THE ELECTRONICS AND ELECTRICAL

ENGINEERING LABORATORY

One of NIST’s seven Measurement and Standards Laboratories, EEEL conducts research, provides measurement services, and helps set standards in support of: the fundamental electronic technologies of semiconductors, magnetics, and superconductors; information and communications technologies, such as fi ber optics, photonics, microwaves, electronic displays, and electronics manufacturing supply chain collaboration; forensics and security measurement instrumentation; fundamental and practical physical standards and measurement services for electrical quantities; maintaining the quality and integrity of electrical power systems; and the development of nanoscale and microelectromechanical devices. EEEL provides support to law enforcement, corrections, and criminal justice agencies, including homeland security. EEEL consists of four programmatic divisions and two matrixmanaged offi ces:Semiconductor Electronics DivisionOptoelectronics DivisionQuantum Electrical Metrology DivisionElectromagnetics DivisionOffi ce of Microelectronics ProgramsOffi ce of Law Enforcement StandardsThis document describes the technical programs of the Offi ce 

of Law Enforcement Standards (OLES). Similar documents describing the other Divisions and Offi ces are available. Contact NIST/EEEL, 100 Bureau Drive, MS 8100, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8100, Telephone: (301) 975-2220, On the Web: www.eeel.nist.gov
ELECTRONICS AND ELECTRICAL

ENGINEERING LABORATORY

OFFICE OF LAW

ENFORCEMENT

STANDARDS

PROGRAMS, ACTIVITIES, AND

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

NISTIR 7366

January 2007

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Carlos M. Gutierrez, Secretary

Technology Administration

Robert Cresanti, Under Secretary of Commerce for Technology

National Institute of Standards and Technology

William Jeffrey, Director
Any mention of commercial products is for information only; it does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the National Institute of Standards and Technology nor does it imply 

that the products mentioned are necessarily the best available for the purpose.
Offi ce of Law Enforcement Standards iii 

CONTENTS

Welcome ..................................................................................................................................v

 Mission ...........................................................................................................................v

 Organization ..................................................................................................................vi

 Developing Performance Standards ..............................................................................vi

Offi ce of Law Enforcement Standards Staff (810.02) .......................................................... vii

Weapons and Protective Systems .............................................................................................1

 Body Armor Program .....................................................................................................1

 Project: Testing of ZYLON®-Based Body Armor ..........................................................1

 Project: Development of Methodologies for Service Life Prediction 

 and Accelerated Testing of Soft Body Armor ................................................................4

 Project: Correlation of Fiber Properties to Ballistic Resistance.....................................6

 Project: Ballistic Limit Evaluation .................................................................................9

 Project: Conformity Assessment Program Development ...............................................9

 Project: Development and Validation of Short-Term Artifi cial Aging 

 Protocol for Soft Body Armor .....................................................................................10

 Project: Review and Update of the Ballistic-Resistant Body Armor Standard ............11

 Project: Blunt Trauma Research and Development of an Improved 

 Test Methodology .........................................................................................................12

 Project: Bullet Deformation Behavior .........................................................................13

 Protective Equipment Program ....................................................................................14

 Project: NIJ Standard–0106.01, “Ballistic Helmets” ..................................................14

 Project: NIJ Standard–0108.01, “Ballistic Resistance of Protective Materials” .........15

 Project: NIJ Standard–0104.02, “Riot Helmets and Face Shields” ............................15

Detection, Inspection, and Enforcement Technologies ..........................................................17

 Project: NIJ Standard–0601.02, “Walk-Through Metal Detectors for Use 

 in Concealed Weapon and Contraband Detection” .....................................................18

 Project: NIJ Standard–0602.02, “Handheld Metal Detectors for Use in 

 Concealed Weapon and Contraband Detection” .........................................................19

 Project: Evaluation of Biometric Recognition Systems ...............................................19

 Project: Fast Capture Evaluation ..................................................................................20

 Project: Technologies for Traffi c Enforcement ............................................................21

 Project: Imaging Metrology .........................................................................................21

 Project: Through-Wall Imaging and Surveillance ........................................................23

 Project: Concealed Weapon Detection and Imaging ....................................................24

Forensic Sciences ...................................................................................................................26

 Project: Computer Forensic Reference Data Sets (CFReDS) .....................................26

 Project: Computer Forensics Tools Testing (CFTT) ...................................................26
iv Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory

 Project: DNA Related Projects .....................................................................................27

 Project: Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS) Trace Drug Detection Devices .................27

 Project: National Software Reference Library (NSRL) ..............................................28

 Project: Standard Casing Reference Material ..............................................................29

 Project: Real Time Forensics Imaging for Analog and Digital Video Tapes ...............29

 Project: Refractive Index Glass Standard Reference Material .....................................30

Public Safety Communication Systems .................................................................................33

