HP White Laboratory, Inc., an Intertek company and the world’s largest independent test laboratory of armor and ballistics, announces its accreditation by the UK’s Home Office Centre for Applied Science and Technology (CAST) for compliance testing of ballistic and knife and spike resistant body armor.
“After a rigorous audit cycle and inter-lab study with the team from CAST, HP White has demonstrated that HP White’s data correlates and our processes are sound,” said Mike Parker, president, HP White. “Our service aims for CAST compliance testing are speed, accuracy, and convenience to a global customer base. With test initiation within 24 hours of receiving samples, and lab access via three international airports or streaming video over our secure HPTV network, we provide speedy, technically sound, and convenient CAST compliance testing, regardless of where you are in the world.”
HP White’s scope of accreditation includes compliance testing in accordance with:
– HOSDB Body Armour Standards for UK Police (2007) Part 1: General Requirements Publication No. 39/07/A,
– HOSDB Body Armour Standards for UK Police (2007) Part 2: Ballistic Resistance Publication No. 39/07/B, and
– HOSDB Body Armour Standards for UK Police (2007) Part 3: Knife and Spike Resistance Publication No. 39/07/C.
– Home Office Portable Ballistic Protection for UK Police (2011) Publication No. 47/11.
CAST, formerly the Home Office Scientific Development Branch (HOSDB), is a branch of the UK government comprised of scientists and engineers who provide expert advice and technical solutions, including development of standards to support their front line partners. As it relates to standard setting and certification of body armor, CAST fills a role in the UK similar to that of the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) in the United States.
HP White is an NIJ-approved laboratory – accredited by the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP), NVLAP Lab Code: 200825-0 – for environmental conditioning and ballistics resistance testing required for NIJ Standard 0101.06 body armor certification, and its predecessor NIJ Standard 0101.04, as well as for NIJ Standard 0115.00, Stab Resistance of Personal Body Armor.
Body Armor sold in the European Union that is “not designed and manufactured specifically for use in the maintenance of law and order” is required to carry a CE mark in accordance with the Personal Protective Equipment Directive (89/686/EEC). HP White provides the required testing services to support a manufacturer’s type assessment and technical file submission to the Intertek Notified Body in the UK.
