Feds Strengthen Body Armor Standards

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Justice announced new performance testing standards for ballistic- and stab-resistant personal body armor.

The new standard, which is a central component of the department’s 2003 body armor safety initiative, includes more rigorous pretesting methodologies that expose armor to increased temperature, humidity and wear before assessing performance criteria, according to the Office of Justice Programs.

“This important advancement in body armor standards is in direct response to changes in threats faced by law enforcement, advances in ballistic materials and technology, and the need to ensure that body armor performs well when subjected to environmental factors,” says Associate Attorney General Kevin O’Connor.

The 2003 body armor safety initiative was established to address concerns about the effectiveness of body armor under extended use in the field, officials say. The enhanced compliance testing programs were developed by the National Institute of Justice and the National Institute of Standards and Technology Office of Law Enforcement Standards.

Correctional and law enforcement officers do not need to immediately replace current body armor, officials say. The NIJ recommends replacing existing armor that has reached the end of its service life with armor that meets the new testing standards.

For a comprehensive list of body armor models compliant with NIJ standards, visit: http://www.justnet.org/BatPro