PORTABLE BALLISTIC SHIELDS IS A LAW ENFORCEMENT EQUIPMENT STANDARD DEVELOPED BY THE LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDARDS LABORATORY AND ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE. EQUIPMENT WHICH CAN MEET THE PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS IS OF SUPERIOR QUALITY AND IS SUITED TO THE NEEDS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. THREE TYPES OF SHIELDS ARE CLASSIFIED AGAINST THE THREATS OF .22 LR - .38 SPECIAL, .41 MAGNUM, AND .30 CARBINE AMMUNITION AND THE PROTECTION AFFORDED BY EACH SHIELD IS SUMMARIZED IN A TABLE COVERING FOURTEEN TYPES OF AMMUNITION RANGING FROM .22 CALIBRE TO 12 GUAGE RIFLE SLUGS. TEST SUMMARIES ARE PROVIDED ALONG WITH AN ILLUSTRATION OF A BALLISTIC PENETRATION TEST SETUP. PURCHASING AGENTS CAN USE THE TEST METHODS DESCRIBED TO DETERMINE, FIRSTHAND, WHETHER A PARTICULAR EQUIPMENT ITEM MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD, OR THEY MAY HAVE THE TESTS CONDUCTED ON THEIR BEHALF BY A QUALIFIED TESTING LABORATORY. LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL MAY ALSO REFERENCE THIS STANDARD IN PURCHASE DOCUMENTS AND REQUIRE THAT ANY EQUIPMENT OFFERED FOR PURCHASE MEET ITS SPECIFICATIONS AND THAT THIS COMPLIANCE BE EITHER GUARANTEED BY THE VENDOR OR ATTESTED TO BY AN INDEPENDENT TESTING LABORATORY. (SNI ABSTRACT)