P-019 Clothing and Appearance

Issued By: ADMINISTRATION    
Approved By: Ken Stuebing, Fire Chief
Date of Issue: 1997/09/03
Revision Date:  2019/11/15

Forms Required:  Request Form

PURPOSE:  

To establish Department policy and standards for the wearing of uniforms, issued clothing and the appearance of members when on duty or representing HRFE.  

OBJECTIVE:

To promote and reinforce the professional image of HRFE.  

SCOPE:

All uniformed members of HRFE. 

DEFINITIONS:

Ceremonial Events:  A formal event or religious ceremony such as a departmental funeral, parade or commemoration, often presided by officials or dignitaries, where the wearing of dress uniform and medals is appropriate and authorized.

POLICY: 

  • While on duty, attending department sanctioned events, or acting on behalf of HRFE, only department approved clothing may be worn as outlined in this policy. 
  • Other than when conducting physical fitness, uniform will be worn during normal working hours. 
  • Fully black footwear will be worn while in uniform. 
  • Approved black safety footwear shall be worn when there is a risk of injury. 
  • (checking equipment, training, or performing work)
  • The wearing of other non-issued articles of clothing in conjunction with station or dress uniform is prohibited, unless written approval has been received from the Fire Chief or designate.  
  • Members traveling to and from work are permitted to be in uniform, including stopping if necessary for an errand, however when doing so must be mindful that they are representing HRFE and are subject to our code of ethics and values. 
  • Volunteer members shall wear their station uniform during scheduled training, while attending meetings, community events or conducting fire prevention activities.  
  • Volunteer members who respond directly to emergency incidents are permitted to respond in civilian attire but must immediately don appropriate PPE.
  • Members may request authorization to wear appropriate civilian attire if required. 

Dress Uniform: 

The dress uniform consists of a navy-blue dress tunic (Figure 1) and pants or skirt, medals or ribbons, white dress shirt (Figure 2), navy blue tie, uniform hat with badge and black closed toe shoes or boots.   Other non-issued items which compliment the dress uniform are black belt, black or navy-blue socks or skin tone pantyhose/tights if wearing a skirt.  

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Figure 1 Dress Uniform Tunic            Figure 2 - Dress Uniform – White Dress Shirt

  • Members will be issued a dress uniform:
  1. Career – Upon hire 
  2. Volunteer – in their 5th year of volunteer service
  • The appropriate HRFE shoulder insignia will be worn.
  • Only HRFE buttons will be worn on the tunic and will be properly aligned. 
  • While in dress uniform with tie, all buttons of the white shirt will be done up.
  • Officers will wear the appropriate number of trumpet collar dogs on their dress shirt and top lapels of their tunic:
  1. One – Lieutenant
  2. Two – Captain (Platoon/Division Captain, TO, FPO)
  3. Three – District/Division Chief, Assistant Chief
  4. Four – Deputy Fire Chief
  5. Five – Fire Chief

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Figure 3 - Collar Dogs - Tunic                    Figure 4 - Collar Dogs & ribbons - Dress Shirt

 

  • The service insignia Gold Maple Leaf is worn to designate increments of 5 years of completed service.  The service insignia is worn centered on the Left sleeve: 
  1. Officers: one quarter (1/4) inch above highest rank stripe.
  2. Firefighters: three and three quarters (3 3/4) inches above the bottom of cuff edge.

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Figure 5 - Service Insignia Gold Maple Leaf           Figure 6 - Service Insignia Gold Maple Leaf, maximum 4 per row, before stacking

 

  • Fire Service Medals, as well as medals awarded from other services such as the Public Service or Military, are worn on the left side.  The wearing of service medals is appropriate when wearing the dress uniform and attending formal, ceremonial, or events where medals are named in the order of dress:
  1. The pins of mounted medals are inserted just above the flap of the left pocket. 
  2. Medals are centered to cover the button of the left pocket. 
  3. The proper order when wearing medals is outlined in the Canadian Honours System- Guide for Wearing Orders, Decorations and Medals.

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Figure 7 - Mounted Medal Pin Placement                Figure 8 - Mounted Medal Pin Placement

 

  • Service ribbons are appropriate when wearing the dress uniform and attending non-ceremonial events such as court, public appearances, special events or events where ribbons have been named as the order of dress. 
  • Service ribbons may also be worn on the white uniform shirt, or the station shirt. The bottom of the ribbons will be centered and aligned with the top edge of the left pocket flap. 

