EN 352-2:2002
(Main)Hearing protectors - General requirements - Part 2: Ear-plugs
Hearing protectors - General requirements - Part 2: Ear-plugs
This part of the standard specifies constructional, design and performance requirements, marking requirements and user information for ear-plugs. In particular, it calls for the sound attenuation of the ear-plugs, measured in accordance with EN 24869-1, to be declared and to be not less than a specified minimum. The requirements of this standard are intended to take account of the ergonomic interaction between the wearer, the device and where possible the working environment in which the device is likely to be used (see Annex ZA, of this standard and EN 458).
Gehörschützer - Allgemeine Anforderungen - Teil 2: Gehörschutzstöpsel
Dieser Teil der Norm legt Anforderungen hinsichtlich Konstruktion, Gestaltung, Leistung, Kennzeichnung und Benutzerinformationen für Gehörschutzstöpsel fest. Im besonderen fordert sie die Angabe der durch die Gehörschutzstöpsel geleisteten nach EN 24869-1 gemessenen Schalldämmung, und daß die Schalldämmung einen festgelegten Mindestwert nicht unterschreiten darf. Die Anforderungen dieser Norm haben das Ziel, die ergonomische Wechselwirkung zwischen dem Benutzer, dem Gerät und wo möglich der Arbeitsumgebung, in der das Gerät voraussichtlich benutzt wird, zu berücksichtigen (siehe Anhang ZA dieser Norm und EN 458).
Protecteurs individuels contre le bruit - Exigences générales - Partie 2: Bouchons d'oreille
La présente partie de la norme établit les exigences en matière de construction, de conception, de performances et de marquage des bouchons d'oreille ainsi que les informations destinées à l'utilisateur.
Elle impose en particulier une déclaration de l'affaiblissement acoustique des bouchons d'oreille, mesuré conformément à l'EN 24869 1.
Les aspects ergonomiques sont abordés en tenant compte de l'interaction entre la personne qui porte les bouchons, l'appareil et, quand cela est possible, l'environnement de travail dans le lequel l'appareil est susceptible d'être utilisé (voir l'annexe ZA et l'EN 458).
Varovala sluha - Splošne zahteve - 2. del: Ušesni čepi
General Information
Relations
Standards Content (Sample)
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-januar-2003
1DGRPHãþD
SIST EN 352-2:1996
9DURYDODVOXKD6SORãQH]DKWHYHGHO 8ãHVQLþHSL
Hearing protectors - General requirements - Part 2: Ear-plugs
Gehörschützer - Allgemeine Anforderungen - Teil 2: Gehörschutzstöpsel
Protecteurs individuels contre le bruit - Exigences générales - Partie 2: Bouchons
d'oreille
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 352-2:2002
ICS:
13.340.20 Varovalna oprema za glavo Head protective equipment
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
EUROPEAN STANDARD
EN 352-2
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
October 2002
ICS 13.340.20 Supersedes EN 352-2:1993
English version
Hearing protectors - General requirements - Part 2: Ear-plugs
Protecteurs individuels contre le bruit - Exigences Gehörschützer - Allgemeine Anforderungen - Teil 2:
générales - Partie 2: Bouchons d'oreilles Gehörschutzstöpsel
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 18 August 2002.
CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European
Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national
standards may be obtained on application to the Management Centre or to any CEN member.
This European Standard exists 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 Management Centre has the same status as the official
versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,
Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
Management Centre: rue de Stassart, 36 B-1050 Brussels
© 2002 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 352-2:2002 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
Contents
page
Foreword.3
Introduction .4
1 Scope .5
2 Normative references.5
3 Terms and definitions .5
4 Requirements.6
4.1 Sizing and adjustability.6
4.2 Materials and construction .7
4.3 Performance.7
5 Marking.8
6 Information supplied by the manufacturer .8
6.1 General.8
6.2 Wearer information.9
6.3 Additional information.10
Annex A (informative) Uncertainty of measurement and interpretation of test results.11
Annex ZA Clauses of this European standard addressing essential requirements or
(informative)
other provisions of EU Directives .13
Bibliography .14
Foreword
This document (EN 352-2:2002) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 159, "Hearing protectors",
the secretariat of which is held by SIS.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an identical text or
by endorsement, at the latest by April 2003, and conflicting national standards shall be withdrawn at the latest by
April 2003.
