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NIJ Ballistic, Stab & Spike Levels
NIJ Ballistic, Edged Blade, and Spike Levels
All bullet, edged blade and spike resistant vests are tested to different levels of threats, and suit different uses and purposes.
It is important to remember that level IIIa ballistic panels will be slightly heavier and less flexible than level II panels - upgrading edged blade or spike protection will cause the same effect, but to a much milder degree.
Level III and IV ballistic protection is available from our hard ballistic panels, and these are made from ceramic or polyethylene.
Below are tables that have been issued by the NIJ (National Institute of Justice). These contain information on which NIJ levels will stop which threats, and at what forces.
The first table relates to ballistic threats, and the second to edged blade and spike threats.
Higher levels protect against all threats of lower levels.
DO NOT purchase a vest with lower protection levels that you require. Do not hope that it will perform better. It will not.
Of course, every vest can be defeated; no vest is truly bullet proof. Any vest will always be penetrated by bullets or knives travelling with enough force.
However, if you select one of our vests, you are guaranteed the protection levels promised with your purchase, and these levels protect against the same level or lower threats, as listed below:
|
Threat Level |
Round |
Barrel |
Velocity |
|
|
Ft/sec |
M/sec |
|||
|
IIA |
All .22 LR, .25, .32, .380, .38 & .40 |
|
|
|
|
II |
.22Mag .40gr FMJ |
24 |
1800 |
549 |
|
IIIA |
9mm 124gr FMJ Remington |
16 |
1400 |
427 |
|
III |
7.62 NATO Ball 150 Grain FMJ (308) |
28 |
2750 |
|
|
Spike/Stab |
E1 Strike Energy |
E2 Overtest Strike Energy |
||
| J | ft. lbf | J | ft. lbf | |
| 1 | 24+/- 0.50 | 17.7 +/-0.36 | 36+/- 0.60 | 26.6 +/- 0.44 |
| 2 | 33+/- 0.60 | 24.3+/-0.44 | 50+/- 0.70 | 36.9 +/- 0.51 |
| 3 | 43+/- 0.60 | 31.7+/-0.44 | 65+/- 0.80 | 47.9 +/- 0.59 |
| Bullet Abbreviations The following standard abbreviations are used to designate types of bullets or projectiles contained in the rounds tested. |
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- NIJ Levels
- Body Armor Law
- Hard ballistic Plates
- Kevlar Made Vests
- Types Of Armor
- Guide To Personal Armor
- Body Armor Technologies
- Benefits Of A Kevlar Vest
- Armor Product Life
- Police Officer Armor
- Military Body Armor
- Prison Officer Armor
- The History of Kevlar
- Security Guard Armor
- Bounty Hunters Armor
- Stab vs Bullet Proof Vest
- Stopping A Bullet
- Armor For Civilians
