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Sound Attenuation Values
Sound attenuation values are crucial for properly assessing the protective effect of hearing protection products. They indicate how well a product can dampen noise and protect your ears from excessive sound pressure levels. If you regularly work or spend time in noisy environments, it is important to know the attenuation values in order to select the right hearing protection.
Noise Categories

Noise categories are divided into different levels that help you choose the right degree of protection for your ears. Here is an overview:
0 to 40 dB
Safe Range

In this range, no harmful noise levels are expected.

 

Examples:

  • Falling feather
  • Computer
  • Ticking clock
  • Rustling leaves
  • Whispering
  • Breathing sounds

These sounds are so quiet that they pose no risk to your hearing.

Safe Range
40 to 85 dB
Disturbance Range

This range includes noises that may be annoying but generally do not pose an immediate risk to your hearing.

 

Examples:

  • Refrigerator (at 1 m distance)
  • Light rain
  • Normal road traffic
  • Conversations
  • Frogs

 

Although these sounds can be unpleasant, you do not yet need hearing protection.

Disturbance Range
85 to 120 dB
Damage Range

In this range, noise levels can cause hearing damage if you are exposed to these sounds for too long or too often.

 

Examples:

  • Passing train
  • Thunderstorm
  • Lawn mower
  • Jackhammer (at 10 m distance)
  • Circular saw
  • Nightclub

 

In this range, it is important to use the right hearing protection to prevent hearing damage.

Damage Range
From 120 dB
Pain Threshold

The pain threshold starts above 130 dB and includes extremely loud noises that cause pain. Immediate protection is required in this range.

 

Examples:

  • Waterfall
  • Jet aircraft
  • Airbag deployment (in close proximity)
  • Toy gun fired next to the ear

 

Here, immediate hearing protection is necessary to prevent permanent hearing damage.

Pain Threshold
Decibel Scale
The protective effect of hearing protection products is specified in dB (decibels). Since decibels are a logarithmic unit, even small differences in numerical values mean significant changes in physical impact. For example, an increase of 10 dB is perceived as twice as loud. Be sure to protect your hearing when exposed to high dB levels in your surroundings.
SNR Value
The SNR value (Single Number Rating) of a hearing protection product indicates the average attenuation across the frequency range relevant to human hearing (125 to 8,000 Hz). For example, an SNR value of 35 dB reduces a noise level of 100 dB (typical in a nightclub) down to 65 dB. This puts you below the threshold of 85 dB, which is considered the limit for hearing damage. Hearing protection with this value also protects you during longer periods of exposure.

The 85 dB limit comes from occupational safety standards and refers to a 40-hour work week. If the noise level exceeds this, hearing protection must be worn. Even at 80 dB, hearing protection should be provided and used whenever possible. Keep in mind that exposure time has a major impact on risk potential: 40 hours at 85 dB equals the danger of just two hours at 98 dB, or only ten minutes at 109 dB.
HML Values
The HML values indicate how high the sound attenuation is across three grouped frequency ranges:

H (High): between 2,000 and 8,000 Hz

M (Medium): between 1,000 and 2,000 Hz

L (Low): between 125 and 1,000 Hz

The HML values provide guidance on how well a hearing protection product works across different frequency ranges. To use them effectively, you need more detailed information about the frequency composition of the noise source in question – for example, from equipment documentation.
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