Protection Against Imminent Harm: New NIJ Standard 0101.06 for Ballistic Body Armor has Manufacturers Going to Even Greater Lengths to Ensure Officers' Safety

• NCJ Number: 225547
• Journal: Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 35 Issue: 10 Dated: October 2008 Pages: 60,62,67
• Author(s): Sara Schreiber
• Date Published: October 2008
• Length: 7 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Standard
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article reviews the newly revised U.S. Department of Justice Ballistic Resistance of Body Armor NIJ Standard 0101.06, testing ballistic materials against the most rigorous requirements.

Abstract

The U.S. Department of Justice is currently preparing to release a newly updated standard for all body armor. Ballistic Resistance of Body Armor NIJ Standard 0101.06 will test ballistic materials against very rigorous requirements. In partnership with all body armor manufacturers, the revised NIJ Standard aims to review armor classifications, detail requirements, and discuss test methods in order to produce the safest ballistic wear. Personal armor covered by the new standard is classified into five types (IIA, II, IIIA, III, and IV) by level of ballistic performance. With the main goal of the standard redesign to make ballistic systems more robust, manufacturers must implement complex testing procedures. This includes actual ballistics testing at higher velocities than previously required and significantly more shots to be fired (144 shots versus 48 shots in 2004). In addition, one significant change includes performing an additional trauma transfer measurement. The release of Standard 0101.06 is an effort to continue to serve all those in the line of fire.