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Banded Earplugs, Hearing Protection

When ear plugs are mounted on a headband, they are sometimes called banded earplugs, banded canal caps, ear pods or ear caps. Banded ear canal caps or pods are sometimes preferred over both ear plugs and ear muffs. In situations where earplugs have to be removed frequently, a canal cap can provide greater convenience. Ear muffs may feel to hot to wear in some environments and earplugs can be hassle to insert/remove and store.
 

Elvex GelPods™ 

Elvex GelPods are designed to fit into the outer ear and to be held in place by the force of the headband, Unlike a regular earplug the GelPods are not seated in the ear canal. This construction offers a comfort advantage to some users, who do not like the feeling of having anything inserted into the ear canal. Elvex GelPods offer a Noise Reduction Rating of 18 dB. However what is interesting is that the attenuation curve is quite flat, meaning that there is not a large difference in attenuation between the low and the high frequencies. Attenuation data below.

 Elvex GelPods, GP-10

GP-10:  ANSI S3-19-1974, Dr. Michael & Associates, State College, Pennsylvania, USA

Frequency, Hz 125 250 500 1000 2000 3150 4000 6000 8000 H M L NRR
Mean Attenuation, dB 28.5 25.2 22.3 22.1

31.8

 38.1 39.3 40.8 39.1 27 20 20 18
Std. Deviation

4.6

 4.0 3.5 3.5 3.2 2.9 3.8 3.0 3.8

 

 

 

GP-10: CE EN-352-2:1993, BIA, Berufsgenossenschaflishes Institut für Arbeitssicherheit, Sankt Augustin, Germany

Frequency, Hz 63 125 250 500 1000 2000 4000 8000 H M L SNR
Mean attenuation, dB 20.8 23.3 20.4 19.1 21.0 29.9 34.2 36.2 25 18 16 22
Std. Deviation 6.7 6.5 4.2 5.1 3.4 2.7 3.0 7.4
Protection 14.1 16.8 16.2 14.0 17.6 27.2 31.2 28.8

 

 

 

Elvex GelCaps™

Elvex GelCaps are designed to fit into the ear canal opening and to be held in place by the force of the headband. Some users feel that this solution is less comfortable (than the Pod solution), while others prefer the GelCaps. So, as usual it comes down to individual preferences. The GelCaps offer 23 dB Noise Reduction Rating, and the attenuation in the low and high frequencies is very high. At 125 Hz the GelCaps offer a full 33.5 dB average attenuation, and in the range between 3150-8,000 Hz the attenuation exceeds 40 dB. The GelCaps offer a very flat attenuation curve, which is desirable in some environments. Attenuation data below.

 Elvex GelCaps, GC-20

GC-20:  ANSI S3-19-1974, Dr. Michael & Associates, State College, Pennsylvania, USA

Frequency, Hz 125 250 500 1000 2000 3150 4000 6000 8000 H M L NRR
dB, Mean Attenuation

33.5

31.9

31.2

29.6

36.7

42.5

42.5

42.2

41.8

 32 27 27 23
Std. Deviation

4.5

4.6

4.6

4.1

4.7

4.7

5.3

5.1

4.5

 

 

 

GC-20: CE EN-352-2:1993, BIA, Berufsgenossenschaflishes Institut für Arbeitssicherheit, Sankt Augustin, Germany

Frequency, Hz 63 125 250 500 1000 2000 4000 8000 H M L SNR
Mean attenuation, dB 24.1 27.1 25.7 21.6 22.2 32.6 38.1 38.8 26 19 19 23
Std. Deviation 5.0 5.3 4.4 5.1 4.3 5.2 4.7 7.4
Protection 19.1 21.8 21.3 16.5 17.9 27.4 33.4 31.4

 

 

 

  Click here to download a catalog sheet showing GP-10 and GC-20. Adobe Acrobat required!

Links to hearing protection pages: | Reusable Earplugs | Disposable Earplugs, Elvex Blue | Disposable Earplugs, Uni-Fit | Banded Earplugs | Headband Earmuffs | Cap Mount Earmuffs | Electronic Hearing Protection | QuieTunes AM/FM Radio | Hearing-Face Combos | OSHA Hearing Conservation Summary | View Order Form |

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