 Project: Standardization Efforts Related to Telecommunication and 

 Information Technology Interoperability .....................................................................33

CBRNE Standards .................................................................................................................38

 Shared Management Responsibilities ..........................................................................38

 Meeting Customer Requirements .................................................................................38

 Project Funding and Execution ....................................................................................38

 Critical Incident Technologies (CIT) ...........................................................................40

 Public Safety and Security Technologies .....................................................................44
Offi ce of Law Enforcement Standards v 

WELCOME

The Offi ce of Law Enforcement Standards (OLES) helps criminal justice, public safety, 

emergency responder, and homeland security agencies make informed procurement, deployment, applications, operating, and training decisions, primarily by developing performance 

standards, measurement tools, operating procedures and equipment guidelines. OLES is part 

of the Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory (EEEL) of the National Institute of 

Standards and Technology (NIST). OLES, with a staff of 18, is located on the NIST campus 

in Gaithersburg, Maryland. 

MISSION

Unique among NIST’s program offi ces, the Offi ce of Law Enforcement Standards (OLES) 

addresses the technology and metrology needs of the criminal justice, public safety, public security and greater homeland security communities. For 35 years, OLES’s customers have been 

corrections personnel, forensic scientists and those who are today known as “fi rst responders” 

– police offi cers, fi refi ghters, and others responsible for the safety and security of people and 

property. Through our work on performance standards for critical technologies such as ballistic 

body armor, metal detectors, chemical systems and protective equipment, computer forensics, 

DNA analysis, and public safety communications, OLES has developed unique expertise. 

And through our working relationships with criminal justice, public safety and public security 

practitioners, universities, government agencies, professional and scientifi c organizations, and 

offi ces and laboratories throughout NIST, OLES has developed a vast network of resources 

that can be brought to bear on solving diffi cult technical challenges.

In 1999 that expertise and those resources earned OLES an invitation to serve on the Standards 

Coordination Committee of the newly formed InterAgency Board for Equipment Standardization and Interoperability (IAB). Immediately, IAB asked OLES to address one of its highest 

priorities: developing requirement standards for respiratory protection equipment to ensure that 

emergency responders would survive chemical warfare agent attacks. This fi rsthand experience at tackling the challenges of CBRNE countermeasures prepared OLES for the roles it 

fulfi lls today. Following the events of September 11, 2001, OLES found itself leading several 

technical programs related to homeland security. OLES personnel have assumed key roles as 

managers and consultants at the Department of Homeland Security. OLES has led the efforts 

of NIST’s Homeland Security Strategic Working Group. And, perhaps, most indicative of 

OLES’s reputation and competence, the Offi ce’s operating budget, derived entirely from work 

with agencies outside NIST, grew from about $900,000 in FY1996 to more than $50 million 

in FY2006.

In addition to developing minimum performance standards, OLES develops reference materials (RMs) and standard reference materials (SRMs) for use in test procedures and to calibrate 

equipment. OLES develops technology and metrology to support the advancement of equipment 

and methods used to address the needs of criminal justice, public safety, emergency responder 

and homeland security agencies. OLES authors equipment user guides; designs methods for 

examining evidentiary materials; develops technology where appropriate and applicable; and 

provides technical advice and assistance to agencies throughout the criminal justice, public 

safety, emergency responder and homeland security communities. OLES staff members hold 

memberships in scores of technical and scientifi c organizations, chair technical and policymaking committees in several of those organizations, and work closely with technical experts 

throughout the public and private sectors.
vi Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory

ORGANIZATION

OLES is a program management organization that designs and manages standards-development and research projects on behalf of agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security 

(DHS), the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), and others. OLES also maintains metrology 

activities and laboratories for equipment unique to law enforcement and criminal justice agents 

and emergency responders.

Within OLES are six program areas: Weapons and Protective Systems; Detection, Inspection, 

and Enforcement Technologies; Forensic Sciences; Public Safety Communication Systems; and 

Critical Incident Technologies; and Public Safety and Security Technologies. These program 

areas conduct a vast range of projects related to protective clothing, communication systems, 

investigative aids, security devices, traffi c enforcement equipment, vehicles, fi rearms and ammunition, detection of concealed weapons and explosives, forensic science, homeland security, 

and domestic preparedness.

Proposed and continuing projects within each program area for FY2007 are described in this 

publication.

DEVELOPING PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

Developing performance standards is OLES’ primary activity, and the process OLES follows 

in that work provides a good illustration of the organization and its function.

Developing a performance standard begins when the criminal justice, public safety, emergency 

responder and/or homeland security community identifi es the need for a certain type of equipment to perform at a certain level in the fi eld. A bullet-resistant vest must stop a new type 

of ammunition. A metal detector must be sensitive enough for thorough screening of airline 

passengers. A respirator must allow fi rst responders to work safely in a chemical, biological 

or radiological hot zone.

