Helmet Noise - more thoughts

Reading the sales literature for the Schuberth C3 helmet, the sales spiel quotes 85 db as the rated noise at 60 mph. Noise exposure is something very dear to my heart (and ears) so I've been trying to find out just how much risk we are putting to our ears.

There is an interesting report by The University of Southampton which I have reproduced below. The report highlights that db levels of 90-100 are easily achieved (which ties in with Schuberth's noise level claims) at cruising speeds on a bike.

So what does this mean?

Noise exposure has to take into account the period of time the ears are exposed to this level of noise - the Health & Safety Executive use a ready-reckoner for this purpose. So if you ride for 4 hours in a helmet that gives 90db will give you an exposure equivalent to 87db.

UK H&S regulations require employers to take action when the exposure level in the workplace exceeds 80db and the level that must not be exceeded is 87db - in other words, we are (by riding our bikes) exposing ourselves to significant risk of hearing damage.

Hearing damage is irreversible and can have a significant effect on your life.

Have a look at the HSE website for demonstrations on the effects of hearing loss:

www.hse.gov.uk

What can be done to avoid hearing loss?

No matter how good your helmet is and how low the noise level is - WEAR EAR PLUGS when you're riding. There are many types available and if you visit some of the popular Norhern biking haunts you can usually find free sets: the Moldex Spark Plugs seem to be a popular free give away. I find these to be the most effective for me (and that's nothing to do with the free ones! I have my own bulk supply in the garage to ensure I'm never without)

ISVR Consulting
University of Southampton:

Noise levels under motorcycle helmets can be very high. Above about 65 km/h or 40 mph the wind noise generated by the airflow over a motorcycle and rider exceeds the noise from the motorcycle itself. Daily noise exposures of working motorcyclists may regularly exceed 90 dB(A).

We have measured noise levels at the ears of police motorcyclists in a wind tunnel and on the road, with several different helmets and motorcycles. Noise levels in the wind tunnel were similar to those on the road.

The graph above shows some examples of noise levels measured under motorcycle helmets during our tests on the roads. Although both BMW motorcycles were ridden by the same person wearing the same helmet, the noise levels differed. The BMW 1100LT has a windscreen which can be raised and lowered, and the noise levels varied with the height of the windscreen. The Kawasaki was ridden by a different person with a different helmet.

Police motorcycle in the
wind tunnel

The measurements in the wind tunnel showed the main source of noise to be the turbulence at the edge of the windscreen's wake acting on the helmet. The rank ordering of helmets by the noise level depended upon the motorcycle and in particular the windscreen height - a helmet which is relatively quiet on one motorcycle can be relatively noisy on another and vice-versa. Low windscreens direct the turbulence to the base of the helmet, and modifications to improve the helmet seal around the neck can reduce noise levels on motorcycles with low windscreens. High windscreens direct the turbulence to the helmet visor and forehead, and modifications to improve the sealing of the visor to the helmet shell are then effective. Such simple modifications to helmets can reduce noise levels by between 5 dB and 8 dB at the ear.

Wind tunnel tests with a flying helmet containing active noise reduction earmuffs demonstrated that noise levels as low as 70 dB(A) at 80 km/h and 80 dB(A) at 115 km/h were achievable at the ear. Similar systems within a motorcyclist's helmet suggest that this potential will not be realised unless the earmuffs are well isolated from the helmet shell and liner. Another method of achieving similarly low levels is to wear good earplugs. Many police forces in the UK are now providing these for their motorcyclists.

If you ride a motorcycle and your hearing sounds muffled afterwards, or if your ears ring, then you are suffering temporary hearing damage, which, if repeated regularly, may become permanent hearing damage. We recommend you consider wearing earplugs under the helmet. Because the earplugs reduce the noise, you may seem to be travelling more slowly, so take extra care to check your speed until you get used to the earplugs.

This project was carried out for the Home Office by ISVR Consulting, the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the Wolfson Unit for Marine Technology and Industrial Dynamics, and Hampshire Constabulary.

We have also measured the noise exposures of motorcycle patrols for one of the motorist breakdown rescue services. The measurements were carried out during the motorcyclists' normal duties to determine whether their full-day noise exposures were below the limits of the UK Noise at Work Regulations.