Baltimore County Fire Department Uniform Policy and Personal Appearance (SOP PERSONNEL-01)

BCoFD Standard Operational Procedure: Uniform Policy and Personal Appearance

• S.O.P. Number: PERSONNEL-01
• Division: Career Personnel
• Objective: To identify the three ($3$) classes of uniforms (Class A, B, and C) worn by Baltimore County Fire Department (BCoFD) members and designate the wearing of each for specific duties.
• Responsibility:
  • Company Commanders: Responsible for maintaining standardization for all members under their command while on duty.
  • Individual Members: Held responsible for the proper wearing and condition of departmental uniforms per this S.O.P.
• Purpose: Establishes standards for personal appearance and grooming to ensure safety, recognize physical differences, and maintain a high professional image. Members must be neat, clean, and professional while on duty.
• Additional Resources: A Uniform Guidebook containing detailed diagrams and pictures is available for all members to refer to regarding specific appearance questions.

Class A Uniform (Dress Uniform)

Clothing Articles

• Fire Department Issued Items:
  • Blouse coat
  • Dress trousers
  • Long sleeve button-down shirt
  • Regulation hat
  • Black tie
  • Topcoats (Optional)
• Footwear: Well-polished issued station shoes or black patent leather shoes. Specific styles are outlined in the Uniform Guidebook.
• Accessories: Black socks, belts, and ties as specified in Section IV.
• Topcoat Specifics:
  • Purchased at the member’s expense.
  • Worn with Class A uniform only.
  • Must meet current specifications requested through the Logistics Bureau.

Identification Devices

All devices must be Fire Department issue and positioned as depicted in the Uniform Guidebook:

1. Shoulder Patch: Specific positioning on the sleeve.
2. Shirt Collar Pins: Worn by all members.
3. Shoulder Rank Pins: Worn by assigned members.
4. Shirt Badges: Worn by assigned members.
5. Lapel Rank Pins: Worn by officers on blouse coats.
6. Commendations: Worn on the blouse coat.
7. Name Plates: Worn on both shirts and blouse coats.
8. County Service Wreath: Worn by all members.
9. Optional Pins: IAFF union pin, American flag pin, or approved affinity group pins may be worn as a tie tack or on the right lapel of the blouse coat.

Maintenance and Wearing

• Fitting: Members are fitted at recruit school graduation.
• Location: Class A uniforms must be kept at the station while on duty.
• Condition: Must be tailored, clean, pressed, and well-fitting. Blouse coats and dress pants are dry-clean only.
• Wearing Discipline:
  • No articles may be omitted; the uniform must be worn in its entirety.
  • Blouse coats and shirts must be completely buttoned.
  • Shirts must be tucked in (not bloused out).
  • Shoes, buttons, and devices must be well-polished.
• Occasions for Use:
  • Special details, funerals, awards ceremonies, and religious services.
  • Exception: During adverse weather, the Chief Officer may substitute the Class B uniform with dress pants.
  • Any other time as directed by the Company Commander.

Special Class A Categories: Honor Guard and Retirees

Honor Guard Uniform

• Specific Issuance:
  • $2$ pairs of Honor Guard Class A pants with tuxedo stripes.
  • White shirts ($short or long sleeve$). Non-officers wear white shirts ONLY with the Honor Guard uniform.
  • Patent leather shoes in addition to station safety shoes.
  • Honor Guard specific badges (shirt/hat) and collar pins.
  • Gold roping on the Class A hat.
  • Topcoat with Honor Guard rockers/patches.
• Protocol: Members must request patches through the DC/BC via Logistics. Upon resignation/removal, all Honor Guard-specific items and insignia must be returned or removed.

Retired Class A Uniform

• Articles: Standard Class A clothing.
• Identification:
  • A Department-supplied Retirement Patch must be attached to the blouse coat.
  • Members use either retiree badges or their last issued badges.
• Maintenance: Retirees must maintain the uniform at their own expense. The Department reserves the right to recall the uniform for just cause.

Class B Uniform

Clothing Articles

• Issued: Dress, staff, or fatigue pants; short or long sleeve dress button-down shirt; $3$-in-1 Fatigue jacket (Blauer coat); dress hat; black tie; baseball hat (only while inside apparatus); safety shoes or patent leathers.
• Individually Purchased: Black socks, belt, optional blue turtleneck, optional V-neck sweater.

Identification and Wearing

• Badges: Must be worn on the shirt; if $2$ badges are issued, the second goes on the outer layer of the fatigue jacket.
• Optional Pins (Inner Liner of 3-in-1 Jacket): Local 1311, ATR, HazMat, OEP, and approved Affinity Groups (IABPFF, Guardian Knights, Women in the Fire Service, etc.).
• Required Wearing Dates:
  • September $11^{th}$ and the Annual BCoFD Memorial Service.
  • Day-work ($0700-1700$): Entire shift.
  • Night-work ($1700-0700$): Worn from $1700$ to $2100$.
• Safety Note: Members should consider removing badges or switching to Class C if their appearance might be confused with law enforcement, for responder safety.

Class C Uniform

Requirements and Schedule

• 0700-1700 Expected Uniform: Golf shirt, issued fatigue or BDU pants, shorts, belt, black socks, and approved footwear.
• 1700-0700 Expected Uniform: T-shirt, fatigue/BDU pants, shorts, belt, black socks, and approved footwear.
• Authority: Chief Officers may allow T-shirts instead of golf shirts during excessive heat. Company Commanders can mandate Class B at any time.

