Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/693549
Foam ear plugs The plug prior to formation of and ready to be inserted into the ear Polymer foam earplugs Probably the most popular earplugs – they can be found practically everywhere: in the wall-mounted dis- pensers in the workplaces, shooting ranges, transport aircrafts, as well as on my wife's night table (I snore so much). Made from polyurethane foam with an addition of elastomer they have a shape of a suppository or an ordinary roller. You can also find the earplugs with an ornament and joined by a vinyl line. They are usually in the vibrant colors. In the majority of cases they can be bought in the collective packages per 200 or more pairs. They are produced in one size that fits all. In order to use the earplug you must squeeze it in your fingers, and then insert into the ear canal. After insert- ing you have to wait several seconds until a piece of foam expands fulfilling the ear canal. After that they are ready to work. An attenuation level of the foam earplugs reaches even up to the SNR of 39 dB and the NRR of 28-33 dB (lower in the case of the rollers, and higher for the suppositories). Generally, the foam earplugs are reusable – when they are dirty you may wash them with a soap and leave them to dry (but not on the hot heater). These con- nected by a cord encourage to reuse them, single ones are rather binned after one use. A temperature has no significant impact on their usage – it could be mini- mally more difficult to mold them when there is frost and fitting them into the ear canal may take a little bit longer time, but these differences are not great. They are very often used together with the earmuffs as an additional protection which increases attenua- tion (it can be seen, e. g., in Jerry Miculk's movies). The very fine, cheap and effective hearing protec- tors. PPE