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 Figure 9 - Service Ribbon Placement
 

 

  • Halifax Explosion Commemorative medal(s) may be worn whenever service medals are named as the order of dress.  They are worn:
  1. Centered over the right-side pocket:

1.1 Placed to cover the button of the right-pocket, worn at the same level as Service Medals.
1.2 Members serving upon the issuance of 75th and 100th, may wear both

 10
Figure 10 - Halifax Explosion Commemorative Medal Placement

 

  • Other Military distinctions such as Commendations and specialist skill badges may be worn on the dress uniform with the approval of the Fire Chief or designate. 
  • Jump Wings or similar decorations will be sewn on the left side and worn centered 0.6 cm above the highest row of ribbons or medals.       
  • Commendations may be worn centered on the left pocket of the tunic, dress shirt or work uniform pocket.

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Figure 11 - Other Commendations, worn centered left pocket            Figure 12 - Specialist Skills Badge Placements

 

  • Issued name tags will be worn centered over the right breast pocket with the bottom of the nametag 2 cm above the top edge of the tunic pocket flap.  
  • The wearing of Ceremonial medals will not cover the name tag.

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Figure 13 - Name Tag Placement, worn 2 cm above right pocket flap

 

  • Mourning Bands:
  1. Mourning bands will be worn on the dress uniform hat badge for departmental funerals or when authorized by the Fire Chief or designate. 
  2. Mourning bands will not be worn at Remembrance Day ceremonies or at the unveiling of monuments or similar functions. 
  3. Mourning bands will be removed after burial/internment ceremonies have been completed.

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Figure 14 - Mourning Band Placement

  • Members who are required to attend court proceedings representing HRFE shall wear their Dress Uniform unless otherwise directed by the Fire Chief or designate.
  • Black or white gloves (Honour Guard) may be worn with the dress uniform.

Work Uniform:
The work uniform consists of issued dark blue or white, long or short sleeved fatigue shirt, dark blue pants, black footwear (navy blue tie and hat are optional).  Non-issued items required to compliment the station uniform are black belt and black or navy-blue socks.

  • Career Members are expected to be dressed in their work uniform at the start of their appointed shift.
  • While in work uniform, all buttons of the shirt will be done up except for the top collar button. (without tie)
  • Members will wear their work uniform during inspections, community events, tours and daily. 
  • Issued T-shirts may be worn as outerwear when working in extreme temperatures, while training or when performing maintenance at the discretion of the Station Officer.
  • Other than during physical fitness training, the wearing of shorts is not permitted while on duty.   
  • Officers will wear appropriate shoulder rank slip-ons on their fatigue shirt. 
  • Metal trumpet rank collar dogs are optional.
  • Only appropriate belt buckles that reflect the values of HRFE may be worn. 
  • Members in acting positions will wear the appropriate accoutrements of that position while acting. (Example: Acting Captain will wear Captain Slip-ons while acting)
  • Acting Chief Officers will wear a white shirt and rank slip-on of their acting rank.   
  • Wearing of service ribbons is optional for members of Operations and Support Divisions while on duty.
  • Chief Officers may wear the navy-blue work uniform for on-call and operational duties. 

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Figure 15- Work Uniform including optional accoutrements (color dogs, ribbons, poppy)  


Other Issued Clothing:

  • Job Shirt - worn over top of work uniform for comfort when cold.
  • Ball Caps – only HRFE issued, worn peak forward.
  • Toques- HRFE issued are to be worn for comfort when cold (outdoors).
  • 3:1 Jacket – as outer wear while outdoors or when cold.
  • HRFE T-shirts – only issued HRFE t-shirts or those authorized by the Fire Chief or designate may be worn.  

General

  • No additions or alterations to either the dress or work uniform will be permitted without 
  • prior approval from the Fire Chief or designate. 
  • Uniforms and clothing will be kept clean and in good condition.
  • Shoes and boots will be kept clean and presentable. 
  • Footwear will be worn laced or zippered up.
  • Pant cuffs will be hemmed and worn over boot uppers.
  • Work shirts and t-shirts shall be neatly tucked into the work pants.
  • Remembrance Day Poppy may be worn on the last Friday in October until November 11th at 12 noon.  

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Figure 16 - Poppy Placement          Figure 17 - Poppy Placement        

 

  • No loose-fitting jewellery may be worn that may pose a personal safety hazard.
  • Members requesting to wear their uniform when off duty or in an unofficial capacity such as a wedding or speaking engagement, will require the approval of their District Chief.  
  • While on duty or in uniform, the consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited unless at a sanctioned event by the Fire Chief or designate. 

Other than those outlined below, no additional badges, pins, etc. shall be worn in conjunction with the uniform without the expressed permission of the Fire Chief or designate.  