OLES talks to equipment users to refi ne our understanding of how the equipment is employed 

and under what conditions. OLES designs research projects to gather information from manufacturers and technical experts, and to evaluate the capabilities of equipment available on the 

market. OLES formulates a set of performance criteria that the particular type of equipment 

must meet to be considered adequate. Then OLES devises tests that can be used to determine if 

a piece of equipment meets the criteria. Together, the performance criteria and the test methods 

make up what is called a minimum performance standard.

The draft minimum performance standard is reviewed and commented on by practitioners, 

manufacturers, technical experts, government agencies and other parties with a professional 

interest in the standard. After required revisions, the minimum performance standard is published 

and distributed, along with a report that provides manufacturers and designers with detailed 

technical information about the standard, and a user guide to help agencies and their personnel 

understand the standard and properly select, use and maintain the equipment.

For additional information about OLES, please visit us at http://www.eeel.nist.gov/oles.
Offi ce of Law Enforcement Standards vii 

OFFICE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDARDS STAFF

(810.02)

Staff may be contacted at the following telephone extensions (301–975–XXXX) or by email 

at fi rstname.lastname@nist.gov.

Name Title Extension

Kathleen Higgins Director, OLES 2754

Thomas Russell Special Assistant to the Director 2665

Sharon Ellison Administrative Support Assistant 2757

Melissa Naddeo Offi ce Manager 2756

Susan Ballou Program Manager: Forensic Sciences 8750

Brian Briggman Contractor: Information Technology Specialist 8009

Alim Fatah Program Manager: Public Safety and Security 

Technologies

2753

Amanda Forster Materials Research Engineer: Weapons and 

Protective Systems

5632

Pamela Gray Contractor: Critical Incident Technologies 4511

Donald Larson Electronics Engineer: Detection, Inspection, 

and Enforcement Technologies

3183

Philip Mattson Program Manager: Critical Incident Technologies 3396

Dereck Orr Program Manager: Public Safety Communication 

Systems

2296

Nicholas Paulter Program Manager: Detection, Inspection, 

and Enforcement Technologies

2405

Kirk Rice Program Manager: Weapons and Protective 

Systems

8071

Michael Riley Program Manager: Weapons and Protective 

Systems – Research, Test, and Evaluation

6065

Lisa Rothwell Contractor: Public Safety and Security 

Technologies

8021

James Stewart Contractor: Critical Incident Technologies 2352

Nathaniel Waters Engineering Technician 5128
viii Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory
Offi ce of Law Enforcement Standards 1

WEAPONS AND PROTECTIVE SYSTEMS

OLES’ Weapons and Protective Systems program 

provides ongoing technical support and research 

for the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) standard 

for ballistic-resistant body armor (bullet-resistant 

vests), which OLES fi rst developed for NIJ in 1972. 

The body armor program is part of NIJ’s successful 

Law Enforcement and Corrections Standards and 

Testing Program, through which companies may 

have their products voluntarily certifi ed as compliant with the standard. Ballistic-resistant body 

armor has been credited with saving more than 

3000 lives, and the program’s evaluations of new 

materials and ballistic threats and its revisions of 

the standard help ensure the continued effectiveness 

of this technology. The Weapons and Protective 

Systems program also develops and supports other 

equipment performance standards vital to the safety 

of law enforcement and corrections personnel, including stab-resistant body armor; ballistic helmets; 

riot helmets and face shields; metallic handcuffs; 

and fi rearms. 

In recent years, the Weapons and Protective Systems program area has focused heavily on the 

ballistic-resistant body armor program, providing 

standards development services and technical support to the compliance testing program, conducting 

and overseeing research leading to improvements 

in the standards, participating in technical and practitioner communities, establishing collaborations 

with other contributors, addressing emerging armor 

issues, and recommending improvements to the 

standards and associated certifi cation programs. 

BODY ARMOR PROGRAM

The NIJ body armor program consists of two basic 

components: a standards development program, 

and a compliance testing program that uses the 

current version of the body armor standard, NIJ 

Standard–0101.04. The NIJ body armor program 

provides law enforcement offi cers and public safety 

offi cials with an independent assessment that the 

armor they wear provides a reasonable level of 

ballistic protection. This program is critical because the public safety community depends upon 

objective third-party testing, such as that provided 

through the NIJ testing program, to assist them 

in making informed purchasing decisions about 

important life safety equipment.

To ensure that the program remains valuable and 

has broad appeal, NIJ bears the responsibility to 

monitor developments in the industry and the fi eld, 

and to gather feedback from practitioners and 

other users of the standard. The former provides 

knowledge about new and improving ballistic-resistant materials, changing ballistic threats, and the 

introduction of special types of body armor; while 

the latter provides insight into what users expect 

of body armor, and any special considerations that 

should be addressed because of the way body armor 

is used or tested. Through these efforts, numerous issues have been identifi ed over a number of 

years, and these generally have formed the basis 

for research or administrative initiatives aimed at 

further enhancements to the standard or the compliance testing program. 

