scope:

This Standard specifies a subjective method for measuring sound attenuation of hearing protectors at the threshold of hearing. This Standard is applicable to hearing protectors, including earplugs and earmuffs, that are commonly used to reduce the noise to which ear is exposed.

The method is a laboratory method designed to yield reproducible values under controlled measurement conditions. The values reflect the attenuating characteristics of the hearing protector only to the extent that users wear the device in the same manner as did the test subjects.

For a more representative indication of field performance the methods of ISO/TS 4869-5 can be used.

This test method yields data which are collected at low sound pressure levels (close to the threshold of hearing) but which are also representative of the attenuation values of hearing protectors at higher sound pressure levels. An exception occurs in the case of amplitude-sensitive hearing protectors for sound pressure levels above the point at which their level-dependent characteristics become effective. At those sound pressure levels the method specified in this Standard is inapplicable.

NOTE 1 Due to masking from physiological noise in the occluded ear tests, sound attenuations below 500 Hz can be overestimated by a few decibels.

NOTE The International Standard corresponding to this Standard and the symbol of degree of correspondence are as follows.

ISO 4869-1 : 2018 Acoustics - Hearing protectors - Part 1 : Subjective method for the measurement of sound attenuation (MOD)

In addition, symbols which denote the degree of correspondence in the contents between the relevant International Standard and JIS are IDT (identical), MOD (modified), and NEQ (not equivalent) according to ISO/IEC Guide 21-1.