Rob Shaddick, MIOA, MSc is an acoustic consultant with Soundguard Acoustics Ltd, former NHS Audiologist and Custom Hearing Protection manufacturer and supplier with Insta-Mold. Here he discusses how you can ensure that your hearing protection purchase meets European requirements.

ANSWER: The main consideration that the unwary individual or company purchasing department may come across is assuming that the NRR (Noise Reduction Rating) and the SNR (Single Number Rating) is the same thing, they are not. Similarly products are often described as ‘ear protectors’ or ‘ear protection’ which is not the same as ‘hearing protectors’ or ‘hearing protection’  – subtle differences that the unwary customer may overlook.

The SNR [Single Number Rating] is used by the European Union and affiliated countries and defines the level of protection offered by a correctly fitted hearing protection device. The value is derived by conducting two tests at independent testing laboratories, using test frequencies which are slightly different than those used for the NRR rating. In addition to an overall rating, the SNR further rates protectors in terms of the HML value for particular noise environments in which they will be used – H for high-frequency noise environments, M for mid-frequency, and L for low-frequency.

The NRR [Noise Reduction Rating] is mainly used in the United States but is not compatible with the European Union. Although the hearing protection will be provided with a supporting chart showing mean attenuation values and standard deviations at each of the seven test frequencies as required by U.S Environmental Protection Agency, this NRR number is not recognised in the UK and Europe where an SNR number is required.

Having an SNR value will ensure that your hearing protection device is also meeting other safety standards for use in the UK and Europe, namely the requirement to meet EN352-1:2002 (for Ear-muffs) and EN352-2:2002 (for Ear-plugs). If the protection has met these standards and is marked with an SNR value then it should also be marked with an HML breakdown of the protection and an Assumed Protection Value (APV) for use when matching hearing protection to noise frequency data. The CE certification of conformance and will be provided along with this information which will be clearly stated on the box or with an enclosed leaflet.

The next time you make a purchase of hearing protection, muffs, earplugs or custom products in the UK and Europe then fully check these points to ensure that you are fully protected and that your purchasing decision has been appropriately tested for the rigorous European Union requirements.

• Check that the SNR value is stated on the packaging or leaflet
• Check that the HML levels are provided on the packaging or leaflet
• Check that a frequency break down of the Assumed Protection Value (APV) is provided
• Check that the protection meets the appropriate EN352 standard
• Check that the product is CE marked.

If you haven’t got all of these details then you are most likely to be purchasing an imported product that will not meet European safety requirements, you may be purchasing cheap or fake imports or even worse you may be about to purchase an untested product.

More Information: Insta-Mold UK T/A Soundguard Acoustics Ltd E: info@soundguard.co.uk T:0845 6530233

What if you want safety cords or metal traceable silicone, printed graphics, or a triple colour combination? Yes! InstaMold can do that too and all in under 2 hours from impression to finished product! With an SNR of 29dB (solid) and 21dB (filtered) InstaMold is possibly one of the most versatile hearing protection products in the UK and European markets today – can your existing custom provider do that?

We need providers across the UK – Interested to know more?

The versatility of Insta-Mold determines that the NHS can supply ‘swim-plugs’ or custom hearing protection in as little as 2 hours. The industrial sector can manage their own in-house custom hearing protection programmes and fit all their employees at a fraction of the price and custom hearing protection can be made on site at private weekend shooting events, festivals or motorcycle meetings.

Insta-Mold products can be manufactured and supplied by anyone who has appropriate ear impression experience or qualification. The medical grade, two-part, hypo-allergenic, ‘Insta-Mold’ silicone is direct moulded into the ear to form a CE certified custom hearing protection product that is lacquer coated and fitted with optional acoustic filters. With a Single Number Rating (SNR) of between 20dB and 29dB and with a life expectancy of up to four years then they are well suited for most applications.  Insta-Mold products include ‘snag-free’ safety leashes and fully traceable options for the food and drinks industry, and if you are supplying to the water-sport market then they float too! The wide colour range and swirl effects finally provide a product that not only meets the comfort needs of the wearer but makes a real statement too.

Audiologists, Hearing Aid Dispensers, Occupational Nurses, Hearing Therapists and any individual that has appropriate ear-impression training can become an Insta-Mold Agent and manufacture direct moulded hearing protection devices within hours and without the significant set up facilities of an ear-mould lab. This is of particular benefit to the NHS in the application of swimmers earplugs or industrial contracts which can be managed in-house and at a fraction of the cost of lab-moulded products. The product also provides a custom moulded option with excellent profit margins for the private hearing sector markets.

