Voice Communications Effectiveness of the All-Purpose MCU-2/P Chemical Defense Protective Mask

摘要

The voice communications effectiveness of the all-purpose MCU-2/P chemical defense protective mask for use by all ground personnel was evaluated in a laboratory study. Speech intelligibility was measured for the MCU-2/P under face-to-face communications conditions and when interfaced with a commercial telephone handset, a security police walkie-talkie handset and the H-133 ground communications headset-microphone unit. These communications configurations were evaluated in selected noise environments that ranged from 77 db to 115 dB sound pressure level (SPL) re 20 microPa. The MCU-2/P mask and hood exhibited good speech intelligibility for all communication configurations in the 77 dB noise condition. However, voice communication was not satisfactory for personnel wearing the mask and hood under the same communications situations in the higher levels of the noise. Factors that contributed to or caused the voice communications to be unsatisfactoraiy ar discussed in the report. (Author)