Electronic ear muffs

[kritch]

And when hunting I wear ear plugs most of the time, but not deer hunting. (in my pocket ready if wanted) Those regularly shooting at a range (high risk for hearing loss) would be silly not to wear a pair of good quality class 5s or better still electronic class 5s. (for communication purposes)

What do you think about the occasional hunting shot with no ear protection then?

Say you do 2-3 in a day. 6-7 times a year?

[handofcod]

If I ever find I'm not getting enough protection at the range I put plugs in and then muffs over the top.

Problem solved.

[Oldbloke]

And when hunting I wear ear plugs most of the time, but not deer hunting. (in my pocket ready if wanted) Those regularly shooting at a range (high risk for hearing loss) would be silly not to wear a pair of good quality class 5s or better still electronic class 5s. (for communication purposes)

What do you think about the occasional hunting shot with no ear protection then?

Say you do 2-3 in a day. 6-7 times a year?

Good question Kritch. Although I have a small amount of hearing loss I choose to take the occasional shot without protection. Why? Because of the usual issues of comfort and communication.

It's all about the overall "dose" over a life time that you get whether small (80 dB) often or a high dose (145 dB) once in a while. So at every opportunity I wear hearing protection. This includes every day noisy tasks such as mowing the lawn, ( including when the Mrs is very talkative LOL ) most people would not bother, but I do.

The trap is that it may be ok for 2-3 in a day, 6-7 times a year (say 20 shots a yr) & your hearing loss may not be very high but then it later becomes a habit & you then only rarely wear hearing protection, or worse stop altogether. THAT is the danger.

Wear hearing protection as much as you can and use class 5, but understand that if you do not wear it you are slowly increasing you hearing loss. Most people suffer a little hearing loss toward the end of their lives, we just need to manage it in order to minimise the loss and shooters are at a particularly high risk. The 20 minute noise video explains better than I can.

See above for the video link in my earlier post.

[headspace]

My Ear Pal muffs are distributed by Beretta and won't break the bank at around $100. They are electronic and cut in at 85db. I can still hear range commands and the muzzle blast is reduced markedly. I recently shot at a range in Grafton where they had sound deadening material fitted in the roof over the benches, it made a huge difference compared to other ranges where the sound seems to be magnified by the tin roof material. I'd like to see baffles between benches too.
JD

[Chronos]

My Ear Pal muffs are distributed by Beretta and won't break the bank at around $100. They are electronic and cut in at 85db. I can still hear range commands and the muzzle blast is reduced markedly. I recently shot at a range in Grafton where they had sound deadening material fitted in the roof over the benches, it made a huge difference compared to other ranges where the sound seems to be magnified by the tin roof material. I'd like to see baffles between benches too.
JD

Something I've been looking at lately, not too expensive to do a small area or one flat wall.

http://m.ebay.com.au/itm/350990246512?nav=SEARCH

Chronos

[Oldbloke]

I thought I would have a look around at what is available in electronic ear muffs these days.
NOTE: The NRR system is used in the USA, but is not acceptable in Australia as the method of testing is different from the AS 1270 ( SLC80 ) test method. SLC80 (Sound Level Conversion valid for 80% of the wearers)

Ozitos Cl 3 (21dB reduction) ( SLC80 ) About $30 I also notice they are fairly lightly built and may not stand the test of time.

Howard Leight R-01526 Impact Sport Electronic Earmuff Shooting These are available on ebay. $90 rating: NRR 22 Cl 3/4 ? postage free

ELECTRONIC EARMUFFS WITH INPUT JACK MAVERICK EAR MUFFS These are available on ebay. $35 NRR 22 Cl 3/4 ? postage free

from http://www.safetyquip.com.au/ Earmuff - Headband Peltor Lite-Com III MT53H7A-430B Two-way Headset (CL5 - 31dB) $1,146.46

from http://www.safetyquip.com.au/ UniSafe UniLert Active Listening Headset Earmuff - CL5 - 29dB(A) $180


I'm not into selling PPE, just looking at what is out there. And I cannot say if the NRR is the same as SLC80 but the info I have suggests it is a lower standard. (quoted above from QLD Gov) Also Its obvious that class 5s are a heap more expensive that cl 4s. So the Unisafe muffs look like good value if you are a regular shooter, especially at the range.

Comfort is also a big factor so best to try before u try if that is possible.

[Chronos]

Thanks for that oldbloke.

These Howard Leights look goys at 31db for $70

http://www.safetyquip.com.au/pdEMS10301 ... cl-5-31db/

Chronos

[Oldbloke]

Chronos, Looks like they are only suitable for use with an mp3 device rather than "electronic". CL5 - 31dB(A) after a search I found that they are also listed as being NRR 25 compliant. (Interesting) I found this earlier.

If you are wearing a product with an NRR of 30 it would deduct 11.5 decibels (30-7/2=11.5db reduction to the ear).

So to compare apples with apples based on the above. (I hope this is correct)

USA, 100dB - NRR 30 = 88.5dB to the ear (30dB-7/2=11.5dB) = 88.5dB


Aust, 100dB - SLC80 30 = 70dB to the ear (100dB - 30 = 70dB) 30dB reduction for 80% of wearers

It is also worth noting that every 3dB is twice the noise level or power and 11.5 dB protection is our lowest class 1. So 30dB provides about12 times the level of protection compared with 11.5dB ( ripplys believe it or not)

Here is a link to do the nrr calculation. (always use dB(A) https://www.noisemeters.com/apps/occ/prot-nrr.asp

Beware of buying NRR rated ear protection. Its a trick area.

