ISO 4869-1:2018 PDF

Scope: This document specifies a subjective method for measuring sound attenuation of hearing protectors at the threshold of hearing. 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 document is inapplicable, as it will usually underestimate sound attenuation for these devices. NOTE Due to masking from physiological noise in the occluded ear tests, sound attenuations below 500 Hz can be overestimated by a few decibels.

ISO 4869-1:2018 Referenced Document

IEC 60263:1982 Scales and sizes for plotting frequency characteristics and polar diagrams
IEC 61260-1:2014 IEC 61260-1: Electroacoustics - Octave-band and fractional-octave-band filters - Part 1: Specifications
ISO 8253-2:2009 Acoustics - Audiometric test methods - Part 2: Sound field audiometry with pure-tone and narrow-band test signals

2018 ISO 4869-1:2018 Acoustics - Hearing protectors - Part 1: Subjective method for the measurement of sound attenuation
1990 ISO 4869-1:1990 Acoustics; hearing protectors; part 1: subjective method for the measurement of sound attenuation