EN 352-9:2020/FprA1

Hearing protectors - Safety requirements - Part 9: Earplugs with safety-related audio input

This European Standard is applicable to earplugs supplemented by a safety-related audio input. It specifies requirements on construction, design, performance, marking and user information related to the inclusion of the safety-related audio input.

Gehörschützer - Sicherheitstechnische Anforderungen - Teil 9: Gehörschutzstöpsel mit sicherheitsrelevantem Audioinput

Protecteurs individuels contre le bruit - Exigences de sécurité et essais - Partie 9: Bouchons d'oreilles avec entrée audio-électrique

Varovala sluha - Varnostne zahteve - 9. del: Ušesni čepi z varnostnim avdio vhodom - Dopolnilo A1

General Information

• Status: Not Published
• Publication Date: 25-Mar-2024
• ICS: 13.340.20 - Head protective equipment
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 159 - Hearing protectors
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 159/WG 2 - Amplitude sensitive hearing protectors
• Current Stage: 5060 - Closure of Vote - Formal Approval
• Start Date: 25-Jan-2024
• Due Date: 21-May-2023
• Completion Date: 25-Jan-2024
• Directive: 2016/425 - Regulation (EU) 2016/425 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on personal protective equipment and repealing Council Directive 89/686/EEC
• Mandate: M/571 - COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION of 19.11.2020 on a standardisation request to the European Committee for Standardization and the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization as regards personal protective equipment in support of Regulation (EU) 2016/425 of the European Parliament and of the Council
• Ref Project: SIST EN 352-9:2021/kprA1:2024 - Hearing protectors - Safety requirements - Part 9: Earplugs with safety-related audio input

Relations

• Merged Into: EN 352-9:2020+A1:2024 - Hearing protectors - Safety requirements - Part 9: Earplugs with safety-related audio input
• Effective Date: 07-Feb-2024
• Amends: EN 352-9:2020 - Hearing protectors - Safety requirements - Part 9: Earplugs with safety-related audio input
• Effective Date: 08-Apr-2020

Overview

EN 352-9:2020/FprA1 is the CEN European Standard that specifies safety requirements for earplugs with safety‑related audio input. It applies to earplugs that include an electrical or wireless audio interface intended to deliver safety messages, radio communications or other audio signals while also providing hearing protection. The standard covers requirements for construction, design, performance, marking and user information related to the inclusion of the safety‑related audio input.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and applicability: Focused specifically on earplugs with a safety‑related audio input (Part 9 of the EN 352 series on hearing protectors).
• Construction and design: Requirements ensure the audio interface is integrated without compromising basic hearing protection function (mechanical, electrical and ergonomic considerations).
• Performance and sound output: Specifies how to measure sound output levels and defines the criterion input signal for different audio interfaces:
  • Electrical audio input - criterion input calculated according to EN 13819-3:2019, clause 7.6.2.3.1.
  • Bluetooth audio input - criterion input calculated according to EN 13819-3:2019, clause 7.5.2.3.1.
  • Analogue frequency‑modulated two‑way radio input - measurement and criterion input per EN 13819-3:2019/prA1:2021 clauses 7.7.2.2 and 7.7.2.3.
• Marking and user information: Requires clear marking and instructions so users understand operational limits, safe use with audio input active, maintenance and compatibility warnings.
• Normative references and regulatory alignment: The draft amendment updates normative reference to EN 13819‑3:2019+A1 and aligns Annex ZA to show conformity as a voluntary means of meeting essential requirements of Regulation (EU) 2016/425 on personal protective equipment.

Practical applications and users

• Manufacturers and product designers developing earplugs that integrate wired or wireless audio for safety communications (e.g., industrial radio, emergency alerts, escorted work communications).
• Test and certification laboratories performing performance measurements and conformity assessments against EN 352-9 and referenced EN 13819‑3 procedures.
• Safety engineers and procurement teams specifying PPE for noisy workplaces where simultaneous communications and hearing protection are required (construction, utilities, emergency services, manufacturing).
• Notified bodies and regulators using the standard as part of conformity routes under PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425.

Related standards

• EN 352 series (general requirements for hearing protectors)
• EN 13819‑3:2019 (measurement procedures for hearing protector audio inputs) - updated by the prA1 amendment referenced in this document

Keywords: EN 352-9:2020, earplugs with safety‑related audio input, hearing protectors, safety requirements, EN 13819‑3, PPE Regulation EU 2016/425, Bluetooth earplugs, analogue FM two‑way radio.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
SIST EN 352-9:2021/oprA1:2022
01-januar-2022
Varovala sluha - Varnostne zahteve - 9. del: Ušesni čepi z varnostnim avdio
vhodom - Dopolnilo A1
Hearing protectors - Safety requirements - Part 9: Earplugs with safety-related audio
input
Gehörschützer - Sicherheitstechnische Anforderungen und Prüfungen - Teil 9:
Gehörschutzstöpsel mit elektrischem Audioeingang
Protecteurs individuels contre le bruit - Exigences de sécurité et essais - Partie 9:
Bouchons d'oreilles avec entrée audio-électrique
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 352-9:2020/prA1
ICS:
13.340.20 Varovalna oprema za glavo Head protective equipment
SIST EN 352-9:2021/oprA1:2022 en,fr,de
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

SIST EN 352-9:2021/oprA1:2022
SIST EN 352-9:2021/oprA1:2022
DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
EN 352-9:2020
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
prA1
November 2021
ICS 13.340.20
English Version
Hearing protectors - Safety requirements - Part 9:
Earplugs with safety-related audio input
Protecteurs individuels contre le bruit - Exigences de Gehörschützer - Sicherheitstechnische Anforderungen
sécurité et essais - Partie 9: Bouchons d'oreilles avec und Prüfungen - Teil 9: Gehörschutzstöpsel mit
entrée audio-électrique elektrischem Audioeingang
This draft amendment is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee CEN/TC 159.

This draft amendment A1, if approved, will modify the European Standard EN 352-9:2020. If this draft becomes an amendment,
CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for inclusion of
this amendment into the relevant national standard without any alteration.

This draft amendment was established by CEN in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other
language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and
United Kingdom.
Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are
aware and to provide supporting documentation.

Warning : This document is not a European Standard. It is distributed for review and comments. It is subject to change without
notice and shall not be referred to as a European Standard.

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