dress of uniformed personnel.
• PFD personnel must not pose a threat to their safety or the safety of others.
• Personnel must maintain a neat, professional appearance suitable for a quasi-military organization, reflecting honor and respect.
• Only department-issued uniforms and related parts are permitted, except in an official capacity authorized by the Fire Commissioner.

Definitions

• Badge: An accessory indicating rank or membership in the Philadelphia Fire Department.
• Mourning Band (Optional): A black elastic band indicating mourning for a line-of-duty death, worn until 1700 hours on the seventh day after the funeral.
• Cap Badge: An accessory issued by the Philadelphia Fire Department for wear on the dress cap.
• Class A Male Uniform: The official dress uniform for male members of the PFD.
• Class A Female Uniform: The official dress uniform for female members of the PFD.
• Class B Male Uniform: Similar to Class A, but with a short sleeve shirt and without a tie or blouse coat.
• Class B Female Uniform: Similar to Class A, but with a short sleeve shirt and without a tie or blouse coat.
• Class C Uniform: Official work uniform for all uniformed PFD members.
• Collar Insignia: A device indicating rank or membership, like "PFD," worn on the collar (metal or sewn-on).
• Department Patch: Placed on the left shoulder, one inch below the shoulder seam, on all shirts, sweatshirts, sweaters, blouse coats, work jackets, and all-weather coats.
• Retired Rocker: Worn by retired members at official events, centered and sewn ½” under the Department Patch.
• Blue Lightweight Three Button Pullover Shirt (Optional): Component of the Class “C” work uniform.
• Authorized from May 1st to September 30th.
• Certain units (FMO, FPD, TSU, FCU, ERO, SIO, ICO, EMS) can wear it when not working in the FAB, for fireground duties, summer camps or inspections.
• LAD and duties-as-assigned personnel cannot wear it while assigned to the FAB or the Fire Museum.
• Uniform Shorts (Optional): Approved for all ranks up to Captain in all units except the Fire Administration Building (FAB).
• Must be worn with black ankle socks (no logos/writing) and low-cut shoes (no sneakers or boots).
• LAD and duties-as-assigned members cannot wear uniform shorts while temporarily assigned.
• Authorized for wear from May 1st through September 30th.
• Approved Sweatshirt (Optional): Has a flat dungaree collar, quarter-zipper, and breast pocket.
• Includes the department patch, name strip, company strip, and collar devices; LAD and duties-as-assigned cannot wear while at FAB or Fire Museum.
• Approved Sweater - Full Zipper Style (Optional): May be worn by all ranks with the department patch on the left sleeve.
• Approved Sweater - Commando Style (Optional): May be worn by Battalion Chiefs and above, with the department patch, name plate, badge and rank insignia.
• Approved Work Jacket: Features the PFD patch and rank insignia; permitted as part of the uniform when not actively firefighting.
• Work Cap (Optional): A dark navy blue, baseball-style cap with lettering.
• Has "PHILADELPHIA FIRE DEPT" on the front. The letters “P”, “F” and “D” are .75” high, all other letters are .40" high – PHILADELPHIA 4.50" wide – FIRE DEPT. 3.50" wide
• "PFD" on the rear.
• American Flag on the left side.
• Approved unit designations on the rear rocker from Directive #19A, Addendum # 2 (.50” high).
• Is not to be worn while at work stations inside the Fire Administration Building (FAB) & must be worn without alterations
• Watch Cap (Black Only) Wool (Optional): May have 2" "PFD" letters on the front and the member's last name embroidered on the back.
• Name Plate (Black Only): Must display the wearer's last name only.
• All ranks up to and including Captain may have chrome/silver or white trimmed plates.
• Chief Officers (Battalion Chief and above) may have white or gold trimmed plates.
• Three-quarters of an inch in height and two and three-quarters inches in length.
• Name Strip: A cloth strip with ½” chrome/silver lettering on dark blue (blue work/lightweight shirt/sweatshirt) or ½” navy lettering on white (white work shirt) background, sewn above right breast pocket with last name only.
• Company Strip: Cloth strip with ½” chrome/silver lettering on dark blue (blue work/lightweight shirt/sweatshirt) or ½” navy lettering on white (white work shirt) background, sewn above the left breast pocket with assigned company or unit designation.
• Rank Insignia: Devices indicating rank, such as The Star of Life, Anchors, Propeller Blades, Horns, Bars, Oak Leafs, Eagles, or Stars.
• Sleeve Markings: Gold Metallic, Synthetic sewn-on braid on the blouse coat indicating rank.
• Service Emblem: Worn on the left sleeve of the blouse coat to indicate length of service in the Philadelphia Fire Department.
• Uniformed Personnel: Sworn members required to wear the Philadelphia Fire Department uniform during work hours.

