GB/T 31422-2015Hearing 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.

---Part 1: Earplugs;

---Part 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 5.1.1 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, 5.3.3 in the 2015 version);

i) The technical requirements for low-temperature drop resistance have been changed (see 5.2.1, 5.3.4 in the 2015 version);

j) The technical requirements for sound attenuation have been changed (see 5.1.8, 5.3.6 in the 2015 version);

k) Additional performance requirements for the sound level correlation function have been added (see 5.2.2);

l) Additional performance requirements for safety-related audio input earbuds have been added (see 5.2.3);

m) Additional performance requirements have been added for non-safety audio input earbuds (see 5.2.4);

n) The test method has been removed (see Chapter 6 of the 2015 edition);

o) The identifier has been changed (see Chapter 6, Chapter 7 in the 2015 edition);

p) The information provided by the manufacturer has been changed (see Chapter 7, Chapter 8 in the 2015 edition);

q) The conditions for application of the technical requirements for hearing protection devices have been removed (see Appendix A of the 2015 edition).

Please note that some content in this document may involve patents. The issuing organization of this document assumes no responsibility for identifying patents.

This document was proposed and is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Emergency Management of the People's Republic of China.

The release history of this document and the document it replaces is as follows.

---First published in 2015 as GB/T 31422-2015;

---This is the first revision.

Introduction

Noise pollution is widespread in various industries and people's lives. Long-term exposure to high-intensity noise can cause irreversible damage to human hearing.

Hearing protection equipment, also known as hearing shields, is personal protective equipment used to avoid or reduce noise damage to human hearing. To standardize hearing protection...

The technical requirements for the equipment must ensure the health and safety of users, taking into account the application needs, technical characteristics, and technical requirements of different types of hearing protectors both domestically and internationally.

Based on the current state of technology, GB 31422 "Hearing Protection Equipment" has been revised and compiled, and it is planned to consist of two parts.

---Part 1: Earplugs. The purpose is to standardize the technical requirements, labeling, and manufacturer information for earplugs. This includes earplugs with electroacoustic functions.

Additional requirements were specified for the earplugs.

---Part 2: Earmuffs. The purpose is to standardize the technical requirements, labeling, and manufacturer information for earmuffs. This includes earmuffs with electroacoustic functions.

Additional requirements are specified for the earmuffs.

The testing method standard for the accompanying hearing protection equipment is as follows.

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

The standards for the selection, use, and maintenance of hearing protection equipment are as follows.

---GB 23466-2025 Selection, use and maintenance of hearing protection equipment.

Hearing protection equipment Part 1: Earplugs

1 Scope

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.

Hearing protector

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

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

Earplugs

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

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).

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).

Customized Earplug

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