GB 31422.1-2025Hearing protective equipment - Part 1: Earplugs (English PDF)

Foreword

This document complies with the provisions of GB/T 1.1-2020 "Standardization Work Guidelines Part

1.Structure and Drafting Rules of Standardization Documents". Drafting. This document is Part 1 of GB 31422 "Hearing Protection Equipment". GB 31422 has the following parts published.

2.Earmuffs. This document partially replaces GB/T 31422-2015 "General Technical Requirements for Hearing Protectors in Personal Protective Equipment", and is consistent with GB/T 31422- Compared to.2015, aside from structural adjustments and editorial changes, the main technical changes are as follows:

a) The scope has been changed (see Chapter 1, Chapter 1 of the.2015 edition);

b) Terms and definitions have been added and changed (see Chapter 3, Chapter 3 of the.2015 edition);

c) The classification has been changed (see Chapter 4, Chapter 4 in the.2015 edition);

d) The technical requirements for materials and structures have been changed (see 5.1.1, 5.1.2, and

5.1.2 in the.2015 edition);

e) The technical requirements for earmuffs have been removed (see

5.2 in the.2015 edition);

f) Added technical requirements for nominal diameter and modified the technical requirements for adaptability (see 5.1.3, 5.1.4, and

5.3.2 in the.2015 version);

g) Added technical requirements for cleaning (see 5.1.5);

h) The technical requirements for drop resistance have been changed (see 5.1.6,

1 Scope

GB 31422.1-2025 is the Chinese national standard on hearing protective equipment - part 1: earplugs, in the field of environment and health protection, safety. It carries no /T suffix, which in the Chinese system means compliance is mandatory: a product or a practice within its scope has to meet it to be lawfully made, sold or carried out in China. It was issued on 29 August 2025 by the Ministry of Emergency Management, and has been in force since 1 September 2026. Classification: ICS 13.340.20, CCS C73. This page is published from the official record of the standard held by the Chinese standards administration: the identification, the dates, the classification and the issuing body are taken from there. The clause text, the tables and the numeric limits are in the document itself, which is delivered complete in English translation.

This document specifies the technical requirements, markings, and information provided by the manufacturer for earplugs. This document applies to all types of earplugs that have noise reduction and hearing protection functions.

2 Normative references

The contents of the following documents, through normative references within the text, constitute essential provisions of this document. Dated citations are not included. For references to documents, only the version corresponding to that date applies to this document; for undated references, the latest version (including all amendments) applies. This document.

GB/T 12903 Terminology for Personal Protective Equipment

GB/T 46342-2025 General Test Methods for Hearing Protection Equipment

ISO 4869-2.2018 Acoustic hearing aids - Part

2.Effective A-weighted sound pressure level estimation while wearing hearing aids protectorsareworn)

3 Terms and Definitions

The terms and definitions defined in GB/T 12903 and the following terms and definitions apply to this document.

3.1 Hearing protector Personal protective equipment that protects hearing and protects people from excessive noise exposure.

3.2 Hearing protection methods that rely solely on product design and material type, without relying on electronic devices to provide external sound attenuation.

3.3 Earplugs Hearing protection devices that are inserted into the external auditory canal or block the entrance to the external auditory canal (3.1).

3.4 Formable Earplug Made of compressible material, it needs to be shaped by the wearer through kneading or other methods before insertion into the ear canal. After insertion, it will spring back and fit snugly into the ear canal. Earplugs (3.3).

3.5 pre-formed earplug Earplugs that are pre-made to a specific shape and do not require pre-shaping by the wearer when inserted into the ear canal (3.3).

3.6 Customized Earplug Earplugs made using impressions of the wearer's concha and external auditory canal (3.3).