For more details, pricing and how to become an Insta-Mold agent then please contact 0845 653 0233 or visit the website at www.InstaMold.co.uk

Single-use disposable ear plugs remain popular because they’re perceived to be inexpensive, they are easily fitted; they offer a variety of colours and fitting shapes and provide a good level of comfort and protection for most noise environments. However, the two unfortunate and negative aspects of single-use earplugs is that they are designed to be disposable, which contributes to waste production and landfill, and the hidden longer term costs is significantly more than other types of hearing protection.

Let us consider a typical industrial workplace in the UK. The company has 200 workers within a mandatory hearing protection zone and each employee has access to disposable earplugs and works 250 days per year. Each worker wears one disposable pair of earplugs for the morning shift and a new pair after lunch.

A 50% conformance of mandatory hearing protection will result in 50,000 pairs of earplugs being used annually and with a 100% conformance this figure rises to a staggering 100,000 pairs of used earplugs that are being sent to landfill. With 100% conformance of single use disposable earplugs this company alone will send more than half a million single non-biodegradable earplugs to landfill within a three year period; a problem that is further compounded when you also consider that most earplugs are packaged in a box or provided in additional individual plastic wrappers.

A single company with 200 employees wearing single use earplugs will dispose of more than half a million single earplugs in landfill within a three year period.

However, we should not be too quick to dismiss the single use earplug. It is effective in what it does and the earplug manufacturers are listening to the environmental issues that they might create. Howard Leight now provide their earplugs individually wrapped in a biodegradable paper bags instead of the usual plastic poly-bag and Moldex has developed its foam earplugs using PU (polyurethane) which has less environmental impact than traditional earplugs manufactured from PVC (polyvinyl chloride), the latter of which is associated with release of toxic chemicals and health hazards following landfill and incinerator disposal. Earplug Dispensers have also been a positive leap forward in reducing packaging waste and provide a highly visible way of storing and dispensing earplugs easily, and hygienically, right into your hand, one pair at a time.

The bottom line, however, is that the earplug itself is unlikely to be biodegradable and the actual amount of landfill created by one employee wearing two pairs a day during their employment is staggering; times this by a number of employees and the number of business within the UK and the financial cost increases and the environmental impact becomes apparent. Fortunately there is a solution that reduces waste, saves money and retains the required level of protection.

Insta-Mold is a new concept in custom made hearing protection. Insta-Mold meets all UK and European safety requirements but the direct ‘instant’ fit avoids the higher costs of comparably lab-moulded custom hearing protection products and provides a low cost solution for business with minimal waste.

Let us re-visit our example company of 200 employees and fit them all with Insta-Mold earplugs at a total cost of £14,000 (based upon individual Insta-Mold product retail price of £69.99 inc. VAT). This is a significant upfront investment, but when you consider that the cost of providing the disposable earplugs (at just 11p per pair) for these 200 employees over the three year lifetime of Insta-Mold is £33,588 then the company achieves a cost saving of almost £20,000.

However further savings can be made. Insta-Mold has the additional benefit that these custom earplugs can be made ‘instantly’ and in-house by training individuals within your company. Suddenly, individual lab-moulded costs are avoided, your hearing protection programme become simple to manage and the costs are significantly reduced. In-house manufactured Insta-Mold can be made for less than £16 per employee which represents a cost saving over the same three year period of over £30,000 when compared against typical single use disposable earplugs.

A single company with 200 employees wearing single use earplugs could save almost £20,000 in three years by switching to Insta-Mold custom hearing protection and could save over £30,000 in three years by self-manufacturing Insta-Mold in-house.

But is Insta-Mold suitable? Insta-Mold was first developed in the US in 1971, has been widely used in the American markets for over 40 years and achieves full CE certification and safety requirements for use within the UK and European markets. Insta-Mold custom hearing protection offers businesses a solution that provides a comfortable individualised fit, a range of colours and stylish design.  Insta-Mold has a tested single number rating (SNR) of between 21dB and 29dB and is made using hypo-allergenic medical grade silicones finished with a lacquer coating that provides a hygienic gloss finish. Each pair can be provided with acoustic filters and leash options, metal tracer options for the food and drinks industry, and are supplied with full fitting instructions and a storage pouch.

Although the single use disposable earplug is unlikely to disappear from UK workplaces, Insta-Mold offers a high quality, custom fitted CE certified hearing protection alternative that can achieve considerable cost savings for businesses and eliminate landfill waste. Insta-Mold is the ultimate personal, environmental and financial hearing protection solution for your workplace.

The UK and Ireland distributer of Insta-Mold is Soundguard Acoustics Ltd and is run by Rob Shaddick, MSc, MIOA, a former NHS Audiologist and now Acoustic Consultant. He has been involved with the Insta-Mold product since 2003 and may be contacted at info@soundguard.co.uk or 0845 653 0233. For more information about Insta-Mold products then visit the website at www.soundguard.co.uk where further downloadable information is available. For European distribution then companies should contact 2pluxx GmbH at www.2pluxx.ch