More than 3,000 police officers’ lives have been saved by body armor since the mid-1970s when the NIJ began testing and developing body armor and performance standards. Although compliance is completely voluntary, recognition and acceptance of the NIJ standard has grown worldwide, making it the performance benchmark for ballistic-resistant body armor.
NIJ standard 0101.06 establishes minimum performance requirements and test methods for the ballistic resistance of personal body armor designed to protect the torso against gunfire. The revised guidelines include an environmental test, absent in the 05 standard, requiring rigorous testing of vests that include conditions of high heat, humidity and mechanical wear before ballistic testing, ensuring that vests will continue to provide protection as the material ages.
That last point seems to address the Zylon controversy that rocked the industry a few years back. As readers undoubtedly remember, one law enforcement officer was killed and another injured from gunfire while wearing body armor containing Zylon, The failure of the material, which has since been removed from NIJ certification, was attributed to a gradual degradation of the ballistic material which occurred over time.
At the time, there was concern in the industry, particularly among dealers, who feared they might be held liable if the body armor they sold subsequently failed. A handful decided not to stock the items, while others did so with great trepidation. The environmental testing requirement should quell these concerns, if indeed any remain.
So too should the push by manufacturers like Safariland to educate both the dealer and the customers they serve. The company sponsors Vest Check, an internal testing program designed to ensure the safety and reliability of body armor over the course of its life. It also spearheads a campaign intended to educate police officers over the proper use and care of their equipment.
And when it comes to dealers, Safariland is equally aggressive. “We partner with many dealers, and that partnership includes providing an extensive range of educational materials, merchandising information and training sessions so that our dealer network is better equipped to sell the body armor they carry,” says Milligan. “Communication is very important, and Safariland does this by any means necessary.
Part of the education effort centers on fit. Proper size is critical with body armor, for it ensures optimal protection. Yet time and again, officers opt for a larger vest in the mistaken belief they are adding more protection. The end result? They wind up wearing a vest that is awkward and uncomfortable, or give up on it entirely because of the discomfort. “We work with both the dealer and the officer to assure a true fit, specifically tailored to the wearer’s body shape and dimensions,” says Milligan.
Safariland’s NIJ-06 body armor models combine their latest technologies — Geometrics and proprietary framing — with advanced ballistic materials. In early June, the company introduced what was at that time the only Threat Level II and Threat Level IIIA vests authorized under the 06 standard. Tested against the 9mm & .357 mag. threats, the XT-700 Type II model provides advanced ballistic protection in a lightweight, hybrid design. “The vest is not only durable, but comfortable, increasing the probability that the officer will wear it,” says Milligan. Style XT-300 Type IIIA was also tested against the .357 Sig & .44 mag. threats, and provides the highest level of concealable protection.
In mid-June, Safariland announced two more 06-compliant additions to its Xtreme Series of vests, the XT-300 Type IIA, and the XT-300 Type 11. These, as well as the vests cited above, are backed by a 5 year warranty.
The NIJ divides body armor packages into five classes according to the threat levels law enforcement personnel may encounter. Ballistic packages designated as levels IIA, II and IIIA are all soft, concealable body armor, with IIIA providing the highest level of concealable protection. Ballistic packages designated as levels III and IV are hard, tactical body armor commonly used in SWAT operations. All five levels have heightened testing requirements under the new standard.
While the new standards are tough, and will undoubtedly result in increased costs for the manufacturer, the payoff is priceless. Body armor will now go through more testing than it ever has in the past, and officers will have the information they need to make an informed choice. “We see it as a positive,” says Milligan.
Most importantly, police officers will be safer and better protected. “We’ve had 1,850 saves to date, and with the 06 standard, we hope that number will rise,” she adds.
