SIST EN 352-2:2021

Hearing protectors - General requirements - Part 2: Earplugs

This document specifies requirements on construction, design, performance, marking and user information for earplugs.
In particular, it specifies requirements regarding the sound attenuation of the earplugs, measured in accordance with EN ISO 4869-1:2018.
This document applies to earplugs designed for users who are able to follow supplied instructions and understand the related risks, can fit the earplugs correctly and can give feedback on the performance.
Ergonomic aspects are addressed by taking into account, within the requirements, the interaction between the user, the device and where possible the working environment in which the device is likely to be used (see Annex ZA and EN 458).

Gehörschützer - Allgemeine Anforderungen - Teil 2: Gehörschutzstöpsel

Dieses Dokument legt Anforderungen hinsichtlich Konstruktion, Gestaltung, Leistung, Kennzeichnung und Benutzerinformation für Gehörschutzstöpsel fest.
Im Besonderen legt es die Anforderungen bezüglich der Schalldämmung der Gehörschutzstöpsel fest, gemessen in Übereinstimmung mit EN ISO 4869 1:2018.
Dieses Dokument ist anzuwenden für Gehörschutzstöpsel, die für Benutzer entwickelt wurden, die in der Lage sind, den mitgelieferten Anweisungen zu folgen und die damit verbundenen Risiken zu verstehen, die Gehörschutzstöpsel korrekt einsetzen zu können und Rückmeldung über die Leistung geben zu können.
Ergonomische Aspekte werden innerhalb der Anforderungen durch die Einbeziehung der Wechselwirkung zwischen dem Gehörschutzbenutzer, dem Gehörschutzstöpsel und, wo möglich, der Arbeitsumgebung, in der die Gehörschutzstöpsel wahrscheinlich benutzt werden, berücksichtigt (siehe Anhang ZA und EN 458).

Protecteurs individuels contre le bruit - Exigences générales - Partie 2: Bouchons d'oreille

Le présent document 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.
Il spécifie en particulier les exigences relatives à la déclaration de l'affaiblissement acoustique des bouchons d'oreille, mesuré conformément à l'EN ISO 4869-1:2018.
Le présent document s'applique aux bouchons d'oreille conçus pour des utilisateurs capables de suivre les instructions fournies, de comprendre les risques associés, de porter les bouchons d'oreille correctement et de fournir des commentaires sur leur performance.
Dans les exigences spécifiées, les aspects ergonomiques sont abordés par la prise en compte de l'interaction entre l'utilisateur, l'équipement et, quand cela est possible, l'environnement de travail dans lequel l'équipement est susceptible d'être utilisé (voir l'Annexe ZA et l'EN 458).

Varovala sluha - Splošne zahteve - 2. del: Ušesni čepi

General Information

• Status: Withdrawn
• Public Enquiry End Date: 29-Sep-2018
• Publication Date: 23-Mar-2021
• Withdrawal Date: 10-Oct-2024
• ICS: 13.340.20 - Head protective equipment
• Technical Committee: OVP - Personal protecting equipment
• Current Stage: 9900 - Withdrawal (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 11-Oct-2024
• Due Date: 03-Nov-2024
• Completion Date: 11-Oct-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: EN 352-2:2020 - Hearing protectors - General requirements - Part 2: Earplugs

Relations

• Replaces: SIST EN 352-2:2003 - Hearing protectors - General requirements - Part 2: Ear-plugs
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2021
• Consolidated By: SIST EN 352-2:2021+A1:2024 - Hearing protectors - General requirements - Part 2: Earplugs
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2024
• Amended By: SIST EN 352-2:2021/kprA1:2024 - Hearing protectors - General requirements - Part 2: Earplugs
• Effective Date: 28-Dec-2022

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-april-2021
Nadomešča:
SIST EN 352-2:2003
Varovala sluha - Splošne zahteve - 2. del: Ušesni čepi
Hearing protectors - General requirements - Part 2: Earplugs
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 352-2:2020
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.

EN 352-2
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
November 2020
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 13.340.20 Supersedes EN 352-2:2002
English Version
Hearing protectors - General requirements - Part 2:
Earplugs
Protecteurs individuels contre le bruit - Exigences Gehörschützer - Allgemeine Anforderungen - Teil 2:
générales - Partie 2 : Bouchons d'oreille Gehörschutzstöpsel
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 24 February 2020.

