SIST EN 60318-3:2015

Electroacoustics - Simulators of human head and ear - Part 3: Acoustic coupler for the calibration of supra-aural earphones used in audiometry

IEC 60318-3:2014 specifies an acoustic coupler for the measurement of supra-aural audiometric earphones in the frequency range from 125 Hz to 8 000 Hz. The sound pressure developed by an earphone is not, in general, the same in the coupler as in a person's ear. However, the acoustic coupler can be used as an objective and reproducible means of measuring the output of supra-aural earphones. It can be used for specifying reference equivalent threshold sound pressure levels for the calibration of audiometers. This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition published in 1998 and constitutes a technical revision which includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
- adjustment of terms and wording to the other parts of IEC 60318;
- introduction of maximum permitted uncertainties;
- and revised requirements for static pressure equalization.
Keywords: electroacoustics, deafness, hearing aids

Elektroakustik - Simulatoren des menschlichen Kopfes und Ohres - Teil 3: Akustischer Kuppler zur Kalibrierung von supra-auralen Audiometrie-Kopfhörern

Electroacoustique - Simulateurs de tête et d'oreille humaines - Partie 3: Coupleur acoustique pour l'étalonnage des écouteurs supra-auraux utilisés en audiométrie

L'IEC 60318-3:2014 spécifie un coupleur acoustique destiné à la mesure des écouteurs audiométriques supra-auraux, dans la plage de fréquences comprise entre 125 Hz et 8 000 Hz. La pression acoustique produite par un écouteur n'est pas, en général, la même dans ce coupleur et dans une oreille humaine. Toutefois, le coupleur acoustique peut être utilisé en tant que moyen objectif et reproductible de mesurer la valeur de sortie des casques supra-auraux. Il peut être utilisé pour préciser les niveaux de référence équivalents au seuil de pression acoustique pour l'étalonnage des audiomètres. Cette deuxième édition annule et remplace la première édition parue en 1998. Cette édition constitue une révision technique qui inclut les modifications techniques majeures suivantes par rapport à l'édition précédente:
- réajustement des termes et formulation par rapport aux autres parties de l'IEC 60318;
- introduction des incertitudes maximales permises;
- et exigences révisées pour l'égalisation de la pression statique.
Mots clé: électroacourtique, surdité, sonotone

Elektroakustika - Simulatorji človeške glave in ušes - 3. del: Akustični spojnik za kalibriranje naušnih slušalk, ki se uporabljajo v avdiometriji

Ta del standarda IEC 60318 določa akustični spojnik za merjenje naušnih avdiometričnih slušalk v frekvenčnem območju od 125 Hz do 8 000 Hz. Zvočni tlak, ki ga proizvede slušalka, se v splošnem v spojniku in v ušesu osebe razlikuje. Vendar se lahko akustični spojnik uporablja kot objektiven in ponovljiv način za merjenje izhodnih signalov naušnih slušalk. Uporablja se lahko za določanje referenčnih enakovrednih mejnih ravni zvočnega tlaka (RESPL) za umerjanje avdiometrov.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 13-Aug-2015
• ICS: 13.140 - Noise with respect to human beings
• ICS: 17.140.50 - Electroacoustics
• Technical Committee: I11 - Imaginarni 11
• Current Stage: 6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 24-Feb-2015
• Due Date: 01-May-2015
• Completion Date: 14-Aug-2015
• Ref Project: EN 60318-3:2015 - Electroacoustics - Simulators of human head and ear - Part 3: Acoustic coupler for the calibration of supra-aural earphones used in audiometry

Relations

• Replaces: SIST EN 60318-3:2002 - Electroacoustics - Simulators of human head and ear -- Part 3: Acoustic coupler for the calibration of supra-aural earphones used in audiometry
• Effective Date: 01-Sep-2015

Overview

EN 60318-3:2015 (adoption of IEC 60318-3:2014) is a European/CENELEC standard in the field of electroacoustics that specifies an acoustic coupler for the objective, reproducible measurement and calibration of supra-aural audiometric earphones. The coupler is intended for measurements in the 125 Hz to 8 000 Hz range and is used to establish reference equivalent threshold sound pressure levels (RETSPL) for audiometer calibration - a critical step in accurate hearing assessment, diagnosis of deafness, and fitting of hearing aids.

Key topics and requirements

• Scope and purpose: Defines an acoustic coupler as a measurement device where a calibrated microphone is coupled to an earphone via a cavity of predetermined shape and volume.
• Frequency range: Calibration and measurements specified from 125 Hz to 8 000 Hz.
• Cavity geometry and tolerances: Critical coupler dimensions and acoustic volume are specified to ensure reproducibility (e.g., nominal effective acoustic volume and precise cavity dimensions, and a 45° slope angle requirement).
• Microphone requirements: Use of calibrated, high‑impedance diaphragms consistent with IEC 61094-1 (laboratory standard microphones).
• Static pressure equalization: Revised requirements to control the coupler’s response to atmospheric and static pressure differences.
• Measurement uncertainty: Introduction of maximum permitted uncertainties and guidance to account for laboratory measurement uncertainty when assessing conformity.
• Coupling and calibration method: Guidance on how to couple supra‑aural earphones to the coupler and perform reference calibrations used to derive RETSPL values.

Practical applications and users

Who uses EN 60318-3:

• Audiology laboratories and clinics validating audiometers.
• Calibration laboratories and national metrology institutes.
• Headphone and audiometer manufacturers performing product verification and quality control.
• Regulatory bodies and conformity assessment organizations setting calibration requirements.

Typical applications:

• Establishing RETSPLs for audiometer calibration.
• Routine verification of supra‑aural earphone output during manufacturing or field service.
• Ensuring traceable, repeatable audiometric measurements that support clinical diagnosis of hearing loss and the reliable fitting of hearing aids.

