Earplug Ratings Are Not Reliable in Real Life Situations

[CDNThailand]

I did some research, and it's scary...

Glad I never went to concerts yet after getting tinnitus and hyperacusis, WITH protection...

Here is how plugs ratings work:

NRR 22 means:

23 - 7/2 = 8

So an NRR 23 dB plug only gets you a real life dB protection of 8 decibels.

Correct me if I'm wrong?

 

[jumping jack]

Depends on the associativity you apply. I'm seeing 19.5 instead.

 

[Bobby B]

Your wrong
This is to factor in the people who don't know how to insert plugs
Like the ones who have half a foam plug sticking loosely out of the ear

Stick those foam plugs real deep and you get a good rating - also depending on how your ear canal matches the plug diameter of course

But the issue with plugs is that they don't cut powerful bass sound

Some ear muffs are better for this

The absolute best ones by a long shot are the peltor x5a which has been my fashion brand for the last 10 months but yeah those are real large you will look like a human version of Cheburashka...

I got my first real T and H episode in a very loud small Bangkok club a few years ago - BTw with good solid silicon plugs in all the time but it was super loud

 

[Ed209]

I replied in the other thread, but in summary NRR ratings are based on a potential figure. SNR numbers are a calculated figure.

 

[Foncky]

To obtain official attenuation results, some people are basically asked to pass a hearing test, from 63 to 8000Hz, with and without the earplugs being tested. After that, I guess the average attenuation for each frequency is calculated.

So it's quite close to real life.

 

[CDNThailand]

Please confirm with 100% certainty the NRR ratings protocol for using hearing protection.

This is what I deducted from my research on this, but I could be wrong, I just want to get to the bottom of this once and for all, if somebody can call and find out from local work safety office even better!

A. If worn properly, NRR is realistic, although one must wear the protection for every second of exposure, and it MUST be fit properly.

B.NRR ratings must be derated for real world workplace, because workers don't always put them one properly, they put the muffs with clothing and masks, they might answer the phone, take the protection off for a few minutes etc...in that case, the protection must be derated like this:
Xdb nrr - 7/2
For example: 32 db plugs - 7db = 25db / 2 = 12.5db real protection.

Here is the link to the 3M official page on this:

http://multimedia.3m.com/…/3m-hearing-protection-how-to-use…

Please confirm or infirm my conclusions.

 

[Ed209]

@CDNThailand

Did you read what I put in the other thread?

 

[CDNThailand]

Yes, but maybe I missed something, can you send the link please?