This document supersedes EN 352-2:1993.
This document has been prepared under a mandate given to CEN by the European Commission and the European
Free Trade Association, and supports essential requirements of EU Directive(s).
For relationship with EU Directive(s), see informative annex ZA, which is an integral part of this document.
Annex A is informative.
According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the following
countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland,
France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
Introduction
This standard for ”Hearing Protectors - General requirements - Ear-plugs”, sets requirements for personal hearing
protection devices in relation to Directive 89/686/EEC - Personal Protective Equipment.
The particular requirement in relation to the ability of hearing protectors to reduce noise below daily limit levels is
addressed in the standard by requiring the sound attenuation of the hearing protectors, measured in accordance
with EN 24869-1, to be not less than a specified minimum. Further, by requiring that the measured sound
attenuation be declared, the selection of suitable hearing protectors for individual circumstances may be
undertaken according to established practice.
EN 352-1 deals with requirements for ear-muffs, EN 352-2 with ear-plugs, EN 352-3 with ear-muffs attached to
industrial safety helmets. EN 13819 deals with testing plans common to all types of hearing protectors covered by
this series of prENs, and is in two Parts; Part 1 : Physical test methods, and Part 2 : Acoustic test methods.
Additional safety requirements and the associated test procedures for level-dependent ear-muffs are contained in
EN 352-4, for ear-muffs with active noise reduction in prEN 352-5, for ear-muffs with audio communications in prEN
352-6 and for level-dependent ear-plugs in prEN 352-7.
The Parts of prEN 352, other than Parts 1, 2 and 3, cover the performance of functions additional to passive
hearing protection. Hearing protectors which incorporate one or more of these functions are subject to the
requirements and tests of each of the relevant Parts of prEN 352, including Parts 1, 2 or 3, as appropriate.
An associated standard EN 458, covers selection, use, care and maintenance of hearing protectors.
The requirements of EN 352-2 are concerned primarily with the physical and acoustic performance of the ear-
plugs. It covers disposable, re-usable, custom moulded and headband ear-plugs
In order to assist users to select the correct size(s) ear-plug, a nominal diameter, or range of diameters, of the ear-
plugs is required to be declared (except for custom moulded ear-plugs).
In the case of headband ear-plugs, the standard specifies sizing requirements which enable the great majority of
the industrial population to be fitted satisfactorily by ”medium size range” ear-plugs. Populations of other sizes may
be accommodated by ”small size range” or ”large size range” ear-plugs, which are required to be accompanied by
information regarding the range of sizes which they are designed to fit.
The standard also calls for the values of sound attenuation afforded by the ear-plugs (measured in accordance with
EN 24869-1) in order to assist purchasers in selecting the most appropriate model of ear-plugs for their needs.
Minimum values of sound attenuation are also specified.
1 Scope
This part of the standard specifies constructional, design and performance requirements, marking requirements
and user information for ear-plugs.
In particular, it specifies the sound attenuation of the ear-plugs, measured in accordance with EN 24869-1.
Ergonomic aspects are addressed by taking into account, within the requirements, the interaction between the
wearer, the device and where possible the working environment in which the device is likely to be used (see Annex
ZA and EN 458).
2 Normative references
This European Standard incorporates by dated or undated reference, provisions from other publications. These
normative references are cited at the appropriate places in the text and the publications are listed hereafter. For
dated references, subsequent amendments to or revisions of any of these publications apply to this European
Standard only when incorporated in it by amendment or revision. For undated references the latest edition of the
publication referred to applies (including amendments).
