NIJ standard 0101.06 Personal body armor covered by this standard is classified into five types (IIA, II, IIIA, III, IV) by the level of ballistic performance. In addition, a special test class is defined to allow armor to be validated against threats that may not be covered by the five standard classes. The classification of an armor panel that provides two or more levels of NIJ ballistic protection at different locations on the ballistic panel shall be that of the minimum ballistic protection provided at any location on the panel.
NIJ BODY ARMOR CLASSIFICATION
- NIJ 0101.06 type IIA (9 mm; .40 S&W) armor that is new and unworn shall be tested with 9 mm Full Metal Jacketed Round Nose (FMJ RN) bullets with a specified mass of 8.0 g (124 gr) and a velocity of 373 m/s ± 9.1 m/s (1225 ft/s ± 30 ft/s) and with .40 S&W Full Metal Jacketed (FMJ) bullets with a specified mass of 11.7 g (180 gr) and a velocity of 352 m/s ± 9.1 m/s (1155 ft/s ± 30 ft/s).
- NIJ 0101.06 type II (9 mm; .357 Magnum) armor that is new and unworn shall be 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).
- NIJ 0101.06 type IIIA (.357 SIG; .44 Magnum) armor that is new and unworn shall be 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 (1470ft/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).
- NIJ 0101.06 type III (Rifle) hard armor or plate inserts shall be 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 (147gr), and a velocity of 847 m/s ± 9.1 m/s (2780 ft/s ± 30 ft/s).
- NIJ 0101.06 type IV (Armor Piercing Rifle) hard armor or plate inserts shall be 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).
NIJ Standard 0101.06 Ballistic Resistance of Body Armor is one of the main standards of bulletproof vest, bulletproof helmet, bulletproof plate, ballistic shield, and other anti-ballistic body armors in the world today.
For more, see the full NIJ Standard 0101.06 Ballistic Resistance of Body Armor PDF document published by the U.S. Department of Justice in July 2008.