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 CEN-CENELEC 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 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.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2020 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 352-2:2020 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3
Introduction . 4
1 Scope . 6
2 Normative references . 6
3 Terms, definitions, symbols and abbreviations . 6
3.1 Terms and definitions . 6
3.2 Symbols and abbreviations . 8
4 Requirements . 8
4.1 Sizing and adjustability . 8
4.1.1 Aural earplugs . 8
4.1.2 Banded earplugs . 8
4.2 Materials and construction . 9
4.2.1 Materials . 9
4.2.2 Construction . 9
4.3 Performance . 9
4.3.1 General . 9
4.3.2 Resistance to damage when dropped . 10
4.3.3 Resistance to damage when dropped at low temperature (optional) . 10
4.3.4 Cleaning . 10
4.3.5 Ignitability . 10
4.3.6 Minimum sound attenuation . 10
5 Marking . 10
6 User information . 11
6.1 General . 11
6.2 Information on the packaging . 11
6.3 Instructions supplied with the earplugs . 11
Annex A (informative) Technical changes between this document and the previous edition
of this European Standard . 14
Annex ZA (informative) Relationship between this European Standard and the essential
requirements of Regulation (EU) 2016/425 aimed to be covered . 16
Bibliography . 18

European foreword
This document (EN 352-2:2020) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 159 “Hearing
protectors”, the secretariat of which is held by DIN.
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 May 2021, and conflicting national standards shall be
withdrawn at the latest by November 2023.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document supersedes EN 352-2:2002.
The technical changes between this document and the previous edition of this European Standard are
listed in Annex A.
This document has been prepared under a standardization request given to CEN by the European
Commission and the European Free Trade Association, and supports essential requirements of
EU Regulation(s).
For relationship with EU Regulation(s), see informative Annex ZA, which is an integral part of this
document.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organisations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: 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 the
United Kingdom.
Introduction
This document sets requirements for personal hearing protection devices in relation to Regulation
(EU) 2016/425 on personal protective equipment.
The particular requirement in relation to the ability of hearing protectors to reduce noise below limit
levels is addressed in the standard by requiring the sound attenuation of the hearing protectors,
measured in accordance with EN ISO 4869-1, 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 can be undertaken according to established practice.
EN 352-2 is part of a family of standards describing product requirements for hearing protectors:
— EN 352-1, Hearing protectors — General requirements — Part 1: Earmuffs
— EN 352-2, Hearing protectors — General requirements — Part 2: Earplugs
— EN 352-3, Hearing protectors — General requirements — Part 3: Earmuffs attached to head
protection and/or face protection devices
— EN 352-4, Hearing protectors — Safety requirements — Part 4: Level-dependent earmuffs
— EN 352-5, Hearing protectors — Safety requirements — Part 5: Active noise reduction earmuffs
— EN 352-6, Hearing protectors — Safety requirements — Part 6: Earmuffs with safety-related audio
input
— EN 352-7, Hearing protectors — Safety requirements — Part 7: Level-dependent earplugs
— EN 352-8, Hearing protectors — Safety requirements — Part 8: Entertainment audio earmuffs
— EN 352-9, Hearing protectors — Safety requirements — Part 9: Earplugs with safety-related audio
input
— EN 352-10, Hearing protectors — Safety requirements — Part 10: Entertainment audio earplugs
Test methods for these requirements for all types of hearing protectors are described in the following
standards:
— EN 13819-1, Hearing protectors — Testing — Part 1: Physical test methods
— EN 13819-2, Hearing protectors — Testing — Part 2: Acoustic test methods
— EN 13819-3, Hearing protectors — Testing — Part 3: Supplementary acoustic test methods
An associated standard EN 458 covers selection, use, care and maintenance of hearing protection.
The parts of EN 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 EN 352-4 to −10, in addition to
that of parts 1, 2 or 3, as appropriate.
The requirements of this document are concerned primarily with the physical and acoustic
performance of the earplugs. It covers disposable, re-usable, custom moulded and banded earplugs.
In order to assist users to select the correct size(s) of earplugs, a nominal diameter, or range of
diameters, of the earplugs is required to be declared (except for custom moulded and semi-aural