Related standards

• IEC/EN 60318 series - other parts covering head and ear simulators.
• IEC 61094-1 - specifications for laboratory standard microphones (normative reference).
• ISO/IEC Guide 98-3 (GUM) - expression of measurement uncertainty.

EN 60318-3:2015 is a technical revision of the 1998 edition; it harmonizes terms across the series and strengthens requirements for uncertainty and static pressure equalization, improving reproducibility for audiometric calibration.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-september-2015
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SIST EN 60318-3:2002
(OHNWURDNXVWLND6LPXODWRUMLþORYHãNHJODYHLQXãHVGHO$NXVWLþQLVSRMQLN]D
NDOLEULUDQMHQDXãQLKVOXãDONNLVHXSRUDEOMDMRYDYGLRPHWULML
Electroacoustics - Simulators of human head and ear - Part 3: Acoustic coupler for the
calibration of supra-aural earphones used in audiometry
Elektroakustik - Simulatoren des menschlichen Kopfes und Ohres - Teil 3: Akustischer
Kuppler zur Kalibrierung von supra-auralen Audiometrie-Kopfhörern
Electroacoustique - Simulateurs de tête et d'oreille humaines - Partie 3: Coupleur
acoustique pour l'étalonnage des écouteurs supra-auraux utilisés en audiométrie
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 60318-3:2015
ICS:
13.140 Vpliv hrupa na ljudi Noise with respect to human
beings
17.140.50 Elektroakustika Electroacoustics
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD EN 60318-3
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
February 2015
ICS 17.140.50 Supersedes EN 60318-3:1998
English Version
Electroacoustics - Simulators of human head and ear - Part 3:
Acoustic coupler for the calibration of supra-aural earphones
used in audiometry
(IEC 60318-3:2014)
Électroacoustique - Simulateurs de tête et d'oreille Akustik - Simulatoren des menschlichen Kopfes und Ohres
humaines - Partie 3: Coupleur acoustique pour l'étalonnage - Teil 3: Akustischer Kuppler zur Kalibrierung von supra-
des écouteurs supra-auraux utilisés en audiométrie auralen Audiometrie-Kopfhörern
(IEC 60318-3:2014) (IEC 60318-3:2014)
This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2015-01-15. CENELEC 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 CENELEC 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 CENELEC member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the
same status as the official versions.
CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey and the United Kingdom.

European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels
© 2015 CENELEC All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC Members.
Ref. No. EN 60318-3:2015 E
Foreword
The text of document 29/796/CDV, future edition 2 of IEC 60318-3, prepared by IEC TC 29,
Electroacoustics, was submitted to the IEC-CENELEC parallel vote and was approved by CENELEC as
The following dates are fixed:
(dop) 2015-10-15
• latest date by which the document has
to be implemented at national level by
publication of an identical national
standard or by endorsement
(dow) 2018-01-15
• latest date by which the national
standards conflicting with the
document have to be withdrawn
This document supersedes EN 60318-3:1998.

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CENELEC [and/or CEN] shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent
rights.
Endorsement notice
The text of the International Standard IEC 60318-3:2014 was approved by CENELEC as a European
Standard without any modification.
In the official version, for Bibliography, the following note has to be added for the standard indicated :
IEC 61094-4 NOTE Harmonised as EN 61094-4.

- 3 - EN 60318-3:2015
Annex ZA
(normative)
Normative references to international publications
with their corresponding European publications

The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are
indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated
references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.

NOTE 1 When an International Publication has been modified by common modifications, indicated by (mod), the relevant EN/HD
applies.
NOTE 2 Up-to-date information on the latest versions of the European Standards listed in this annex is available here:
www.cenelec.eu.
Publication Year Title EN/HD Year

IEC 61094-1 -  Measurement microphones - EN 61094-1 -
Part 1: Specifications for laboratory standard
microphones
ISO/IEC Guide 98-3 -  Uncertainty of measurement - - -
Part 3: Guide to the expression of
uncertainty in measurement (GUM:1995)

IEC 60318-3 ®
Edition 2.0 2014-12
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Electroacoustics – Simulators of human head and ear –

Part 3: Acoustic coupler for the calibration of supra-aural earphones used

in audiometry
Électroacoustique – Simulateurs de tête et d'oreille humaines –

Partie 3: Coupleur acoustique pour l’étalonnage des écouteurs supra-auraux

utilisés en audiométrie
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
PRICE CODE
INTERNATIONALE
CODE PRIX M
ICS 17.140.50 ISBN 978-2-8322-1930-0

– 2 – IEC 60318-3:2014  IEC 2014
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 3
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 5
4 Construction . 5
4.1 General . 5
4.2 Cavity dimensions . 6
4.3 Static pressure equalization . 8
4.4 Calibrated pressure type microphone . 8
5 Coupling of earphone to acoustic coupler . 9
6 Calibration . 9
6.1 Reference environmental conditions . 9
6.2 Method of calibration . 10
7 Maximum permitted uncertainty of measurements . 10
Bibliography . 12

Figure 1 – Dimensions of acoustic coupler . 7
Figure 2 – Coupling of earphone to coupler. 9

Table 1 – Height of the coupler as a function of the acoustic volume of the microphone . 8
Table 2 – Values of maximum permitted uncertainties U for a level of confidence of
max
approximately 95 % . 11

IEC 60318-3:2014  IEC 2014 – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
ELECTROACOUSTICS –
SIMULATORS OF HUMAN HEAD AND EAR –

Part 3: Acoustic coupler for the calibration
of supra-aural earphones used in audiometry

FOREWORD
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International Standard IEC 60318-3 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 29:
Electroacoustics.
This second editi
...