If you're bringing earmuffs or earplugs into the European market — or selling into channels that follow EU spec (most premium pharmacy chains and industrial distributors do) — CE EN 352 is the standard your supplier must comply with. Here's a buyer's plain-language guide.
What "CE EN 352" actually means
EN 352 is the European Standard for hearing protectors, published by CEN (the European Committee for Standardization). It has several sub-parts, each covering a different product category:
- EN 352-1: Earmuffs (passive, headband design)
- EN 352-2: Earplugs
- EN 352-3: Earmuffs attached to a hard hat
- EN 352-4: Active level-dependent earmuffs (electronic)
- EN 352-5: Active noise-cancelling earmuffs
- EN 352-7: Level-dependent earplugs
- EN 352-8: Earmuffs with entertainment audio (Bluetooth, AM/FM)
A CE-marked earmuff is one that has been tested by an EU notified body (not by the factory itself), and the test results show attenuation meeting the standard's minimums. Per ISO 17231:2024 (related testing methodology), the test is repeatable across labs.
The 4 numbers you'll see on the box (SNR, H, M, L)
Every CE EN 352-1 earmuff lists four attenuation numbers:
- SNR (Single Number Rating): a single decibel value, the easiest way to compare two products. Higher = more attenuation. Range: 22-37 dB.
- H (High frequency): attenuation for noise above 2000 Hz (industrial whine, jet engines).
- M (Medium): 500-2000 Hz (most machinery and human speech).
- L (Low): below 500 Hz (heavy diesel rumble, helicopter rotor).
The H/M/L breakdown matters when matching a product to a specific worksite. For shooting ranges, the H number matters most (gunfire is high-frequency impulse). For chainsaws and lawn equipment, L matters more (low-frequency vibration). Don't accept a supplier who only quotes SNR without breaking down HML.
Why EN 352-4 (active) is different — and why it costs 5×
EN 352-4 covers "level-dependent" hearing protection: an earmuff with built-in microphones that pass through quiet sounds (range commands, conversation) while electronically compressing impulse noise (gunfire) to safe levels. The certification requires testing the active circuitry — not just the passive cup attenuation.
An EN 352-4 muff is typically 3-5× the cost of a comparable EN 352-1 passive muff because of the electronics, microphone, and the more complex certification cycle. NIOSH research documents the safety advantage in shooting and tactical applications where situational awareness is mission-critical.
The 5 documents to request before you order
- CE Declaration of Conformity (DoC): the legal document, signed by the manufacturer, listing the notified body number, product model, and applicable standards. A real factory has these on file for every SKU.
- EU type-examination certificate: issued by the notified body, includes the lab test report.
- Attenuation test data table: SNR, H/M/L breakdown, plus the seven octave-band data points (63, 125, 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, 8000 Hz).
- Material composition: cup plastic resin, foam type, headband alloy — needed for REACH compliance in EU.
- Production line audit report (BSCI / SMETA / Sedex): social compliance, often required by pharmacy chains and large retailers.
Red flags when sourcing
Flag #1: A supplier quotes "CE" but can't produce the notified body number. CE without notified body = self-declared, not third-party tested. Unenforceable in EU customs.
Flag #2: SNR is quoted but H/M/L numbers are "approximately." Real test reports have exact dB values to one decimal place.
Flag #3: The Declaration of Conformity is more than 5 years old. Standards update; old DoCs may be invalid.
Flag #4: Production line photos are stock or AI-generated. Ask for a current dated photo of the line running your product.
What SIAN provides on first inquiry
For every earmuff SKU in our catalogue, we send (free, on first wholesale inquiry):
- The CE EN 352-1 Declaration of Conformity (for passive) or EN 352-4 (for our SA-EF3504-AC active)
- The full attenuation table with SNR + H/M/L + octave-band data
- The notified body number and the year of testing
- Material composition for REACH compliance
- Our BSCI audit summary (full report under NDA)
For your next earmuff project, talk to wholesale — we'll send the document set within one business day.