What is EN352 about?
EN352 is a family of standards dedicated to hearing protection that includes performance requirements and testing methodologies to cover various types of hearing protectors, including passive and electronic hearing protection devices.
As hearing protectors help to reduce exposure to harmful noise, they fall into the higher risk Category III under PPE Regulation 2016/425 (EU) and are subject to mandatory annual auditing by an approved Notified Body.
Why is the EN352 being updated?
All European Harmonized Standards are subject to a mandatory periodic review every five years, being reconfirmed for a further five years or subject to revision, and EN352 is no exception.
The European Technical Committee CEN/TC159 on Hearing Protection, in its last periodic assessment, decided to review all the relevant parts of this family of standards. The latest version of EN352 standards can be identified by the year of publication of the standard, included after the standard number, e.g. EN352:2020.
Who is the EN352 aimed at?
- Hearing protector manufacturers
- Testing bodies for hearing protectors
- Designers of hearing protectors
- Acoustic engineers
- Occupational Health and Safety Departments
What's changed with diadem earmuffs, earplugs and protectors for attaching to helmets.
EN352-1: Diadem ear protectors
EN352-1 is the first in the EN352 family of standards. Specifies the requirements for the construction, design, performance, marking and user information of diadem earmuffs. Determines the sound attenuation requirements for hearing protectors, as measured by EN ISO 4869-1: 2018.
EN352-1 does not apply to:
- Ear protectors for attaching to head and/or face protection equipment.
- Ear protectors outside the range of head sizes defined in the EN352-1 standard.
Why should you use EN352-1?
Ear protectors are used as a hearing protection device to reduce noise levels and to protect the ears from exposure to excessive volumes.
EN352-1 helps users by specifying the requirements for hearing protectors to reduce the level of noise exposure and the risk of hearing loss.It specifies the test methods for measuring the acoustic performance of hearing protectors and ensures that the ear protectors have optimum functionality and meet the minimum quality requirements for hearing protection devices.
What has changed since the last update?
EN352-1:2020 replaces EN 352-1:2002 and includes some technical changes compared to EN 352-1:2002, such as:
- Headband strength, clarification for universal earmuffs: measure headband strength for all modes of use.
- Drop test, clarification of the test criterion: only the passive function (sound attenuation) has to be checked (relevant for products with electronic supplementary functions).
- Change in headband force: clarifications on data analysis, the measurement protocol for universal earmuffs and the content of the user information.
- Insertion loss, clarification for asymmetrically designed earmuffs: standard deviation criterion for insertion loss applied separately to left and right cups, additional user information provided with asymmetrically designed earmuffs.
- Minimum sound attenuation: change the requirements for minimum sound attenuation from octave band values to HML and APVf98 values. Marking, additional requirement: marking with date of manufacture or date of obsolescence.
EN352-2: Earplugs
EN352-2 specifies the construction, design, performance, marking and user information requirements for earplugs. It determines the sound attenuation requirements for earplugs, as measured by EN ISO 4869-1: 2018.
EN352-2 applies to earplugs intended for users who can follow instructions and understand the related risks, can fit the earplugs correctly and can provide feedback on performance.
Why should you use the EN352-2 standard?
Earplugs are hearing protection devices that protect the ears from harmful sounds or noises, but when poorly made they can be uncomfortable for users and not even fulfill their function.
The requirement regarding the ability of hearing protectors to reduce noise below threshold levels is addressed in the EN 352-2 standard, requiring that the sound attenuation of hearing protectors, as measured by the EN ISO 4869-1 standard, is not less than a specified minimum.
The EN 352-2 standard establishes requirements for the physical and acoustic performance of hearing protectors. It also provides performance requirements, material and construction requirements and marking requirements for earplugs to ensure that they do not cause physical harm to users.
The EN 352-2 standard exists to ensure that earplugs perform optimally and meet minimum quality requirements.
What has changed since the last update?
EN352-2:2020 replaces EN352-2:2002 and includes some technical changes compared to EN 352-2:2002, such as:
- Additional requirements for custom-molded earmuffs: requirement to take ear impressions and adjust test samples.
- Drop test, clarification of the test criterion: only the passive function (sound attenuation) has to be checked (relevant for products with electronic supplementary functions).
- Minimum sound attenuation: changing the requirements for minimum sound attenuation from octave band values to HML and APVf98 values.
- Marking, additional requirement: marking with date of manufacture or date of obsolescence, marking of reusable packaging for reusable earplugs.
- User information: warning statements that are no longer textual, HML values on the packaging, declaration of product lifetime, information on replacement tips for banded earplugs, assembly instructions for replacement tips for banded earplugs, declaration of sound attenuation values in accordance with EN ISO 4869-2:2018, warnings for pre-formed earplugs.
EN352-3: Ear protectors for attachment to helmets
EN352-3 specifies the construction, design, performance, marking and user information requirements for earmuffs attached to head and/or face protection devices, referred to as integrated earmuffs.
Defines the sound attenuation requirements for integrated earmuffs as measured by EN ISO 4869-1: 2018. EN352-3 does not apply to earmuffs outside the range of head sizes defined in BS EN 352-3.
Why should you use the EN352-3 standard?
Integrated ear protectors are used by construction workers and other professionals who deal with harmful sound levels. This type of protector can be considered a safety device for workers who are constantly exposed to harmful sound levels, so they must meet basic protection requirements.
What has changed since the last update?
EN352-3:2020 replaces EN352-3:2002 and includes some technical changes compared to EN 352-3:2002, such as:
- Definition of headgear, support, supplementary combination: supra-aural cups have been removed, the definition has been extended from helmet to head protection and/or face protection device, note added for clarification.
- Sizing and adjustability, small-sized and series-mounted ear protectors: requirement eased since the amendment of table 3 of standard EN 13819-1:2020.
- Drop test, clarification of the test criterion: only the passive function (sound attenuation) has to be checked (relevant for products with electronic supplementary functions). Change in headband force: clarification of data analysis and user information content.
- Insertion loss, clarification for asymmetrically designed earmuffs: standard deviation criterion for insertion loss applied separately to left and right ear cushions. Insertion loss: additional user information provided with earmuffs for asymmetrically designed earmuffs.
- Information for the user: warnings that are no longer textual, declaration of the product’s lifespan, information on asymmetrical earmuffs, declaration of sound attenuation values in accordance with EN ISO 4869-2:2018, HML values on the packaging.
The EN352-3 standard helps users to select the most suitable model of integrated earmuffs for their needs by specifying the minimum sound attenuation values. It defines the material and construction, as well as the sizing requirements for mounted earmuffs. It also provides the performance, material and construction requirements of mounted earmuffs to check that they are not likely to cause physical harm to the user.
The EN352-3 standard ensures that integrated ear protectors function at an optimum level and meet minimum quality requirements.
Should you do something?
Action is mainly the responsibility of the manufacturer, since all products will have to be tested, certified and marked according to the new standards.
There is no mandatory measure for the end customer or the person buying the product. However, it is recommended that the buyer checks that the product produced after July 21, 2024 shows the correct year of publication of the standard, for example, compliance with EN352-1:2020 for the diadem earmuffs. The standard(s) in question can be found in the Declaration of Declaration of Conformity or in the instructions for use.
You should also check the product to ensure that you are aware of any performance changes resulting from these updates.
Need more information?
You can find detailed information about the updated EN 352 standard in our newsletter.
