If you’re involved in the military, law enforcement, or security, then you’ve likely heard of the National Institute of Justice (NIJ). The NIJ is a research agency within the Department of Justice. Its mission is to improve public safety by providing reliable evidence and information on criminal justice topics. One such topic that the NIJ focuses on is body armor and its standards. This blog will delve into what exactly Level IV armor is and how it meets NIJ standards.
Level IV armor is one of three levels of protection for body armor as designated by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ). It is an armored plate that protects against high-velocity rounds, such as .30-06 caliber steel core bullets. Level IV armor is capable of stopping multiple rounds from rifle fire, which makes it ideal for use in active shooter scenarios or other high-risk situations.
The NIJ’s Body Armor Standard 0101.06
The NIJ has strict standards when it comes to body armor performance testing and certification requirements. These standards are laid out in a document called Body Armor Standard 0101.06, which sets forth specific criteria for ballistic resistance for all types of body armor used by law enforcement officers in the United States. This standard includes a test protocol for evaluating body armor plates against various calibers and threats from handguns to rifles to even military-grade rounds. According to this standard, Level IV plates must be able to stop one round from a .30-06 caliber rifle with a mass of 166 grain at a velocity of 2,780 feet per second (fps) or less. Even after being shot multiple times, these plates must still retain their ability to protect against further shots from the same source weapon type after being hit with up to five rounds within three minutes without exhibiting any signs of degradation in performance or integrity.
Level IV armor offers the highest level of protection available and can be relied upon during dangerous situations where lives may be at stake. When selecting your next piece of body armor, make sure it meets NIJ’s strict Ballistic Resistance Standard 0101.06 so you know you have reliable protection when you need it most! With reliable products from trusted manufacturers like Metric Armor Solutions, there’s no reason why you should settle for less than what you need.
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