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This standard pertains to systems intended to estimate the attenuation of hearing protection devices (HPDs) obtained by individual wearers in actual practice. Such systems are designated field attenuation estimation systems (FAESs). This standard provides a classification of FAESs and specifies performance criteria. It also details the evaluation methodology and statistical calculations to be performed on such systems in order to state the uncertainty associated with the individual attenuation estimates that they provide, and specifies a method for computing a personal attenuation rating (PAR). FAES-derived data do not replace the attenuation values from ANSI/ASA S12.6 or the insertion-loss data from ANSI/ASA S12.42, nor are such data suitable for labeling the attenuation of HPDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Realization of sound insulation with newly designed hexagonal-shaped Helmholtz resonators. • Systematic analyses of the working mechanism of the metadevice. • Methodical experimental approach with validation of two- and three-dimensional (2D and 3D) numerical methods. • Realization of reconfigurability and active control of the full noise reduction system. In this study, we propose a new reconfigurable hexagonal-shaped Helmholtz resonator with a slit in each side. Numerical and experimental investigation of a single unit cell and the whole acoustic metamaterial chamber highlights the reliability and feasibility of the proposed metastructure. Highly efficient sound insertion loss can be captured with a simple and easily accessed resonator. By carefully designing rotation support in each unit cell and manufacturing a 3D printed base with periodic holes, the assembled resonators can be easily rotated, and the finite acoustic metamaterial chamber can be tuned to another configuration without the need of reprinting and redesigning the whole structure. The mechanisms of the proposed system are systematically explained by numerical computation (2- and 3-dimensions), band structure analysis, insertion loss and the corresponding experimental measurements. Specifically, the flat bands in the band structure reveal the weak coupling between the neighbouring resonators, and the highly trapped acoustic energy indicates that the bandgap originates from the local resonance mechanism. Thus, even one single unit in the system can efficiently attenuate the noise at mid frequencies, and the effects become better when the number of resonators increases. These phenomena can also be explained by the sound pressure map in the waveguide analysis and the characteristics of the insertion loss. Interestingly, by changing the configuration of the full chamber, the device can keep the insertion loss at a high level, while exhibiting a better ventilation ability. Therefore, with the high degree of freedom of tuning, it is possible to actively control the whole system to simultaneously achieve efficient noise cancelling and free airflow. The reconfigurable, scalable, feasible and controllable system can be easily applied to several practical scenarios like the silent zone in the city center, the ventilated noise isolate device for the machines, and optically transparent ventilation sound-insulating structures. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]