Collection: Earplugs

A correctly inserted earplug often attenuates more than ear defenders. Badly inserted, it hardly protects at all. All its performance depends on fitting, and that is what sets it apart from other protection.

The 6 references in the catalogue

• 3M 1100 series, disposable foam earplugs.
• 3M E-A-R UltraFit, reusable flanged earplugs.
• 3M Peltor EEP-100, electronic earplugs.
• Banded earplugs: 3M 1310, Coverguard Earline 30230.

See also our hearing protection and our ear defenders.

Foam or flanged

A foam earplug must be rolled thin between the fingers, inserted while compressed, then held while it expands in the ear canal. Without this step, it partly comes out and real attenuation falls by half. It is the most widespread source of error, and it is invisible.

A flanged earplug is inserted directly, without preparation. It is reusable, washable and much more tolerant of approximate fitting. It generally attenuates a little less at best, but it actually attenuates what it states in practice.

Electronic earplugs

They let speech and quiet sounds through while cutting noise peaks. At a workstation where you must stay in contact with colleagues or hear an alarm, they solve the main reason why people remove their protection.

Hygiene

An earplug is handled with clean hands: it goes into the ear canal. Disposables are not reused after lying around in a pocket. Reusables are washed with soapy water, stored in their case, and replaced as soon as the material hardens or cracks.