Etymotic Research ER-20 User manual

•Music and conversation areheardclearly
•All sound is reduced evenly by 20 dB
• Available in two sizes:standard and small
• Fatigue from noise is reduced
•Patented technology
•Reusable
ETYMOTIC RESEARCH INC.
61 Martin Lane • Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
www.etymotic.com • 888-389-6684
Musicians Earplugs,ETY•Plugs and BabyBlues are trademarks of Etymotic Research,Inc.The ER family of
earplugs is covered by one or more of the following U.S. patents: #4,852,683,#5,113,967, #5,887,070 and
other patents pending.
EREM-BO2-C 1107
ETYMOTIC RESEARCH INC.
™
ER-20 High Fidelity Hearing Protection
Blue
Solid
Beige
Translucent
Beige
Purple
Clear
Red
Color/Size All reduce sound 20 dB
Blue
Purple
Yellow
Package includes
•ETY•Plugs: (1 pair clear) or
•BabyBlues:(1 pair)
•Black neck cord
•Carrying case
•Instructions
Packaging (2 options)
Industrial
factory workers
shop teachers
students
supervisors
Leisure
concerts
night clubs
noisy restaurants
Construction
carpenters
equipment operators
road builders
steel workers
Aircraft
crew
flight instructors
passengers
pilots
Athletics
athletes
coaches
sporting events
Medical-Dental
dentists
dental hygienists
dental technicians
surgeons
Others
delivery drivers
market traders
night club staff
truck drivers
Music
concerts
marching bands
musicians
night clubs
Motor Sports
motorcyclists
pit crews
race car drivers
spectators
Emergency
Vehicles
EMTs
highway patrol
firefighters
Who Uses ETY•Plugs?
Sound (dB) Exposure type No protection Using ETY•Plugs
60 Conversation SAFE —
80-85 Noisy restaurant /Vacuum / Average factory 40 hrs SAFE
88 Circular saw / Loud party / Motorcycle 20 hrs SAFE
94 Subway / Riding mower 5 hrs SAFE
97 Live band 2.5 hrs 40 HRS
100 Sporting event / Chain saw / Snowmobile 1.25 hrs 20 hrs
112 Blues bar / Rock concert 5 mins 1.25 hrs
115 Ambulance siren 2.5 mins 36 mins
140 Jet engine / Gun shot / Firecracker INSTANT LOSS *
*Above125 dB you areat risk for any period without maximum protection
Permissible Sound Exposure with ETY•Plugs (re: NIOSH, 1998)
BabyBlues (for smaller ear canals)
Red
Black
Neck Cords (optional)
Package includes
•ETY•Plugs: (1 pair any color) or
•BabyBlues:(1 pair)
• Carrying case
•Instructions
NIOSH (1998). Criteria for a recommended standard: occupational noise exposure. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and National
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 98-126.

The U.S.Environmental Protection Agency requires manufacturers
toprint a noise reduction rating (NRR) on all non-custom earplugs.
The formula used to determine NRR includes an adjustment for test
variability,individual variability,and for those persons who do not
wear ear protection as instructed.When worn properly,Etymotic
earplugs provide more sound reduction than the assigned NRR
value.Laboratory data on subjects wearing properly sealed
ETY•Plugs™shows between 18-22 dB average sound reduction
over the 250-8000 Hz frequency range,but the NRR calculated
from the same data is 12 dB.
ETY•Plugs earplugs use patented
technology that replicates the natural
response of the ear canal so that sound
heard with these earplugs is as clear as
the original, just quieter. The BabyBlues™
earplugs were created to fit smaller ear
canals.ETY•Plugs earplugs have nearly
the same fidelityas Etymotic’s Musicians
Earplugs™(custom earplugs worn by
professional musicians) and are a
low-cost alternative.
About ETY•Plugs (2 Sizes)
About Noise Reduction Rating (NRR)
ETY• Plugs provide almost equal sound reduction (20 dB) across the range of
hearing. Foam earplugs reduce the high frequencies,resulting in muffled
speech and music.
Musicians Earplugs™
How much noise is too much?
Hearing loss is a function of exposure time,the average sound level,
and the peak level of very loud sounds. Exposure to excessive noise
can cause permanent hearing loss depending on the intensity and
duration of the sound. Some persons are more susceptible to hearing
loss from high-level sound than others.
Preservesound quality
The human ear overloads at high sound levels,making it difficult
or impossible to distinguish speech or the musical blend.
Prevent ringing in the ears
Ringing in the ears (tinnitus) and temporary hearing loss can occur
from a single concert,sporting event or sudden loud noise like a
firecracker. Even if a temporary hearing loss recovers over a period
of hours todays, thereis a risk that repeated exposure to loud noise
could result in permanent hearing loss.
Noise-induced hearing loss
can be prevented!
ETY•Plugs™High Fidelity Earplugs lower noise evenly at all frequencies
to preserve sound quality. Sound is not muffled. Music is heard clearly,
but at a safe, reduced volume.
The Good News
FACT More than 30 million Americans are exposed
to hazardous sound levels on a regular basis. About
one-third (10 million) can attribute their hearing loss,
at least in part, to noise. Exposure occurs in the workplace,
in recreational settings, and at home.
Source: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
Hearing loss is a function of exposure time, the average noise level and the
peak level of veryloud sounds.
85 8 hours
88 4 hours
91 2hours
94 1hour
97 30 minutes
10015 minutes
1037.5 minutes
106 < 4 minutes
109 < 2 minutes
112 ~1minutes
115 ~30seconds
Continuous Unprotected Permissible
Sound
dB (A) Exposure Time
Permissible Sound Exposure Guidelines
NIOSH (1998)
ETY•Plugs Noise Reduction
Standard BabyBlues™