Responsibility

• PFD uniformed personnel are to be compliant with policies and procedures within this directive.
• Supervisors are responsible for enforcing the directive.
• Members must wear the authorized uniform for their rank or assignment.
• Uniforms must fit well, be properly pressed, and have polished leather and metal items; frayed, torn, or threadbare items not permitted.
• All shirt buttons should be buttoned, except the top button, unless wearing a tie then all buttons must be buttoned.
• Items worn as part of the uniform must be approved by the Fire Commissioner.
• Class A uniform is required for staff meetings, unless the Fire Commissioner authorizes the Class B uniform.

General Information

• The Fire Department uniform standards are listed for all uniformed members.
• Color photos of approved uniforms and uniform components located on the “T” drive as per Directive #19A, Addendum #1.

Class A Male Uniform

• The Class A Male uniform is the official dress uniform of the male members of the Department.
• Class A Male Uniform is worn when required by the Fire Commissioner or as prescribed during an official function or special assignment and should be available at all times.

Regulation Items

• Badge
• Black belt (leather)
• Black necktie (Tie clip/pin optional, Fire service or patriotic themes ok)
• Black dress shoes (Oxford Toe), shoes must be able to be shined, NO BOOTS
• Black socks
• Rank insignia (metal only)
• Dress uniform trousers
• Double-breasted blouse coat (Officers)
• Single-breasted blouse coat (Firefighters and Paramedics)
• Cap with appropriate badge
• Nameplate
• White/light blue shirt (long sleeve) as appropriate to rank

Optional Items

• Black gloves
• Black neck scarf
• Black/blue all-weathercoat/overcoat
• Departmental awards
• Service pin
• The blouse coat is worn as prescribed by rank with appropriate sleeve markings
• The badge (where appropriate) and nameplate worn on the coat at all times.
• The Department patch is worn on the left shoulder.
• Undergarments worn with the Class A shirt must be plain, without embellishment, and undetectable under the Class A shirt. No part of any undergarment shall be visible through the Class A shirt.
• Caps are to be worn with the badge, visor and strap with all classes of uniform, except when decorum indicates its removal and worn in a military manner, level on the head and will be clean and the metal polished at all times.
• Uniform dress shoes will be plain, black (Oxford Toe) as approved by the Fire Commissioner.

Class A Female Uniform

• The Class A female uniform is the official dress uniform for female members that is worn when required by the Fire Commissioner or as prescribed during an official function or special assignment and should be available at all times.

Regulation Items

• Badge
• Black belt (leather)
• Black necktie (Tie clip/pin optional, Fire service or patriotic themes ok)
• Black dress shoes (Oxford Toe), shoes must be able to be shined, pumps (2” heel max.) may only be worn with a uniform skirt. NO BOOTS
• Black socks (socks shall not be worn with the uniform skirt)
• Rank insignia (metal only)
• Dress uniform trousers or uniform skirt (skirts 1” above knee), skirts will not be worn for station duty
• Double-breasted blouse coat (Officers)
• Single-breasted blouse coat (Firefighters and Paramedics)
• Cap with appropriate badge
• Nameplate
• White/light blue shirt (long sleeve) as appropriate to rank
• Hosiery (skin tone color)

Optional items

• Black gloves
• Black neck scarf
• Black/blue all-weather coat/overcoat
• Departmental awards
• Service pin
• The blouse coat is worn as prescribed by rank, with appropriate sleeve markings and nameplate
• The Department patch is worn on the left shoulder (no C uniform clothing allowed).
• Undergarments must be plain and undetectable.
• Caps worn appropriately with badge, visor, and strap; military manner.

Class B Male Uniform

• The Class B male uniform is the official summer dress uniform that may be worn when the Class A uniform is not required and may be worn by staff personnel year round.
• Staff personnel may wear a long sleeve shirt with a badge, nameplate, appropriate collar devices and tie - as an option.

