{"product_id":"3m-peltor-h505b-welding-earmuffs-nrr-22-behind-the-head","title":"3M PELTOR H505B Welding Earmuffs NRR 22 Behind-the-Head","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003e3M PELTOR H505B Welding Earmuffs\u003c\/strong\u003e provide NRR 22 passive hearing protection with a behind-the-head headband designed for use with welding helmets — delivering passive cup-style attenuation in a behind-the-head configuration that clears the top of the head for welding helmet fit, allowing welders to wear hearing protection simultaneously with their welding helmet without headband interference above the ears that OTH configurations create when used with flip-front or full-coverage welding helmets. The H505B addresses a common PPE combination challenge in welding environments: welders performing sustained arc welding operations are exposed to both UV\/IR optical radiation and impact hazards (requiring welding helmets) and noise from arc, plasma cutting, grinding, and ambient metalworking environments (requiring hearing protection) simultaneously. Over-the-head earmuffs create a headband over the crown of the head that can interfere with the welding helmet's weight distribution, cause pressure at the crown where the welding helmet's headgear contacts the head, and limit the vertical adjustment range of flip-front welding helmets that rotate up and down through the headband arc. Behind-the-head configuration eliminates the crown headband — the headband passes behind the head below the helmet's headgear, leaving the crown completely clear for welding helmet fit. NRR 22 provides OSHA-calculated attenuation of (22-7)\/2 = 7.5 dB of A-weighted protection — appropriate for welding environments where the primary noise sources (grinders, arc cutting, compressed air, general shop noise) produce TWA exposures in the range where moderate attenuation achieves compliance with OSHA's 90 dBA PEL or NIOSH's 85 dBA REL. The cup design provides passive broadband attenuation through the sealed cup enclosure and acoustic foam cushioning, reducing both the broadband shop noise and the impulsive noise contributions from grinding and chipping that welders encounter between welding sequences.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003e3M PELTOR H505B Welding Earmuffs NRR 22 Behind-the-Head — Key Features\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNRR 22 passive protection\u003c\/strong\u003e — 7.5 dB OSHA-calculated attenuation for welding environments\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBehind-the-head headband\u003c\/strong\u003e — crown-clear configuration for welding helmet compatibility\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWelding-specific design\u003c\/strong\u003e — behind-the-head clearance for flip-front and fixed-shade welding helmets\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePassive cup design\u003c\/strong\u003e — sealed cups for broadband noise attenuation in metalworking environments\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCompact cup profile\u003c\/strong\u003e — low-profile cups compatible with welding helmet coverage geometry\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eAttribute\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDetail\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModel \/ SKU\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eH505B\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBrand\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3M PELTOR\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNRR\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e22\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMounting\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBehind-the-head (BTH) headband\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eApplication\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWelding, metalworking with helmet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eType\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePassive cup earmuffs\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWelding Helmet Compatibility: Behind-the-Head Hearing Protection for Arc Welding\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWelding operations generate noise from multiple sources that combine to create significant hearing hazard exposure: the arc itself produces high-frequency noise that increases with current level; grinding and chipping between welds produces broadband noise with impulsive peaks; plasma and air-carbon arc cutting produce high-intensity broadband noise; and the general metalworking shop environment contributes continuous background noise. OSHA and NIOSH noise exposure data for welding and metal fabrication shops consistently show TWA exposures in the 85-98 dBA range depending on the specific operations and facility, placing most welders at or above the OSHA action level (85 dBA) and many at or above the PEL (90 dBA). The welding helmet's ear coverage varies by design — most auto-darkening and fixed-shade helmets provide some acoustic barrier effect at the ear, but certified hearing protection remains required for regulatory compliance and audiometric protection in environments meeting the action level threshold. The H505B's behind-the-head configuration provides this certified protection without compromising the welding helmet's fit or function. The headband passes below the helmet's pivot points and headgear, remaining clear of the crown area where welding helmet suspension contacts the head — welders can flip the helmet lens up and down, adjust tightness, and position the helmet normally without the OTH headband creating interference. Grinders and chippers working adjacent to welding operations also benefit from BTH hearing protection: these workers may wear face shields (which have similar crown clearance benefits with BTH headbands) alongside hearing protection, and the BTH configuration accommodates combined grinding\/chipping eye-face protection and hearing protection without headband stacking on the crown.