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Here is a brief summary of the
protection against ballistic threats offered by armor manufactured
to each of the six NIJ ( USA National Institute Of Justice)
categories. For a comprehensive document on protection levels
and testing procedures, please download the NIJ Standard 0101.06
document from
here: Type IIA (9mm; 40 S&W):
Type IIA armor that is new and unworn is tested with 9mm Full Metal
Jacketed Round Nose (FMJ RN) bullets with a specified mass of 8.0g
(124 gr) and a velocity of 373m/s +/- 9.1 m/s (1225 ft/s +/- 30ft/s)
and with .40 S&W Full Metal Jacketed (FMJ) bullets with a specified
mass of 11.7g (180 gr) and a velocity of 352 m/s +/- 9.1 m/s (1155
ft/s +/- 30 ft/s).
Type IIA armor that has been
conditioned is tested with 9 mm FMJ RN bullets with a specified mass
of 8.0 g (124 gr) and a velocity of 355 m/s ± 9.1 m/s (1165 ft/s ±
30 ft/s) and with .40 S&W FMJ bullets with a specified mass of 11.7
g (180 gr) and a velocity of 325 m/s ± 9.1 m/s (1065 ft/s ± 30 ft/s).
Type II (9mm; 357 Magnum):
Type II armor that is new and unworn is tested with 9 mm FMJ RN
bullets with a specified mass of 8.0 g (124 gr) and a velocity of
398 m/s ± 9.1 m/s (1305 ft/s ± 30 ft/s) and with .357 Magnum
Jacketed Soft Point (JSP) bullets with a specified mass of 10.2 g
(158 gr) and a velocity of 436 m/s ± 9.1 m/s (1430 ft/s ± 30 ft/s).
Type II armor that has
been conditioned is tested with 9 mm FMJ RN bullets with a specified
mass of 8.0 g (124 gr) and a velocity of 379 m/s ±9.1 m/s (1245 ft/s
± 30 ft/s) and with .357 Magnum JSP bullets with a specified mass of
10.2 g (158 gr) and a velocity of 408 m/s ±9.1 m/s (1340 ft/s ± 30
ft/s).
Type IIIA (.357 SIG, 44
Magnum): Type IIIA armor that is new and unworn is tested
with .357 SIG FMJ Flat Nose (FN) bullets with a specified mass of
8.1 g (125 gr) and a velocity of 448 m/s ± 9.1 m/s (1470 ft/s ± 30
ft/s) and with .44 Magnum Semi Jacketed Hollow Point (SJHP) bullets
with a specified mass of 15.6 g (240 gr) and a velocity of 436 m/s ±
9.1 m/s (1430 ft/s ± 30 ft/s).
Type IIIA armor that has
been conditioned is tested with .357 SIG FMJ FN bullets with a
specified mass of 8.1 g (125 gr) and a velocity of 430 m/s ± 9.1 m/s
(1410 ft/s ± 30 ft/s) and with .44 Magnum SJHP bullets with a
specified mass of 15.6 g (240 gr) and a velocity of 408 m/s ± 9.1
m/s (1340 ft/s ± 30 ft/s).
Type III (Rifles):
Type III hard armor or
plate inserts is tested in a conditioned state with 7.62 mm FMJ,
steel jacketed bullets (U.S. Military designation M80) with a
specified mass of 9.6 g (147 gr) and a velocity of 847 m/s ± 9.1 m/s
(2780 ft/s ± 30 ft/s).
Type III flexible armor
is tested in both the “as new” state and the conditioned state with
7.62 mm FMJ, steel jacketed bullets (U.S. Military designation M80)
with a specified mass of 9.6 g (147 gr) and a velocity of 847 m/s ±
9.1 m/s (2780 ft/s ± 30 ft/s).
For a Type III hard
armor or plate insert that will be tested as an in conjunction
design, the flexible armor is tested in accordance with this
standard and found compliant as a stand-alone armor at its specified
threat level. The combination of the flexible armor and hard
armor/plate shall then be tested as a system and found to provide
protection at the system’sspecified threat level. NIJ-approved hard
armors and plate inserts must be clearly labeled as providing
ballistic protection only when worn in conjunction with the NIJ-approved
flexible armor system with which they were tested.
Type IV (Armor Piercing Rifle):
Type IV hard armor or
plate inserts is tested in a conditioned state with .30 caliber
armor piercing (AP) bullets (U.S. Military designation M2 AP) with a
specified mass of 10.8 g (166 gr) and a velocity of 878 m/s ± 9.1
m/s (2880 ft/s ± 30 ft/s).
Type IV flexible armor
is tested in both the “as new” state and the conditioned state with
.30 caliber AP bullets (U.S. Military designation M2 AP) with a
specified mass of 10.8 g (166 gr) and a velocity of 878 m/s ± 9.1
m/s (2880 ft/s ± 30 ft/s).
For a Type IV hard armor
or plate insert that will be tested as an in conjunction design, the
flexible armor is tested in accordance with this standard and found
compliant as a stand-alone armor at its specified threat level. The
combination of the flexible armor and hard armor/plate shall then be
tested as a system and found to provide protection at the system’s
specified threat level. NIJ-approved hard armors and plate inserts
must be clearly labeled as providing ballistic protection only when
worn in conjunction with the NIJ-approved flexible armor system with
which they were tested. |
