DI filter for industry and production
Industrial noise is often loudest in the high tones. The DI filter from Dynamic Ear Company attenuates the low tones fairly flatly, so you can still understand your colleagues, and gives extra attenuation from about 4 kHz. With an SNR of 22 to 26 dB it gives the most attenuation of our filters.
Three strengths in the DI series
The values come from the Dynamic Ear Company datasheet. H, M and L stand for the attenuation of high, medium and low frequencies.
DI 30 · SNR 26 dB
H 26 · M 23 · L 23 dB. The strongest DI. Our earplugs for construction have 26 dB SNR.
DI 25 · SNR 24 dB
H 23 · M 22 · L 21 dB. For workplaces with heavy, continuous noise.
DI 20 · SNR 22 dB
H 22 · M 20 · L 18 dB. The lightest DI. Our earplugs for food and pharma have 22 dB SNR.
How each DI filter attenuates per frequency
Low tones are on the left of the chart, high tones on the right. The higher the line, the more the filter attenuates. You can see the fairly flat attenuation in the low tones and the extra attenuation in the high tones. At 8000 Hz that is 27 to 32 dB.
- DI 30 purple
- DI 25 red
- DI 20 yellow
Redrawn from the Dynamic Ear Company DI series datasheet.
Why a separate filter for industry?
According to Dynamic Ear, industrial noise is often louder in the high tones. Standard industrial earplugs also often reduce too much where it is not needed, so speech sounds dull.
The DI filter takes a different approach. It has relatively flat attenuation in the low tones, to take away low-frequency noise and help communication, and rising attenuation from about 4 kHz against harmful high-pitched noise.
Metal detectable and X-ray visible
In the food and pharmaceutical industry, nothing may end up in the product. That is why the DI filter is also available in a metal detectable and X-ray visible version, so a part that has come loose can be found during a check with a metal detector or X-ray scanner.
Comfortable for a whole shift
The DI filter lets air into your ear all the time. That ventilation limits the occlusion effect and irritation in the ear canal. Together with custom earplugs, this helps people keep their hearing protection in for the whole shift, and only hearing protection that you wear protects you.
When is hearing protection at work mandatory?
Under the Dutch Working Conditions Decree (Arbobesluit), an employer must provide hearing protection from a daily exposure of 80 dB(A), and from 85 dB(A) wearing it is mandatory. Choose the attenuation based on the measured noise level. Not too little, but not unnecessarily much either, because then employees hear signals and colleagues less well.
Source
The attenuation values come from the Dynamic Ear Company DI series datasheet and were determined according to EN 352-2. In custom earplugs the attenuation can differ, depending on the fit and the shape of your ear canal. The action values and limit values come from the Arbobesluit (in Dutch).
Written by Thijs Worm.
Questions about the DI filter
Is the DI filter suitable for construction?
Yes. Our earplugs for construction have an attenuation of 26 dB SNR, the strongest variant in the DI series.
Can I still talk to colleagues with the DI filter?
The filter attenuates the low tones relatively flatly to help communication. How well you understand each other also depends on the noise around you.
Is there a detectable version?
Yes. The DI filter is also available in a metal detectable and X-ray visible version, for the food and pharmaceutical industry.
What does a DI filter cost?
The DR filter is included. For a DI filter you pay an extra cost. You can see it in the filter table and when you design your earplugs.