Armor Stop

Understanding The NIJ’s Body Armor Resistance Rating System

Millions of lives are saved annually by body armors, which are indispensable safety equipment. When purchasing body armor for the first time, it might be challenging to identify the optimal solution. Due to various significant factors, such as threat level, handling, size, and cost, one must select which type of body plate armor is suitable for them.

Frequently, the hazard degree or protection level of body armor, which is also the most difficult feature to comprehend, is the determining factor in choosing the best body plate armor. You must understand the level of protection provided by your shield and the types of weaponry it can deflect. The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) has established and amended minimum performance specifications for body armor so that users are informed of the exact level of protection it offers. The NIJ has categorized body armor into five separate levels of threat resistance. The best Level IV body armor is classified as Level IV, followed by Level IIA, Level II, Level IIIA, and Level III.

On occasion, soft plate armor protection materials of NIJ Level IIA or II are used to construct body armor. Level II is designed to withstand.9mm FMJ projectiles moving at 1,430 feet per second and.357 Magnum JSP projectiles traveling at 1,300 feet per second. Level IIIA body armor is designed to block most handgun bullets, including.357 Sig FMJ FN and.44 Magnum SJHP rounds traveling at 1470 and 1430 feet per second, respectively. Comparable to the.308 Winchester hunting cartridge, Level III armor is designed to survive six strikes from 7.62x51mm NATO FM projectiles moving at 2780 feet per second.

NIJ 101.06-compliant Level IV body armor plates provide the maximum level of protection. The shields are constructed to withstand a single attack from an armor-piercing weapon. They have been tested to withstand 7.62mm armor-piercing (AP) rounds flying at 2,880 ft/s (also known as.30-06 and 30 ot 6 projectiles). The highest degree of body plate armor provides complete protection against the broadest array of ballistic threats.

For more articles, please click here.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *