Attenuation performance of active noise reduction headsets using American National Standard s12.42 and the proposed U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Hearing Protector Labeling Regulation

Abstract

The attenuation performance and noise reduction rating (NRR) of six commercially available active noise reduction (ANR) headsets was assessed using the proposed environmental protection agency (EPA) regulation. The passive attenuation results were collected using American National Standard Institute (ANSI) S12.6 method for measuring real-ear attenuation at threshold (REAT) of hearing protectors while the active attenuations results were collected using ANSI S12.42 methods for the measurement of insertion loss of hearing protection devices in continuous or impulsive noise using microphone-in-real-ear (MIRE) or acoustic test fixture procedures. ANSI/ASA S12.68 methods of estimating effective A-weighted sound pressure levels when hearing protectors are worn was used to compute noise reduction metrics including the noise reduction statistic A-weighted (NRSA) and the graphical noise reduction statistic (NRSG). The proposed NRR labels for the ANR headsets were computer per the guidance in the draft U.S. EPA regulation. The presentation will include the baseline passive, active, and total attenuation, the NRSA and the Graphical NRSG, and the proposed EPA labels for passive attenuation and total attenuation while in an active mode.