How to choose between noise canceling headphones or earplugs?

Noise-cancelling headphones, earplugs, headband headphones and electronic headphones protect your ears from noise pollution, which is measured in decibels. The hearing protectors are selected according to the level of attenuation, the level of noise to which the user is exposed and continuous or intermittent use.

We are exposed to noise in our daily lives, at work and at home. The sources of noise are many and varied, including car traffic, air or rail traffic, construction sites (BTP), household appliances or even power tools. Daily noise pollution can lead to trivializing noise and ignoring its health risks. This is because hearing loss is usually irreversible and can lead to hearing loss.

How do noise canceling headphones work?

active noise canceling headphones can electronically filter noise and amplify useful noise . The technology was originally developed for airline pilots, whose hearing is on exposure to the deafening noise of jet engines all day. A solution had to be found that would provide effective hearing protection while allowing information from the crew and the control tower to be heard. These types of headsets must contain microphones to pick up noise, electronics capable of analyzing noise, filters to process data, and speakers to output correction signals. Also note that you need a power source for everything to work (mainly batteries, but some models come with battery).

How noise canceling headphones work for better hearing protection

Thanks to the built-in microphone, the reduction system picks up harmful noise, analyzes it, generates anti-phase noise, and then sends this signal to the headphones. Therefore, unwanted noise is suppressed by canceling both signals.

The effectiveness of professional active noise canceling headphones in the face of danger

Active noise canceling headphones are the ideal solution. As the name suggests, active headphones actively control noise. These models are equipped with microphones that pick up outside noise and retransmit it in the opposite direction. This is equivalent to undo.

These modulation headphones have the ability to increase the sound level of low frequency sounds to make them more audible (speech, alerts, etc.) and attenuate high-pitched sounds to protect your hearing . Active noise-cancelling headphones instantly mute to protect your hearing when sudden noise levels exceed your tolerance.

Active noise canceling headphones communicate well. It connects via a cable to a walkie-talkie (such as the Peltor Protac or the Peltor Tactical XP) or via Bluetooth to a mobile phone (such as the Peltor X5 Bluetooth or the Peltor LiteCom WS) to allow workers to communicate . It keeps you in touch with your surroundings and at the same time protects you from harmful noise. Noisy industrial workers can make calls like a headset, but with noise-canceling headphones.

Comfortable noise-canceling headphones for work on the construction site

Protect yourself from harmful construction site noise with noise protection headphones like Peltor Construction. Constructed with dual headbands as well as adjustable headbands, the earmuffs fit any situation and shape. The construction earmuffs provide maximum hearing protection and comfort in all circumstances, whatever the source of ambient noise (machine tools, construction machinery, etc.). There are, in other types of difficult situations such as in the event of high heat, the protection technique of a noise-canceling helmet has an impact on the level of comfort of the wearer.

Construction noise often damages hearing. Manufacturers such as 3M-Peltor, MSA, and Sordin offer headphones with noise-canceling construction for head protection as well as noise-cancelling ear cups (LEP-100) that attach to the clip of the helmet. All high attenuation meets the needs of workers with noise-canceling headphones suitable for noisy construction sites with SNR between 37 dB and 27 dB. Secure communications capabilities are frequently required on construction sites. Peltor 3M features noise canceling headphones with sound modulation capabilities.

European standards that govern noise-canceling headphones for work

The EN 352 standard describes the general requirements for hearing protection in the workplace. According to EN 352, the choice of hearing protection should be based on specific working environments and type of noise To reduce. The requirements that apply depend on the degree of protection. These include earplugs, earmuffs, helmet compatible earmuffs and sound reduction suits.

In addition to the general requirements described in EN 352, product-specific details and requirements are defined by other regulations. All hearing protectors must be marked in accordance with EN 352: manufacturer or brand name as well as model name, identification number, description of assembly, use, wear (if necessary), dimensions, CE marking and recycling or disposable instructions (as for earplugs only).

There are three standards for hearing protection accessories:

The EN 352-1 standard

It defines noise-cancelling headphones as hearing protection made of a functional shell that wraps around the ears of the wearer. These headphones are easy to put on and take off, making them ideal for environments with widely varying noise levels.

The EN 352-2 standard

This defines the term plug as any hearing protection device placed in the ear canal or worn in the outer ear.

The EN 352-3 standard

As for this standard, it provides specifications for ear muffs that can be attached directly to industrial helmets.