Actually, yes...the pipes (depending on how they are set up, the strength of the chanter reed etc) can come in just shy of the low end of hearing loss. That's mostly when played indoors. In that case, many of us wear hearing protection...actually ear plugs. They also make ear protection that can be adjusted so that you can hear clearly, but can filter out the more damaging frequencies. We don't generally wear hearing protectors when performing in public regardless of indoors or outdoors.

We had Pipers Christmas here at the house (an annual party for my teaching partner and I and our piping students, their families and spouses (significant others)) My wife insisted on my purchasing those throw-away ear plugs you can purchase at the hardware store.

All those that had kilts came kilted and all who had pipes brought them. It gets quite loud when you have 6 pipers all together in a 14 X14 foot room.