GB23466-2025
Selection, use and maintenance of hearing protective equipment
听力防护装备的选择、使用和维护
GB 23466-2025 is an upcoming mandatory Chinese national standard for Selection, use and maintenance of hearing protective equipment. It appears in the Medical compliance cluster with a product safety focus and has an implementation date of Sep 1, 2026.
Applicability depends on product scope, certification route, competent authority notices and transition rules. Requst for the translation or verify source before using this record in a compliance decision.
Compliance overview
Scope and applicability
This standard specifies the selection methods and maintenance requirements for hearing protective equipment. It is applicable to the selection, use, and maintenance of hearing protective equipment in occupational noise workplaces. This standard is not applicable to the protection against impulse noise. It covers various types of equipment, including earmuffs and earplugs, used in industrial environments.
Technical requirements
The standard categorizes hearing protective equipment by design, wearing style, and functional mode, including basic passive noise reduction and active noise cancellation or communication features. It outlines general principles for selection based on safety, applicability, and comfort, emphasizing that equipment must provide effective protection without affecting work performance or causing over-protection. Selection requirements detail specific scenarios, such as using earplugs in high-temperature or confined spaces, and combining earmuffs with earplugs when single devices fail to provide sufficient attenuation. Employers must investigate workplace environmental information and worker health conditions before selecting equipment. The standard mandates that workers exposed to noise levels of 85 dB(A) or above must wear hearing protective equipment. The standard also specifies requirements for training, precautions, and feedback. Employers are required to train workers on the hazards of noise, proper usage, and the importance of wearing protection throughout the entire exposure period. Equipment must be worn continuously in hazardous noise zones to maintain effective protection. Maintenance requirements include regular cleaning, inspection for damage, and proper disposal of disposable items, adhering to manufacturer guidelines.
Testing methods
The standard references several methods for calculating effective A-weighted sound pressure levels and assessing equipment suitability, including the octave band method, HML method, and SNR (Single Number Rating) method. It also outlines fit testing methods such as the real-ear microphone method, audiometric method, and loudness balance method to ensure proper sealing and attenuation.
FAQs
What products are regulated under GB 23466-2025?
It regulates hearing protective equipment, including earplugs and earmuffs, used in occupational noise workplaces.
Are there any updates from the previous version of GB 23466-2025?
Yes, it replaces GB/T 23466-2009, adding requirements for over-protection, training, maintenance, and equipment with electro-acoustic and communication functions.
How does GB 23466-2025 address over-protection?
The standard warns against providing equipment with excessively high attenuation, which can isolate the wearer and cause safety risks by masking warning signals.
The summary above provides a high-level overview of GB 23466-2025. To ensure complete compliance for your products entering the Chinese market, a precise and professional translation of the full technical specifications is essential. Purchase our high-quality English translation of GB 23466-2025 today to access all detailed parameters, tables, and testing procedures.
Applicability hints
- Type
- Management
- CCS
- C73
- ICS
- 13.340.20
- Competent department
- Ministry of Emergency Management
- Technical committee
- National Technical Committee on Personal Protective Equipment of Standardization Administration of China
Relationships
Replaces:GB/T 23466-2009