Footwear and Safety

• Boots: Must be securely fastened for ankle support. Unzipped or loose boots are prohibited. Pant legs must not be tucked into boots.
• Tennis Style Shoes: Permitted only inside living quarters/dorms or for physical fitness. Must be plain black and not gaudy. Never permitted outside the station or on calls.
• Shorts: Must be worn with safety shoes not exceeding $6$ inches in height. Not to be worn with Haix boots. Socks must be no higher than $2$ inches above the shoe top.

Prohibited Use of Uniforms

• General Inappropriateness: Uniforms or identifying items should not be worn when:
  • Off duty or engaged in non-work activities.
  • Representing personal interests.
  • The action may cause disrepute to the BCoFD or County.
  • Seeking favoritism or influencing officials (e.g., traffic court, civil court, worker’s comp hearings).
  • Working secondary employment.
• Physical Fitness Gear: Permitted outside the station only during active training; members must have safety shoes available for responses.

Detailed Clothing Specifications

Shirts and Tops

• Class B Shirt:
  • Officers: White.
  • Non-Officers: Blue (Exceptions for PIO, Recruitment, Honor Guard, FMO who may wear white).
• Golf Shirt:
  • Colors: Navy Blue (Line/Non-officers), Navy or White (Chiefs), Navy or Red (FRA Staff).
  • Insignia: Left chest may have BCoFD patch, white Maltese with station number, or approved morale patch (max $4$ inches).
  • Rank (Mandatory for Lt. and above): Silver embroidery for Lt., Gold for Captain and above. Letters no higher than $1/2$ inch.
• Job Shirt: All ranks wear Navy. May have hood, full zip, or $1/4$ zip. Rank and name specifications match golf shirts.
• T-Shirt: Navy blue. FRA instructors may wear red with "INSTRUCTOR" in $4$ inch white letters on the back. Chiefs may wear white with blue silk-screen.

Pants and Shorts

• Fatigue Pants: Issued Navy, wash and wear.
• BDU/Tactical: Purchased by member, Navy, flat-style thigh pockets.
• Shorts: Navy Blue, flat front (no cargo). "BCoFD" may be embroidered on the left leg in red ($1$ inch max height). Length: at the knee, no more than $2$ inches above.
• Staff Pants: For Chief Officers with Class B; worn with patent leather or polished shoes.
• Maternity Pants: Navy; purchased by member for field ops during pregnancy.

Accessories and Outerwear

• 3-in-1 Blauer Jacket: No alterations permitted.
• Utility Jacket: One-time issue, not replaced by department. Patches allowed on upper arm ($1$ inch down from seam, max $4$ inch diameter).
• Hats:
  • Dress Hat: Must have reinforcement band; badge properly affixed.
  • Baseball/Beanie: Navy (Red for FRA). BCoFD embroidery in red with white border ($1.5$ inches tall). Station number ($2$ inches tall). Optional last name/rank on back ($1/2$ inch white block letters).
• Ties: Black clip-on or breakaway. Length: must not extend past belt line or end above the diaphragm.
• Belts: Plain black leather or black nylon webbing (self-rescue style). Buckles max size: $1 ¾ × 3$ inches.

Personal Grooming Standards

Hair

• Safety: Style/bulk must not interfere with PPE (SCBA mask, helmets, hoods, N-95). Must not fall below eyebrows.
• Color: No extreme unnatural colors (blue, green, purple, etc.).
• Length: Hair below the collar must be secured in braids or ponytails. Ponytails must not extend beyond the bottom of the short sleeve.
• Wigs: Permitted if high quality, natural appearance, and PPE-compatible.

Facial Hair

• Prohibition: Only mustaches and sideburns are allowed.
• Mustaches: Neatly trimmed; must not contact SCBA sealing surface (approx. $1/2$ inch from chin line). No hair below the lower lip.
• Sideburns: Must not extend below the tragus; must end in a clean-shaven horizontal line. "Muttonchops" or "Ships Captain" styles are prohibited per OSHA.

Jewelry and Modifications

• Non-Invasive:
  • One necklace (constrained by shirt).
  • Max $2$ rings (Wedding/engagement sets count as $1$). Rings are discouraged due to de-gloving risks.
• Invasive:
  • One post-style stud earring per ear lobe. No dangles. Spacers must be clear or complexion-matching.
  • Body modifications (tongue splitting, branding, etc.) in visible areas are prohibited.
• Fingernails: Trimmed so no point extends beyond $1/4$ inch of the fingertip. No artificial tips/extenders.

Tattoos

• Prohibited Content: Obscene, gang-related, extremist, supremacist, or discriminatory markings.
• Indecent Tattoos: Defined as grossly offensive to modesty or shocks the moral sense.

Uniform and Badge Disposition

• Retirement: Members may keep helmet (and shield), badges, pins, name plates, and Class A uniform. All other items must be returned to Logistics within $7$ business days.
• Suspension: Immediately turn in all badges, pins, insignia, name plates, ID cards, and PAT tags.
• Death of Active Member: IDLH gear and ID cards must be returned. The family may keep the helmet, badges, pins, and Class A uniform.
• Badge Policy: Members retain badges if transferring at the same rank. If promoted/transferred to/from support, the badge must be relinquished for a new one. Stolen badges require a police report.