CEN/TC 159 ‘Hearing protectors’ has recently published amendments to the EN 352 series ‘Hearing protectors - Safety requirements’ and updated testing methods in the EN 13819 series ‘Hearing protectors - Testing’. As new technologies, features, and functionalities are increasingly expected in hearing protectors, there is an ongoing need to incorporate relevant requirements and testing procedures.
Enhanced safety
The amendments address the integration of two-way communication radios and digital audio broadcasting receivers. These standards enhance safety by facilitating the integration and use of new communication technologies.
The incorporation of new electronic communication features in hearing protectors has necessitated amendments to the series. The newly added requirements and conformity assessment methods pertain to DAB/DAB+ radio receivers and integrated two-way communication radios for earmuffs and earplugs.
Why these changes matter
It is known that noise can not only lead to hearing loss but also cause other adverse effects, such as psychological and social problems, fatigue, and cardiovascular issues. The risks and impacts of unwanted noise have prompted an upgrade of the health and safety requirements to Category III under the PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425 for effective hearing protectors.
Professionals and consumers alike are seeking high-quality integration of electronics and the adoption of new communication technologies. The amendments have been published to ensure the standards remain ‘state of the art’ and to enable conformity assessment that demonstrate compliance with relevant EU legislation. These standards can assist in ensuring that safe PPE products are available on the market across all Member States.
Special thanks go to the experts in CEN/TC 159/WG 2 ‘Electronic and amplitude-sensitive hearing protectors’ for their work on these standards.
Jennifer OGBONNA
jogbonna@cencenelec.eu