EN 13819-1:2002, Hearing protectors - Testing - Part 1: Physical test methods
EN 13819-2:2002, Hearing protectors - Testing – Part 2 : Acoustic test methods
EN ISO 4869-2, Acoustics - Hearing protectors - Part 2: Estimation of effective A-weighted sound pressure levels
when hearing protectors are worn (ISO 4869-2:1994)
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this European Standard, the following terms and definitions apply:
3.1
ear-plugs
hearing protector worn within each of the external ear canals (aural) or in the concha, against the entrance to each
of the external ear canals (semi-aural)
3.1.1
disposable ear-plugs
ear-plugs intended for one fitting only
3.1.2
re-usable ear-plugs
ear-plugs intended for more than one fitting
3.1.3
formable ear-plugs
ear-plugs which require some degree of manipulation before fitting
3.1.4
pre-formed ear-plugs
ear-plugs which require no manipulation before fitting
3.1.5
custom moulded ear-plugs
ear-plugs made using an impression of the individual concha and the external ear canal of the user
NOTE These are usually of the re-usable type.
3.1.6
headband ear-plugs
ear-plugs linked by a headband (may be aural or semi-aural; disposable or re-usable)
3.1.6.1
over-the-head headband ear-plugs
ear-plugs designed to be worn with the headband passing over the top of the head
3.1.6.2
behind-the-head headband ear-plugs
ear-plugs designed to be worn with the headband passing behind the head
3.1.6.3
under-the-chin headband ear-plugs
ear-plugs designed to be worn with the headband passing under the chin
3.1.6.4
universal headband earplugs
ear-plugs designed to be worn as an over-the-head, a behind-the-head and an under-the-chin ear-plug
3.2
headband
band, usually of metal or plastics, designed to enable the ear-plugs to be held within (aural) or against (semi-aural)
the entrance to the external ear canals by exerting force against the ear-plug elements
3.3
sound attenuation
for a given test signal, the mean difference in decibels between the threshold of hearing with and without the
hearing protector in place, for a panel of test subjects
4 Requirements
4.1 Sizing and adjustability
4.1.1 Aural ear-plugs
The nominal diameter or, if appropriate, the range of nominal diameters of the ear-plugs, shall be tested in
accordance with EN 13819-1:2002, 5.2 and reported.
Custom moulded and semi-aural ear-plugs shall not be subjected to this test.
4.1.2 Headband ear-plugs
Adjustability shall be tested in accordance with EN 13819-1:2002, 5.3 and the following requirements satisfied, as
appropriate.
In the case of ear-plugs incorporating a means to adjust the headband force, these requirements shall be satisfied
at both the maximum and the minimum force setting.
a) Over-the-head ear-plugs
For each of the combinations of test dimensions shown in EN 13819-1:2002, Table 6, the range of fitting of the
headband shall enable the ear-plugs to be fitted to the fixture.
b) Behind-the-head and under-the-chin ear-plugs
For each of the combinations of test dimensions shown in EN 13819-1:2002, Table 7, the range of fitting of the
headband shall enable the ear-plugs to be fitted to the fixture.
4.2 Materials and construction
4.2.1 Materials
Those materials used in parts of ear-plugs coming into contact with the wearer's skin shall comply with the
following requirements:
a) The materials shall not be known to be likely to cause skin irritation, skin disorders, allergic reactions nor any
other adverse effects to health within the lifetime of the use of the ear-plugs.
b) When subject to contact with sweat, ear wax or with other materials likely to be found in the ear canal, the
materials shall not be known to undergo changes within the lifetime of the use of the ear-plugs that would result
in significant alteration to those properties of the ear-plugs that are required to be assessed when the ear-plugs
are examined for compliance with 4.2 and 4.3.
4.2.2 Construction
4.2.2.1 All parts of ear-plugs shall be designed and manufactured such that they are not liable to cause physical
damage to the wearer when fitted and used according to the manufacturer's instructions (see 5 e) and 6.2
...
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