This report presents NIJ (National Institute of Justice) Standard-0101.04, "Ballistic Resistance of Personal Body Armor," which is intended as a procurement aid in the selection of body armor whose performance requirements meet the needs of the purchasing agency.
The standard presented establishes minimum performance requirements and test methods for the ballistic resistance of personal body armor intended to protect the torso against gunfire. This is a general revision of NIJ Standard-0101.03, dated April 1987. It updates the labeling requirements, acceptance criteria, test ammunition, procedures, and other items throughout the standard. The scope of the standard is limited to ballistic resistance. The report first profiles the types of body armor encompassed by the standard, followed by definitions of the terms used in the standard. The requirements of the standard are then specified. These pertain to acceptance criteria, test sequence, workmanship, traceability, labeling, ballistic penetration and backface signature criteria, sampling, armor backing material, test surveillance, and compliance test documentation. Next, test methods for body armor in general and for specific types of body armor are described. The report concludes with a description of data collection and reporting. The four appendixes contain the compliance test report form and descriptions of the modified Langlie method of ballistic limit firing, body armor selection, and acceptable bullets for handloading. 2 tables and 9 figures