Regulation items

• Badge
• Black belt (leather)
• Black dress shoes (Oxford Toe), shoes must be able to be shined, NO BOOT
• Black socks
• Rank insignia (metal only)
• Dress Uniform Trousers
• Cap with appropriate badge
• Nameplate
• White/light blue shirt (short sleeve) as appropriate to rank
• Other items that may be worn are: service pin-left breast (centered over badge) and approved sweater
• All undergarments must be plain and undetectable under the CLass B shirt.

Class B Female Uniform

• The Class B female uniform is the official summer dress uniform, that may be worn when the Class A uniform is not required
• Uniform can be worn year round by staff personnel, whom may wear a long sleeve shirt with appropriate items (tie collar badge) as options

Regulation items

• Badge
• Black belt (leather)
• Black dress shoes (Oxford Toe) shoes must be able to be shined, pumps (2" heel max.) may only be worn with a uniform skirt. NO BOOTS
• Black socks (socks shall not be worn with the uniform skirt)
• Rank insignia (metal only)
• Dress uniform trousers or uniform skirt (skirts 1" above knee), skirts will not be worn for station duty
• Cap with appropriate badge
• Nameplate
• White/light blue shirt (short sleeve) as appropriate to rank and hosiery (skin tone color)
• Optional items include the service pin (centered over badge) and approved sweater.
• All undergarments must remain plan and undetectable under the Class B shirt.

Class C Work Uniform (Male/Female)

• Field operations and staff may wear Class A, B, or C uniforms unless otherwise directed by the Fire Commissioner, but skirts are not allowed for station duty.
• Staff must wear a tie with a long sleeve shirt, except for Fire Academy staff during hands-on operational training.

Regulation Items

• Badge (optional)
• Black belt (leather)
• Black shoes (see Addendum #1). NO SNEAKERS
• Black socks
• Rank insignia (metal or sewn-on)
• Name strip (sewn-on)
• Company strip (sewn-on)
• Uniform shirt (white or dark blue long / short sleeve) as appropriate to rank
• Uniform trousers – 2 styles (see Addendum #1)
• Cap with appropriate badge
• T-shirt (blue only) with blue work shirt / blue or white with white work shirt
• Approved work jacket

Optional items

• Work cap
• Watch cap – 2 styles (see Addendum #1)
• Lightweight shirt
• Approved sweatshirt
• Approved sweater
• Work jacket, approved sweatshirt, or approved sweater may be worn with all work uniforms (Class C) when needed and/or required. The work jacket or approved sweater will not be worn in place of protective clothing.
• Work trousers must be clean, tailored, hemmed and straight cut.

Shoulder Patches

• The approved company patch goes on the right shoulder of the work jacket, centered and one inch below the shoulder seam.
• The state qualification patch if applicable may be worn by certified medical personnel, centered and one inch below the shoulder seam on uniform shirt, appoved sweatshirt, approved sweater and work jacket, personnel must where the highest qualifcation attained, can not be worn if the company patch is worn.

Bearing of Insignia

• Mandatory for Officers, Paramedics, Fire Boat Pilots, and Engineers to identify rank.

Blouse Coat Lapels

• Horns crossed for Chief Officers and Captains – centered on point of collar
• Horn for Lieutenants – Bell of trumpet to point of collar
• 2 Anchors crossed for Fire Boat Pilots
• 3 Propeller Blades for Fire Boat Engineers
• PFD letters right collar, EMS left collar for Paramedics; parallel, ¼” from collar.

Blouse Coat Sleeve Markings

• Fire Commissioner: 1 row 2” and 3 rows ½” Gold Metallic Synthetic (Military Braid) ¼” apart and 3” from hem
• Deputy Commissioner: 1 row 2” and 1 row ½” Gold Metallic Synthetic (Military Braid) ¼” apart and 3” from hem
• Executive Chief: 1 row 2” Gold Metallic Synthetic (Military Braid) 3” from hem
• Deputy Chief: 2 rows ½” Gold Metallic Synthetic (Military Braid) ¼”apart and 3” from hem
• Battalion Chief: 1 row ½” Gold Metallic Synthetic (Military Braid) 3” from hem

