Setting New Standards in Hearing Protection: GRAS 45CB in Action with the US Navy

At GRAS Sound & Vibration, we’re always proud and honored whenever we see cool examples of our solutions contributing to new developments and real-world change. This time, it’s in the field of hearing protection. An article by USNI News, the news publication of the U.S. Naval Institute, highlights how the U.S. Navy is testing 3D technology to create custom-fitted earplugs.  According to the article, hearing damage is the U.S. military’s top injury, believed to affect some 140.000 service members annually, so tackling noise-induced hearing damage is a priority. Reading the article, we immediately noticed our GRAS 45CB Acoustic Test Fixture in one of the accompanying photos.

Although not explicitly mentioned in the article, it’s reasonable to assume that the Navy’s audiologists rely on the 45CB to rigorously test the performance of their 3D-printed earplugs. And this is exactly what the 45CB is designed for: providing accurate, repeatable data to evaluate how well hearing protection devices perform in real-world conditions.

 

The GRAS 45CB: A Gold Standard in Hearing Protection Testing

The GRAS 45CB Acoustic Test Fixture is a key tool for testing hearing protection devices under the ANSI S12.42 standard. The 45CB is built with precision and reliability in mind, simulating the acoustic properties of the human ear. It allows researchers, like the U.S. Navy’s audiologists, to evaluate earplugs in a controlled environment, ensuring they provide effective protection in high-noise settings like aircraft carrier launch decks. Its versatility and adherence to international standards make it a trusted choice for research laboratories and hearing protection manufacturers around the world.

 

GRAS Involved in the Evolution of Hearing Protection Standards

GRAS Sound & Protection plays an active part in shaping the future of hearing protection device testing. We contribute to the development of the international standards that ensure the highest levels of safety and performance for the end users.

Currently, we offer two specialized solutions for integrated testing of hearing protection devices:

45CB Acoustic Test Fixture: Built to the ANSI S12.42 standard, ideal for testing earplugs like those featured in the Navy’s 3D ear protection initiative.

45CA Acoustic Test Fixture: Designed according to the ISO 4869-3 standard (Hearing protectors. Part 3: Measurement of insertion loss of ear-muff type protectors using an acoustic test fixture).

Both solutions are built to deliver consistent, reliable results, helping researchers and manufacturers alike meet the most rigorous quality and safety standards.

If you’d like to learn more about the GRAS 45CB or our other hearing protection testing solutions, please get in touch