BakerBoy
It's all small stuff.
An issue in the industrial processes for which I provide R&D is the sound pressure imposed by the equipment. Most of our plants are over 90dB and some are over 100dB, and personnel work in 8 or 12 hour shifts. To protect irreversible hearing damage, we require single protection (ear plugs) over 90, and add muffs when over 100dB to meet OSHA regs. I can attest that even with hearing protection, it is very exhausting to be in that sound for that duration. As mentioned by others above, tinnitus is not to be ignored as it is indication of damage.
Motorcycling in my judgement is less than 90 dB. However, it is still exhausting and hearing protection is prudent IMO. Fairings and windshields help if the wind is kept off the helmet. But still, it is IMO necesary to wear hearing protection.
As far as I know, it is not yet possible to accurately measure the sound dB inside a filled helmet it while riding down the road. The instruments are still handheld and the sensor is hardmounted with a waveguide (it won't fit in your helmet with your head in it). I'm unaware of real test data, but I'd guess the sound is in the low 80's dB.
I used to wear NRR 33 plugs when motorcycling, but now I listen to music in my Etymotic sound isolating earbuds. And there's quite a bit of difference--the Etymotics provide less than NRR 33, as far as I can tell.
The best plugs you can buy are Howard Leight Max and have a NRR rating of 33 (in perfect conditions)--the best part is that you can find them at almost any drug store and they're cheap and comfortable. Here's what they look like.
Most audiologist's molded plugs have NRR of 20's or may reach 30, and they're expensive. But the best part is that they should fit nicely, potentially providing better installed sound reduction than a poorly fitted foam plug. Also some custom plugs have a 'filter' in them to allow specific sound frequency through (like voices). There are some at my company who wear the custom plugs and seem to like them, but most wear the foam plugs--most find the foam plugs better. YMMV
This article gives a reasonable overview of sound levels and the concept of "NRR".
...just my 2 cents...
Motorcycling in my judgement is less than 90 dB. However, it is still exhausting and hearing protection is prudent IMO. Fairings and windshields help if the wind is kept off the helmet. But still, it is IMO necesary to wear hearing protection.
As far as I know, it is not yet possible to accurately measure the sound dB inside a filled helmet it while riding down the road. The instruments are still handheld and the sensor is hardmounted with a waveguide (it won't fit in your helmet with your head in it). I'm unaware of real test data, but I'd guess the sound is in the low 80's dB.
I used to wear NRR 33 plugs when motorcycling, but now I listen to music in my Etymotic sound isolating earbuds. And there's quite a bit of difference--the Etymotics provide less than NRR 33, as far as I can tell.
The best plugs you can buy are Howard Leight Max and have a NRR rating of 33 (in perfect conditions)--the best part is that you can find them at almost any drug store and they're cheap and comfortable. Here's what they look like.
Most audiologist's molded plugs have NRR of 20's or may reach 30, and they're expensive. But the best part is that they should fit nicely, potentially providing better installed sound reduction than a poorly fitted foam plug. Also some custom plugs have a 'filter' in them to allow specific sound frequency through (like voices). There are some at my company who wear the custom plugs and seem to like them, but most wear the foam plugs--most find the foam plugs better. YMMV
This article gives a reasonable overview of sound levels and the concept of "NRR".
...just my 2 cents...
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I use the Howard Leight Maxes, too, and they do just fine.
