National foreword

This British Standard is the UK implementation of EN 352‑4:2020. It supersedes BS EN 352‑4:2001, which is withdrawn.

The UK participation in its preparation was entrusted to Technical Committee PH/7, Hearing protectors.

A list of organizations represented on this committee can be obtained on request to its committee manager.

This publication does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a contract. Users are responsible for its correct application.

Compliance with a British Standard cannot confer immunity from legal obligations.

This British Standard was published under the authority of the Standards Policy and Strategy Committee on 30 November 2020.

This European Standard was approved by CEN on 18 June 2018.

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 foreword

This document (EN 352‑4:2020) 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of an identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by March 2021, and conflicting national standards shall be withdrawn at the latest by March 2021.

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 352‑4:2001, EN 352‑4:2001/A1:2005.

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.

In comparison with the previous edition, the following technical modifications have been made:

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

The requirements of the standard are concerned with the level-dependent performance of the earmuffs. The criterion levels within this standard are determined to limit the sound pressure level effective to the ear to 85 dB(A).

EN 352‑4 is part of a family of standards describing product requirements:

EN 352‑1, Hearing protectors — General requirements — Part 1: Ear-Muffs
EN 352‑2, Hearing protectors — General requirements — Part 2: Ear-plugs
EN 352‑3, Hearing protectors — General requirements — Part 3: Ear-muffs attached to an industrial safety helmet
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 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.

1 Scope

This document is applicable to level-dependent earmuffs. It specifies requirements on construction, design, performance, marking and user information related to the inclusion of the level-dependent functionality.

Level-dependent earmuffs are designed to provide restoration of external sounds, while providing attenuation of sounds at high levels. They may be selected for use in intermittent or impulsive noise environments and where external warning sounds are required to be heard. This standard is concerned with those earmuffs having an electronic sound restoration circuit.

2 Normative references

3 Terms and definitions

4 Requirements

4.1 General

4.2 Performance

5 Marking

6 Manufacturer's instructions and information

Bibliography

BS EN 352-4:2020

Hearing protectors. Safety requirements - Level-dependent earmuffs

Current, Under Review

Published:

30 Nov 2020