earplugs).
In the case of banded earplugs, the standard specifies sizing requirements which enable the majority of
the user population to be fitted satisfactorily by “medium size range” earplugs. Individuals with other
sizes can be accommodated by “small size range” or “large size range” earplugs, 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 provided by the earplugs (measured in
accordance with EN ISO 4869-1) in order to assist users in selecting the most appropriate model of
earplugs for their needs. Minimum values of sound attenuation are also specified.
1 Scope
This document specifies requirements on construction, design, performance, marking and user
information for earplugs.
In particular, it specifies requirements regarding the sound attenuation of the earplugs, measured in
accordance with EN ISO 4869-1:2018.
This document applies to earplugs designed for users who are able to follow supplied instructions and
understand the related risks, can fit the earplugs correctly and can give feedback on the performance.
Ergonomic aspects are addressed by taking into account, within the requirements, the interaction
between the user, 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
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 13819-1:2020, Hearing protectors — Testing — Part 1: Physical test methods
EN 13819-2:2020, Hearing protectors — Testing — Part 2: Acoustic test methods
EN ISO 4869-2:2018, Acoustics — Hearing protectors — Part 2: Estimation of effective A-weighted sound
pressure levels when hearing protectors are worn (ISO 4869-2:2018)
3 Terms, definitions, symbols and abbreviations
3.1 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— IEC Electropedia: available at http://www.electropedia.org/
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at http://www.iso.org/obp
3.1.1
passive hearing protection
hearing protection that provides attenuation of external sounds not by means of electronics
Note 1 to entry: All hearing protectors have the characteristics of reducing noise by their design and type of
material used. Devices that have only this function are called passive hearing protection.
[SOURCE: EN 352-1:2020, 3.1.1]
3.1.2
earplug
hearing protector worn in each of the outer ear canals (aural) or in the concha, at the entrance of each
of the outer ear canals (semi-aural)
Note 1 to entry: Earplugs can be formable, requiring a degree of manipulation prior to fitting, or pre-formed,
which require no manipulation prior to fitting.
Note 2 to entry: Earplugs can sometimes be attached to an interconnecting cord.
3.1.3
headband
band, usually made of plastics, designed to enable the earplugs to be held within (aural) or
against (semi-aural) the entrance to the outer ear canals by exerting force against the earplug elements
3.1.4
disposable earplug
earplug intended for one fitting only
3.1.5
re-usable earplug
earplug intended for more than one fitting
3.1.6
custom moulded earplug
earplug made using an impression of the individual concha and the outer ear canal of the user
Note 1 to entry: These are usually of the re-usable type.
3.1.7
banded earplugs
eartips linked by a headband designed to be used in at least one position
Note 1 to entry: Eartips can be aural or semi-aural; disposable or re-usable.
Note 2 to entry: Banded earplugs belong to the group of re-usable earplugs (see 3.1.5).
3.1.7.1
over-the-head headband earplug
earplug designed to be worn with the headband passing over the top of the head
3.1.7.2
behind-the-head headband earplug
earplug designed to be worn with the headband passing behind the head
3.1.7.3
under-the-chin headband earplug
earplug designed to be worn with the headband passing under the chin
3.1.7.4
universal headband earplug
earplug designed to be worn as over-the-head, behind-the-head and under-the-chin earplugs
3.1.8
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
Note 1 to entry: Measured in accordance with EN ISO 4869-1:2018 for a panel of test subjects.
[SOURCE: EN ISO 4869-1:2018, 3.8, modified — The words “for a given test signal” have been moved to
beginning of definition, the words “mean”, “in decibels” have been added, the words “for a test subject”
have been deleted and Note 1 to entry has been added.]
3.2 Symbols and abbreviations
For the purposes of this document, the following symbols and abbreviations apply.
H High-frequency attenuation value
M Medium-frequency attenuation value
L Low-frequency attenuation value
APV Assumed Protection Value for frequency f and a protection performance of 98 %
f98
SNR Single Number Rating
PPE Personal Protective Equipment
4 Requirements
4.1 Sizing and adjustability
4.1.1 Aural earplugs
The nominal diameter or, if appropriate, the range of nominal diameters of the earplugs, shall be tested
in accordance with EN 13819-1:2020, 5.2 and reported.
Custom moulded and semi-aural earplugs shall not be subjected to this test.
4.1.2 Banded earplugs
...