[kritch]

The trap is that it may be ok for 2-3 in a day, 6-7 times a year (say 20 shots a yr) & your hearing loss may not be very high but then it later becomes a habit & you then only rarely wear hearing protection, or worse stop altogether. THAT is the danger.

Yeah I get that. I know it's easy to get complacent by I'm good with it at all other times.

100% at the range, no exceptions. Same for household stuff like mowing the lawn.

Moving on to the video now

[jastreb]

bluerob,

Have you had a look at the Howard Leight Impact PRO muffs? These are electronic and have an NRR of 30.

Info:
-------
http://www.honeywellsafety.com/Products ... x?site=/au

Shopping:
-------------

http://www.amazon.com/Honeywell-R-01902 ... B007BGSI5U

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Howard-Leigh ... 1239538433

The reviews do suggest that they are a little bulky though so you might have issues on getting a good stance.

The Howard Leights posted on this thread earlier are not the same as these.

jastreb

[Guliver]

I was never happy with happy with electronic ear muffs and now use http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/like/2213901 ... e&lpid=107, they really are very effective.

[Oldbloke]

Be careful, the NRR rating is not the same as the Australian system of classes. It is a lower standard and misleading. NRR of 30 rating is significantly poorer protection than 30dB under our class system. You need Class 5 muffs the highest rating. (& best protection).

look here http://www.safetyquip.com.au/pl032P5/peltor/
& here http://www.protectoralsafe.com.au/brows ... /207818200

[Oldbloke]

NRR Method (USA)
When hearing protection is worn, your level of exposure is based on the NRR rating of the protection device being used. Keep in mind however that while the NRR is measured in decibels, the hearing protector being used does not reduce the noise exposure to the ear by the same number of decibels associated with the protector. For example if you are at a rock concert and the noise you are exposed to is 100 dB and you put on a pair of NRR 27 muffs the exposure will not be reduced to 73 dB, as you may expect. Rather the reduction is calculated like this, (27-7/2 = 10 dB)

Therefore you are exposed to 100dB and wear a pair of NRR 27 rated muffs 100-10 = 90.0 dB exposure to the ear.
These are Class 1 muffs under the Australian system (the lowest/poorest)

The SLC80 method (Australia)
The workplace noise is measured in C-weighted sound pressure levels as average over the shift, [LCeq,8h]. The SLC80 (Sound Level Conversion valid for 80% of the wearers) of the hearing protector indicates the difference between the measured C-weighted sound pressure level of the workplace noise outside the hearing protector and the A-weighted sound pressure level, attenuated by the hearing protector, under the hearing protector inside the ear canals.
For example the noise level in a workplace was 100 dB(C) (as average over the shift). If you are exposed to a noise level of 100 dB and then wear a Class 5 muff with a rating of 30 dB
100 – 30 = 70 dB(A) exposure to the ear

Australian class system
Class 1. 10 - 13
Class 2. 14 - 17
Class 3. 18 – 21
Class 4. 22 - 25
Class 5. 26 or greater

I hope this further explains the system. Beware of NRR muffs!

[jastreb]

Yes I realise what you are saying. The top link I sent though is the Australian website for honeywell. It lists the ratings for the Impact Pro's for all the major standards.

American NRR 30
European SNR 33
Australia and NZ SLC80 31

The that would make them a Class 5 SLC80 31dB Ear Muffs.

Below are the regulations and codes they adhere to.

1 The EPA labeling standard is defined in Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 40, Part 211, Subpart B – Hearing Protective Devices.

2 The SNR rating and HML descriptors are defined in ISO 4869-2, Acoustics – Hearing Protectors.
3 The SLC80 is defined in Australian/New Zealand Standard 1270:2002, Acoustics – Hearing Protectors.

For further info on Howard Leight's attempt to explain ratings visit the link below which will download a pdf file.

http://www.howardleight.com/images/pdf/ ... atings.pdf

[kritch]

You're really up on this stuff huh old bloke.

You work in making these things or something?

[Oldbloke]

Kritch,

I guess I am up with it. I work as an OHS/WHS Professional/Generalist. (when I'm working, looking at the moment) Noise & the reduction of noise exposure is just one small area of many that I am interested & work in.

As a shooter/hunter I am very aware of the noise hazard to fellow shooters. Young blokes in particular often tough it out thinking it "wont happen to them" & are therefore at higher risk of hearing loss later in life.

I am also aware that few people understand the hazard well, so when I get the opportunity I like to educate them. The info I provide should help them ( and everyone else) to make good choices and perhaps help them to better enjoy the music, esp later in life.

I am also just one of the boys & like a beer.

[kritch]

I am also just one of the boys & like a beer.

ha ha.

Not an easy task lecturing everyone on hearing safety at the range I'm sure

I'd be taking the beer option instead as well

[Squiddy]

Are ozito still available at Bunnings?

[Oldbloke]

Dont know but they wear out fairly quickly as the quality is not there.