NIJ Guide to Body Armor: Selection and Application Guide to Ballistic-Resistant Body Armor - 0101.06

Description

The U.S. Department of Justice, Off i ce of Justice Programs, National Institute of Justice (NIJ), has developed this document, NIJ Guide-0101.06, Selection and Application Guide to Ballistic-Resistant Body Armor for Law Enforcement, Corrections and Public Safety, to provide guidance concerning the selection, procurement, use, care and maintenance, and other considerations related to ballistic-resistant body armor. NIJ Guide-0101.06 is a companion document to NIJ Standard-0101.06, Ballistic Resistance of Body Armor. The text of NIJ Standard-0101.06 is the authority in the event of any discrepancy with this guide. Nothing in this document should be understood to be a legal mandate or policy directive, or to represent the only course of action. This guide is not all-inclusive. Any actions that may be informed by this guide should be taken, after careful consideration, in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws, rules, policies and regulations, as well as local conditions and circumstances. Jurisdictional, logistical or legal conditions may preclude the implementation of particular recommendations contained herein. NIJ standards are subject to continued research, development and testing, review and modif i cation as appropriate on an ongoing basis. Users of this guide are advised to consult the NIJ Standards and Testing Program webpage, accessed from http://www.nij.gov/standards, on a regular basis to determine whether this guide has been revised or superseded. Technical comments and recommended revisions are welcome. Please send all written comments and suggestions to: Director, National Institute of Justice, Off i ce of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, 20531, ATTN: NIJ Standards and Testing Program or via email to [email protected]. Contents Acronyms ...........................................................................................................................................................viii Overview ...............................................................................................................................................................1 Chapter 1. Why Wear Body Armor? .............................................................................................................3 Chapter 2. What Is Body Armor? .................................................................................................................5 Chapter 3. NIJ Ballistic-Resistant Body Armor Standards and Testing Program .........................................................................................................................9 Chapter 4. Selection Considerations .........................................................................................................21 Chapter 5. Measurement, Fit and Coverage ..............................................................................................23 Chapter 6. Purchasing and Procurement Considerations .........................................................................27 Chapter 7. Development of Procurement Specif i cations...........................................................................29 Chapter 8. Inspection and Care .................................................................................................................33 Chapter 9. Training and Administration .....................................................................................................37 Chapter 10. What To Do When an Off i cer Wearing Body Armor Is Shot ..................................................................................................................39 Def i nitions ..........................................................................................................................................................41 References .........................................................................................................................................................45 Appendix A. Contributors .............................................................................................................................47 Appendix B. Resources ................................................................................................................................49 Appendix C. Armor Sizing Templates ...........................................................................................................51 Appendix D. Body Armor Compliance Testing Program Body Armor Applicant Package ...............................................................................................59 Appendix E. Example Procurement Specif i cations ......................................................................................89