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NIJ Standards

NIJ Ballistic StandardsN.I.J. Ballistic Threat Levels

  • Level IIA offers increased protection (9 mm and 40 S&W)
  • Level II offers greater protection (.357 Magnum and High Velocity 9 mm)
  • Level IIIA offers the highest protection (most handgun calibers)

N.I.J. Ballistic Standards 0101.04 for Ballistic Protection

N.I.J. THREAT LEVEL ROUNDS (+/- 50) 0101.04 VELOCITIES
Level IIA 9mm 124 gr. FMJ RN
.40 Caliber 180 gr. FMJ		 1120 f/s
1055 f/s
Level II 9mm 124 gr. FMJ RN
.357 Magnum 158 gr. JSP		 1205 f/s
1430 f/s
Level IIIA 9mm 124 gr. FMJ RN
.44 Magnum 240 gr. JHP		 1430 f/s
1430 f/s
Level III .762 mm NATO 148 gr.
(.308 Caliber) FMJ		 2780 f/s
Level IV 30.06 166 gr. (.30 Caliber)
M2AP Armor Piercing		 2880 f/s

All 0101.04 Certified Level IIAs continue to protect against 4" .357 Magnums, as evidenced by a minimum .357 Magnum 158 gr. JSP V-50 Ballistic Limit of 1400 f/s. This policy adoption was made necessary by N.I.J.'s removal of the .357 Magnum 158 gr. JSP bullet at Level IIA, replacing it with the less stringent .40 S&W 180 gr. FMJ.

Blunt TraumaMechanics of Blunt Trauma

When body armor defeats an impacting bullet through expansion and deformation, kinetic energy is transferred to the body. The resulting damage to tissue is called blunt trauma. To comply with the N.I.J. Body Armor Standard, this deformation cannot exceed 44 millimeters in Roma Plastina #1 Clay.

Thickness

Thickness is measured in inches.

Areal Density

Areal Density is measured in pounds-per-square-foot (not including the carrier) and is the most accurate method for comparing vests since vest sizes and their accompanying weights differ.

NIJ Spike ProtectionN.I.J. Spike Levels

The National Institute of Justice rates body armor on resistance to hand-delivered stab threats.

N.I.J. Standard 0115.00 For Spike Protection

LEVEL SPIKE CLASS 1 SPIKE CLASS 2 SPIKE CLASS 3
Strike Energy "EI" = 25 joules
(17.7 ft. lbs.)		 "EI" = 33 joules
(24.3 ft. lbs.)		 "EI" = 43 joules
(31.7 ft. lbs.)
Overstrike Energy "E2" = 36 joules
(26.6 ft. lbs.)		 "E2" = 50 joules
(36.9 ft. lbs.)		 "E2" = 65 joules
(47.9 ft. lbs.)

Penetration Testing

  • The new N.I.J. Standard 0115.00. Maximum penetration of 0.28"/ 7mm is allowed
  • An "Overtest" is also applied, to push the breaking point of the armor, where 0.79"/ 20mm of penetration is allowed
  • Testing is done in two different categories of threat: "Edged Blades" (standard knives) or "Spike" weapons (ice-pick or improvised)

To help you select your body armor, we've provided the appropriate N.I.J. Threat or Spike levels for each of our body armor products.

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