U.S. Adopts New Policy For Grading Body Armor, Plans Frequent Reviews
The National Institute of Justice has adopted new minimum interim standards for bullet-resistant body armor vests that would become effective Sept. 26.
NIJ through extensive testing found that certain vests were subject to serious deterioration that made them less effective over time, and, in some cases, totally ineffective.
But NIJ recommended that officers continue to use defective armor until replacements are available.
To accelerate the process, the Justice Department has expanded its grants to state and local police for the purchase of vests to replace those found to be ineffective.
NIJ said the interim standards would apply until the completion of random tests on vests submitted by manufacturers to assure they are in compliance.
NIJ said it would probably issue advisory notices as the reviews continue.
Former Attorney General John Ashcroft ordered a study of the effectiveness of the vests in the summer of 2003 when a Forest Hills, Pa., officer wearing a vest was shot and seriously wounded. The assailant’s bullet penetrated the front panel of a second Chance vest made with Zylon.
NIJ suspended certification of body armor with Zylon on Aug. 24.
NIJ and the National Institutes of Standards and Technology jointly conducted studies into the durability of Zylon and found that it failed to meet the standards that the manufacturer’s promotional material claimed.
The National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center also conducted tests.
Among the three testing agencies, technicians fired various types of bullets ranging from handguns to assault weapons into about 100 different types of vests.
During the past 18 months, the federal government and numerous law enforcement agencies have filed litigation against second Chance. The company has filed for bankruptcy and reached a tentative agreement to pay nearly $30 million to settle claims.
Under the interim standards, NU found that 12 manufacturers had products that achieved various minimum levels of protection.
NIJ has identified four levels of threat for body armor covered under the interim regulations that the 12 manufacturers comply with.
* Threat Level II requires armor must protect against .357 magnum JSP loads with 158 grains traveling at a velocity of 1,400 feet per second and 9-millimeter FMJ loads with 124 grains at velocity of 1,175 feet per second.
* Threat Level UA requires protection against .40 S&W FMJ 180 grain bullets to a velocity of 1,025 feet per second and 9-millimeter FMJ RN 124 grain bullets to a velocity of 1,090 feet per second.
* Threat Level III requires armor to protect against 7.62 millimeter (308 Winchester) FMJ 150 grain bullets to a velocity of 2,750 feet per second.
* Threat Level III requires armor to protect against .44 magnum SJHP 240 grain bullets and 9-millimeter FMJ 124 grain bullets with velocity of 1,400 feet per second.
NTJ posted information on the Internet that defines the new interim standards and the levels at which 12 manufacturers have been currently approved.
NIJ cautioned that it had reached any final conclusions on the safety of the body armor, but had relied on “specific certifications from manufacturers.”
NIJ recommended that law enforcement agencies purchasing vests in future select “models that comply with these interim requirements.”
NIJ said the regulations were “promulgated on an interim basis to address recent NIJ research findings that indicate that certain body armor models previously found by NIJ to be compliant with earlier NIJ requirements…may not adequately maintain ballistic performance during their service life.”