Preview of National Institute of Justice’s Updated Body Armor Standard

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is updating its standard for how ballistic protection is to be tested and certified. NIJ Standard 0101.07 is on track to replace the current NIJ Standard 0101.06 by the end of the year. What impact will these revisions have on law enforcement?

Standards More Standardized

The NIJ is coordinating with other agencies in the government to make sure that everyone is following the same procedures. The NIJ, along with the National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST), the U.S. Army and other agencies are working together in ASTM Subcommittee E54.04. The goal is to standardize the laboratory testing procedures and practices for personal protective equipment (PPE).

It is up to law enforcement agencies, police chiefs and cops to fully understand the new and added threat levels and how they pertain to your situation. This will help you determine what to specify in your next order or contract.

The threat levels in the new version have all been renamed. In the old version they were Roman numerals that really signified nothing. Threat levels II and IIIA are now HG1 and HG2 and threat levels III and IV are now RF1 and RF3. Plus they added a new intermediate level of RF2. They also dropped threat level IIA, the lowest threat level for soft armor and includes .40 S&W and 9mm at 1225 ft./sec. The new threat levels are much easier to figure out, don’t you think?

Another interesting evolution is the test-round velocities applied to conditioned body armor, which are simulations of worn armor, are now exactly the same as for new armor. The old Level IIIA states that for conditioned armor a shot from a .44 Magnum is at 1340 ft./sec., whereas for new armor it’s at 1430 ft./sec. The new standard makes it the same for both, 1430 ft./sec. The 9mm went from 1245 ft./sec. for conditioned armor to 1305 ft./sec., which is the same as new armor. These new standards are more realistic and require body armor manufacturers to raise their game.

Document Organized Differently

The previous and current versions of the NIJ standard have always been presented as one comprehensive document. NIJ Standard 0101.07 should be much shorter because it will incorporate a lot of information by either moving it to annexes or just referencing it.

Since police agencies are not necessarily interested in discussions related to test barrels, although testing labs certainly are, this information has been removed and external documents by the Sporting Arms & Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute (SAAMI) are referenced instead.

Due to all the changes in threat levels, the missing section that discusses the ballistic threat levels that U.S. law enforcement has identified, along with the ammunition associated with it, should definitely be read before you submit your next contract.

Because the new version is so detailed and there are so many changes, it is more difficult to read. For example, NIJ Standard 0101.06 features multiple tables listing stated requirements for every threat level, like fair hits. In NIJ Standard 0101.07 the requirements are discussed in separate paragraphs, which makes it more difficult to make comparisons between threat levels.

Different Tests for Women’s Body Armor

There is a huge positive change in NIJ Standard 0101.07 over 0101.06 in that it has at last recognized that body armor fits men and women differently, which means they require different tests. In NIJ Standard 0101.06 there is just one paragraph in section 7.8.1 that discusses the testing of women’s armor. In NIJ Standard 0101.07 they devote an entire annex to this subject, discussing the exact placement of specific test shots, which are above, below, and between the two bust cups.

What Comes Next?

The majority of changes will only impact the testing labs and armor manufacturers, but how manufacturers implement these changes can make a huge difference, one that can mean a life saved or tragedy. If you’re a police chief or street cop it is up to you to fully understand the new and added threat levels and how they pertain to your situation so that your next contract provides for your particular needs.