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCompliance and Standards\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eANSI S3.19\u003c\/strong\u003e — NRR 22 tested\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOSHA 29 CFR 1910.95\u003c\/strong\u003e — Occupational noise exposure\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eReal-World Benefits\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBehind-the-head headband provides welding helmet compatibility that OTH earmuffs cannot match — allowing welders to wear both the welding helmet and hearing protection simultaneously without crown headband interference that affects helmet fit, adjustment, and lens flip-front operation during welding and inter-pass operations.\u003c\/strong\u003e Welding supervisors who have standardized on BTH hearing protection for welding operations report consistently better compliance with simultaneous hearing protection wearing compared to OTH programs where the headband interference with welding helmet use creates practical barriers to correct simultaneous wearing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNRR 22 provides appropriate protection for typical welding shop noise environments where arc, grinding, and shop noise combine to produce TWA exposures in the action level range — achieving adequate attenuation for OSHA 90 dBA PEL compliance in most metalworking environments without the excessive over-protection that high-NRR earmuffs can produce for moderate noise environments.\u003c\/strong\u003e Industrial hygienists who measure welding shop noise exposures find NRR 22 BTH earmuffs an appropriate specification for the typical exposure range of arc welding and metalworking environments, providing compliance without the communication isolation of very high-rated protection in environments where worker-to-worker verbal communication remains important.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eApplications and Use Cases\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eArc welding — BTH hearing protection for MIG, TIG, and stick welding operations\u003c\/strong\u003e — H505B for arc welders who wear welding helmets throughout their work shift and require simultaneous hearing protection compatible with welding helmet headgear geometry\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWelding and fabrication shops — behind-the-head for grinding, chipping, and welding combined exposure\u003c\/strong\u003e — BTH earmuffs for fabrication shop workers who alternate between welding, grinding, and chipping operations with welding helmets and face shields that benefit from behind-the-head headband clearance\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMetal fabrication with face shield — BTH for combined PPE programs\u003c\/strong\u003e — H505B for metal fabrication workers wearing face shields or grinding visors with hearing protection, where the BTH configuration avoids headband interference with full-coverage face protection\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eRelated Products\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor PELTOR Optime 95 H6A NRR 21 over-the-head for general industrial use, see \u003ca href=\"\/products\/3m-peltor-optime-95-h6a-earmuffs-nrr-21-over-the-head\"\u003e3M PELTOR Optime 95 H6A Earmuffs\u003c\/a\u003e. For PELTOR Optime 101 H7B NRR 27 behind-the-head for higher noise, see \u003ca href=\"\/products\/3m-peltor-optime-101-h7b-earmuffs-nrr-27-behind-the-head\"\u003e3M PELTOR Optime 101 H7B Earmuffs\u003c\/a\u003e. Browse the complete \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hearing-protection\"\u003eHearing Protection collection\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eDo welding helmets provide any noise protection, or is separate hearing protection always required?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWelding helmets are designed to protect against UV\/IR radiation and spatter — they are not rated or designed as hearing protection devices. The shell material may provide some passive attenuation, but welding helmets do not carry NRR ratings and cannot be counted toward OSHA-required hearing protection in noise-exposed environments meeting the 85 dBA action level. Separate certified hearing protection (such as the H505B) is required for regulatory compliance in noise-exposed welding environments, regardless of welding helmet wear. For welding operations where noise exposure meets the action level, both the welding helmet and certified hearing protection must be worn simultaneously.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCan the H505B be worn with a hard hat instead of a welding helmet?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe H505B behind-the-head configuration can be used without a welding helmet — it provides NRR 22 hearing protection as a standalone device in any noise environment. For hard hat environments, the BTH headband passes behind the head without interfering with the hard hat suspension above, making the H505B compatible with hard hat wearing in addition to welding helmet applications. The primary advantage over an OTH model is the BTH band's compatibility with full-coverage welding helmets and face shields that occupy the crown area.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"3M","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44048705618008,"sku":"H505B","price":64.79,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0594\/1900\/0920\/files\/91pcobCK2pL._SL1500.jpg?v=1777428978","url":"https:\/\/wcsafety.com\/products\/3m-peltor-h505b-welding-earmuffs-nrr-22-behind-the-head","provider":"WC Safety","version":"1.0","type":"link"}