Voluntary Stab-Resistant Armor Compliance Testing Program
Although the most common type of threat faced by a police officer is a ballistic threat, the most common threat faced by correctional officers comes from sharp-edged and pointed weapons. In response to the needs of the corrections community, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) developed a test standard for stab- and puncture-resistant body armor. NIJ, through its Office of Law Enforcement Standards (OLES), partnered with the U.S. Secret Service and the Home Office (formerly the Police Scientific Development Branch) in the United Kingdom (U.K.) to conduct the research that led to the development of NIJ Standard-0115.00, Stab Resistance of Personal Body Armor.
The Home Office has extensive experience in researching the issue of sharp instrument threats, as this is the primary threat faced by law enforcement officers in the United Kingdom. The Home Office’s research effort focused on developing a model to be used in determining the actual forces generated during an attack by an assailant with a sharp-edged or pointed instrument. This information could then be used to develop realistic test methodologies and procedures. The Home Office’s researchers reviewed medical data from more than 1,000 actual stabbing assaults that occurred in the U.K. Then, to correlate this information, they developed an instrumented knife (dubbed the “stabometer”) capable of measuring the amounts of acceleration and force generated by a stabbing impact. The stabometer was then used to record force and energy data generated by 500 fit young males performing a number of different stabbing motions, both overhand and underhand. From this data, researchers developed a greater understanding of the mechanics of a stabbing incident. This in turn led to the development of a dual-mass drop system used in testing, which more accurately replicates the forces impacting a vest during a stabbing incident.
Additionally, several different types of test blades have been developed to accurately reflect actual threats faced by law enforcement and corrections officers. While these blades are specially designed for testing purposes to ensure consistency in testing, they reflect many of the features found in low-grade commercial knives or homemade instruments, which are commonly used in attacks against police and corrections officers.
Furthermore, researchers examined the backing material used to support the vest during testing to determine what would most accurately replicate the response of the human torso during a stabbing incident. Once again using data developed by the Home Office, a composite backing material consisting of alternating layers of closed-cell foam and neoprene rubber was developed for use in the testing.
Interested in Submitting Armor for NIJ Compliance Testing in Accordance With NIJ Standard-0115.00?
Manufacturers interested in submitting armor for compliance testing should first review NIJ Standard-0115.00 to ensure familiarity with testing, labeling and workmanship requirements. Second, the manufacturer should contact an NIJ-approved laboratory to schedule a compliance test. Once the laboratory has been contacted and a test date has been scheduled, the manufacturer should submit three identical armor samples of the same model to the Compliance Testing Program (CTP) at NLECTC-National. Along with the armor samples, the manufacturer should enclose documentation that contains a request for the test, the laboratory selected, the tentative date the test has been scheduled, the model designation of the armor model(s) submitted and the protection class (s) and level(s) the samples are to be tested against. Once the CTP has the armor, staff will inspect the samples to ensure that they meet the labeling/workmanship requirements and that the manufacturer has submitted all the essential documentation. After that, the CTP will forward the test samples to the laboratory for compliance testing.
Please contact one of the CTP representatives listed below for assistance with questions.
Contacts:
NLECTC-National
Kevin Merlo, Equipment Testing Technician
Tel: (301) 519-5119
kmerlo@nlectc.org
Alex Sundstrom, Testing Coordinator
Tel: (301) 519-5684
rsundstrom@nlectc.org
Last updated: March 30, 2010
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