Hya Paul... Thats a good point about a written policy. I'm not sure, but I just follow the Public Health England poster on donning/doffing which basically states that everything on the outside is dirty and inside is clean (obviously I clean the respirator from the inside but that can be done once I'm fully doffed).
Regards the beard thing: I've done similar (as there was a religious verdict that came out from one of the senior uk islamic scholars that saving life is more pleasing to God than keeping the beard if its gonna affect things) but couldn't bring myself to have a clean shave as I've always had a beard (almost). Besides, hopefully the trust knows that many without a beard also fail fit testing and need a respirator. These units for example will be used by many of the girls who cannot get a decent seal with the various masks!! Plus one of our consultants shaved his beard (stubble to us lot) but still failed the standard masks!
All I'd wanna add to your point abiut your hospitals policies is, that,... some people that make these policies are just stupid (

but I guess you already know that) and the bittom line is to reduce (as per national and international guidance) aerosol generating procedures (hence cpap over bipap where required/used)...
The dragers. They're the ones that make you look like a gnome right... horrible things they are and really affect my brain and aviliry to think. But they're arguably easier to clean. I usually clean the area around me (before doffing in the 'special' room). Then clean all the hood from outside. Then rip gown forwards and crumple it up into itself so only touchibg the inside thats clean* and then remove the hood into a bag/bucket. Wash hands > glove up > clean respirator again and from the inside also and then we take em out to put em back...
PM me and I shall see if I can find you a local policy as there's a unit (9-5) that are meant to be cleaning ours within 5 minutes if we take it there. Surely they'll be following a written protocol...
*Thats how we was taught from the infection prevention nurse (ex icu) and disseminated down