What are hearing protection standards in Australia and New Zealand?
Testing and standards
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AS/NZS 1270:2002 Acoustics – Hearing protectors:This is the core standard for testing and classifying hearing protection in both countries.
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SLC80 rating:The "Sound Level Conversion valid for 80% of the wearers" is the primary metric derived from the test.
- It represents the difference between the workplace noise level and the noise reaching the ear canal, with the number indicating the level of noise reduction that 80% of users can expect with a good fit.
Protection Classes:
The SLC80 value is used to assign hearing protection to one of five classes:
- Class 1: SLC80 10–13 dB (e.g., offices)
- Class 2: SLC80 14–17 dB (e.g., public transport)
- Class 3: SLC80 18–21 dB (e.g., factories, noisy urban areas)
- Class 4: SLC80 22–25 dB (e.g., loud worksites, power tools)
- Class 5: SLC80 26–30+ dB (e.g., heavy industry, mining)
How to select hearing protection
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Measure noise exposure:Conduct a workplace noise survey to determine the average noise level over an eight-hour shift in dB(A).
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Select the right class:Use the measured noise level to select the correct class from the information provided in the SLC80 values in Table
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Check the label:Purchase a protector with a class or SLC80 rating that matches or exceeds your needs.
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