Other insignia

• Members may wear service emblems 3 ½” from hem or ¼” above Braids.
• Silver Bar indicates 5 years service, a Gold Bar indicates 10 years service, a Silver Star indicates 15 years service and a Gold Star indicates 20 years of service.
• Class A Shirt Insignia includes the following (Long sleeve shirts): Fire Commissioner with four Gold Stars horizontally 1 ¼" from the point of their collar; Deputy Commissioner will have two Silver Stars horizontally 1 ¼" from the point of their collar; Executive Chief is denoted with one Silver Star 1 ¼" from the point of the collar; Deputy Chief has a Silver Eagle that’s centered 1 ¼" from the point of their collar facing in; Battalion Chief with a Gold Oak Leaf centered 1 ½" from the point of their collar and stem of oak to point of collar; Captain are 2 parallel Bars centered and 1 ¼” from the point of their short bar to point of collar and Lieutenant being a single bar; Paramedic with the Star of Life worn on both collars.
• Fire boat Pilots and Engineers and their specific badge, Fire Boat pilot will have two anchors crossed while the Fire Boat Engineer will have three propeller blades on their uniform and appropriate badge.
• Class B shirt is the short sleeve shirt in which shoulder devices shall be worn 5/8” from the edge of the shoulder seams and they include: Fire Commissioner with 4 gold stars and Deputy with 2 silver stars; Executive being 1 silver and Deputy 1 silver eagle; Battalion with Gold Oak Leaf and Captain with 2 Silver Bars; Lieutenant is one silver and paramedics have Star of Life.
• Class C insignia is the same as the Class A and members are able to have long and short sleeve shirts.

Special Insignias

• 25 year service and heroism award maybe worn (centered over badge) left breast as is merit award and hero scholarship fund award. Ben Franklin and EMS team award maybe worn as well.
• Uniform cap insignia denote the specific unit badge.

T-Shirts/Turtlenecks and Mock Turtlenecks

• Wearing the department t-shirt is not mandatory under approved outer garments whereas is can be utilized as an outer garment when authorized.
• Members may wear department approved T-shirt as an outer garment while at the fire station with 2 exceptions: by the member on watch and by all members when civilians are visiting the station.
• On extremely hot days the local Fire Commissioner or designee may approve the department t-shirt be worn as an outer garment for duties away from the station.
• Blue t-shirts will not be worn under the Class A or B uniform shirts but all members may wear a mock, turtleneck or long/short sleeve t-shirt under their work shirt or approved sweatshirt.
• Long sleeve or mock turtleneck and turtleneck shirts are not authorized with a short sleeve shift and that t-shirts are to be tucked in with exception of the sweatshirt
• Mock and turtleneck shirts are to contain but only one of the following insignis: The letters PFD and authorized embroidery.

Fireground Uniform

• Is to include approved protective clothing, Bunker coat and pants with suspenders, leather boots and work gloves as required for all personnel to wear, where approved otherwise by their officer.
• Fire Helmets are to include appropriate decals and safety shield attached; and a Protective Hood.

Inspection of Uniforms

• Consist of annual inspections designated by the Fire Commissioner, preceding the distribution of the annual clothing allotment.
• This inspection does not include protective clothing or associated equipment that is detailed in Directive 19B instead.
• Swapping parts of their uniforms to pass this inspection is authorized nor is the exchange of parts.
• Fire Boat Pilots and Engineers must present the same marked uniform indicated for officers.
• Commanding officer’s must ensure that all personnel are notified to information pertaining the results and time/dates of the inspection. Members failing may fail if the item doesn’t meet department standards or frayed and not clean.
• If any member is required to pay and replace due to not fitting this directive is also to consult the directive 19B.
• Pool officer’s will be inspected by the Deputy Chief and battalion Chief. The proper battalion chief will performed inspection at the company level.

Other notes

• Each inspection should have an inspection two copy with one for the member and one for personnel; and each member is responsible for ordering said clothing through approved vendors.
• Officer must provide the information to gain clearance for receiving the clothing allotment check. Any members that fail to provide such documentation will not be issued such check.
• In all, ALL members and Officers must comply with regulation set forth. Fire Fighters will need to present light blue shirts to confirm during inspection and officers and specialized teams like the Fire Board Pilots presenting white shirts.
• Class B and A inspection include: All weathered coats and blouse coat cap and name plate for example.
• Class C include some other items such as shoes and pants whereas new personnel will also receive a clothing allowances per these inspections. Active personnel will also be allowed to receive it also, but inactive employees will receive uniform allotment unless said employee will be active to return. In terminal leave status at the time of the uniform allotment, such employee will not be allowed to be either.