What You Need to Know About NIJ Standard 0101-06
The NIJ Standard 0101.06 is a comprehensive standard for testing the protective values of ballistic armor such as that used by law enforcement and military personnel. In order to qualify under this standard, ballistic armor must pass a series of rigorous performance tests to ensure that they live up to expectations.
Ballistic armor is rated by level of protection, with higher levels offering increasingly effective protection against penetration and blunt trauma impact from larger caliber rounds; in order to pass certification, a vest must prevent penetration by the test bullet at the test firing speed, and more importantly must prevent deformation as a result of blunt force trauma on the test surface. Soft armor (such as the concealable vests worn by law enforcement) consists of Level II-A, Level II, and Level III-A, and is meant to protect mostly against small arms fire. Hard body armor consists of rigid plates that can be inserted, and are rated Level III or Level IV, for protection against rifle rounds.
The important points of the NIJ standard can be explained by pointing out the changes in testing requirements from the 0101.06 standard and the interim NIJ 0101.05 standard; after reviewing tests of the previous standard, as well as performance in the field, the National Institute of Justice has determined that more strenuous testing requirements are needed to ensure a minimum lifespan of five years, and to protect against larger and faster bullets than in previous testing.
Under the NIJ 0101.05 standard, for IIA through …