  • Only one Lapel Pin left side of the dress uniform or pocket flap pin centered on left pocket flap may be worn at one time:  
  1. Remembrance Day Poppy 
  2. Canada pin
  3. Province of Nova Scotia
  4. Halifax Regional Municipality
  5. Service Recognition Pin
  6. Canadian Fallen Firefighters
  7. HRM Diversity pin
  8. Those authorized by the Fire Chief or designate

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Figure 18 - Pin Placement

  • Other accommodations or ceremonial clothing related to religious affiliation, such as a turban or hijab, must not compromise the safety or proper performance of helmets and safety equipment.  Such accommodations are permitted will the approval of the Fire Chief or designate.  


Hair and Appearance:

Hair:

  • Hair shall be kept neat and off the collar.
  • Hair will not create a safety hazard or interfere with the proper wearing of uniform hats or protective equipment.
  • When working near equipment, during training, performing operational activities or any time where entanglement may occur, hair will be confined closely to the head by pinning, pony tail, wearing of a flash hood or other approved means. 

Facial Hair: 

  • Members required to wear SCBA or respiratory protection as part of their duties, will be clean shaven while on duty. 
  • Facial hair shall be kept closely trimmed and shall not be worn in any fashion that interferes with the face seal of respiratory protective equipment (ex: SCBA, respirators, etc.)

Make-up:

  • Make-up and lipstick may be worn while in uniform.   However, facial make-up may not interfere with the face seal of respiratory protective equipment

Tattoos:

  • Tattoos that are consistent with HRFE values may be left visible while in uniform or while on duty.

Facial Piercings:

  • Facial piercings that may interfere with any wearing of respiratory PPE, or that may get caught while donning/doffing protective equipment may not be worn while on duty. 

    
Responsibilities:

District/Division Chiefs: 

  • Ensure that all members are wearing the appropriate station uniform while on duty, or when attending HRFE activities
  • Authorize members to wear HRFE uniforms for off duty or unofficial events

Officers/Supervisors:

  • Ensure that all members are wearing the appropriate station uniform while on duty, or when attending HRFE activities.  
  • Approve clothing requests for worn or damaged clothing.  
  • Use appropriate Logistics request system when ordering clothing 

Members:

  • Responsible for the care, cleanliness and safe storage of issued clothing
  • Be properly dressed at the commencement of shift, or when on duty
  • Ensure clothing and footwear are kept clean and presentable 
  • Exchange clothing and footwear 1 for 1 using the Station clothing bins or other approved processes.

RELEATED POLICIES/OPERATING GUIDELINES: 

  • P-010 Fire Service Funerals
  • P-015 Subpoena/Court Duty/Jury Duty
  • P-419 Use of Self Contained Breathing Apparatus
  • P-607 Personal Protective Equipment
  • OG 4002 Medical PPE Guide
  • OG 4018 In Service Home Inspections

POLICY REVIEW:

This policy shall be periodically reviewed or revised when changes or amendments are made to the clothing and appearance policy or clothing entitlements. 

 

 

APPENDIX “A” – Volunteer Issued Clothing

Upon intake, the following clothing will be issued:

Work Uniform:  

            1 – Pair of Pants
            1 – Work Shirt 
            1 – Name Tag
            2 – T-Shirts
            1 – Safety Boots
            1 – Photo ID
            1 – Ball Cap
            1 – Winter Touque

Protective Clothing:  

            1 – Bunker Pants
            1 – Bunker Jacket
            1 – Firefighting Boots
            1 – Flash Hood
            1 – Firefighting Gloves
            1 – Firefighting Helmet (Orange) 
            1 – Wildland Coveralls

After completion of the VRT Program, the following will be issued: 

            2nd – Pair of Pants 
            2nd – Work Shirt
            2nd – Name Tag 
            1 – Job shirt or sweatshirt 
            1 – 3 in 1 Jacket
            2nd – Pair of Firefighting gloves
            1 – Firefighting Helmet (exchange orange for black helmet)

After 5 years of Service:

            1 – Dress Tunic
            1 – Dress Pants or skirt
            1 – Dress shirt
            1 – Tie
            1 – Dress cap 

 

 

APPENDIX “B” – Retired Members

  • Upon retirement or separation, issued clothing will be returned to Logistics
  • Retired HRFE members in good standing are permitted to retain their dress uniform to attend ceremonial events.  
  • Retired members will be issued a golden “R” crest denoting their status as a retired member, which is worn centered on their right sleeve:
  1. Officers one-quarter (1/4") inch above the highest-ranking band.
  2. Firefighters Two (2") from the bottom of the cuff 

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Figure 19 - Retired Crest Placement