There are a number of projects included under this 

program. Generally they are focused on critically 

examining the performance of ballistic materials in 

the fi eld to forewarn of any potential problems that 

may be developing, improving our understanding 

of body armor performance, increasing the quality 

demands placed upon armor manufacturers, and 

refi ning test body armor test methodologies. 

PROJECT: TESTING OF

ZYLON®-BASED BODY ARMOR

GOALS

To conduct a comprehensive testing program to 

address concerns with the ongoing ballistic-resistant performance of ZYLON-based body armor 

in response to the Department of Justice’s Body 

Armor Safety Initiative, announced by Attorney 

General Ashcroft on November 18, 2003. This 

initiative came in response to concerns raised 

by the public safety community and members of 

Congress regarding the performance of ZYLONbased armor. ZYLON is the trade name for a high 

strength ballistic fi ber known as poly (p-phenylenebenzoxazole) (PBO).

CUSTOMER NEEDS

Neither the NIJ Standard–0101.04, “Ballistic 

Resistance of Personal Body Armor,” nor the current Body Armor Compliance Testing Program 

were originally intended to address the ongoing 

performance of used ballistic-resistant body armor. 

Ensuring ongoing ballistic-resistant performance 

has always been the responsibility of the body 

armor manufacturer. The ZYLON-based body 

armor concern has heightened an industry-wide 

awareness that ongoing ballistic performance must 

be satisfactorily addressed. Determinations and 

Technical Contacts:

Kirk Rice

Amanda Forster

Michael Riley

Nathaniel Waters

Staff-Years:

12
2 Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory

fi ndings of this testing program are expected to 

highlight signifi cant problems with some samples 

of body armor, lead to improved body armor 

performance standards, and very likely produce 

fundamental changes in the Compliance Testing 

Program, ultimately benefi ting the users of body 

armor. The primary benefi t anticipated will be the 

implementation of ongoing conformity assessment 

methods that will give criminal justice and public 

safety offi cers greater confi dence in the performance of body armor.

TECHNICAL STRATEGY

The Body Armor Safety Initiative directs NIJ to 

conduct an immediate review of both new and used 

ZYLON-based bullet resistant vests to ensure that 

they are effective, and to include in this testing 

effort the upgrade kits provided by manufacturers 

to retrofi t ZYLON-based armor. To address the 

requirements, multiple test efforts comprise this 

project: 1) Forest Hills Vest Study, 2) ZYLONcontaining body armor Ballistic Performance 

Tests, and 3) Upgrade Kit Tests. Over the past 

two years, these projects have been described in 

prior program plans, details of the testing activities 

were presented in separate documents, and results 

of those activities were published in three reports 

to the Attorney General and several other technical 

reports. These activities also developed information that led to NIJ’s establishment of the 2005 

Interim Requirements. A brief summary of the 

status of each study follows:

FOREST HILLS VEST PENETRATION

STUDY

The Forest Hills vest penetration has been described as the fi rst known instance in which an 

NIJ-compliant armor model appears to have failed 

to stop a bullet that it was designed to defeat. 

Because the Forest Hills vest had been in service 

for only six months prior to the incident, it was 

originally believed that the offi cer’s vest would 

be nearly identical to a newly constructed vest. 

Upon discovering that the mechanical properties 

of the ZYLON yarns from the Forest Hills vest 

were diminished, and that those changes were 

likely due to chemical degradation, the Forest Hills 

tests focused on studying the fi ve factors that were 

considered the most likely to have contributed to 

degradation. 

Since the ZYLON in the Forest Hills vest was 

found to be much weaker than expected, it became 

necessary to test armor that had been weakened 

to a condition matching that of the penetrated 

vest. For these studies to be successful, they are 

predicated on establishing an equivalency between 

artifi cially degraded armor panels and the offi cer’s 

body armor. This was attempted through chemical 

degradation by developing an aging process relying on hydrolytic (moisture-induced) degradation 

to achieve uniform degradation of the ballistic 

materials. This aging involves holding the test 

specimens at elevated conditions of temperature 

and humidity, and periodically subjecting extracted 

yarns to quasi-static tensile tests until the degraded 

mechanical properties were obtained. 

The studies originally planned were completed 

and reported on in status reports to the Attorney 

General. While these earlier studies contributed 

a great deal of understanding to the factors that 

infl uence ballistic degradation of ZYLON-based 

body armor, no combination of factors produced 

a penetration that would fully explain the failure 

of the Forest Hills body armor. This possibility 

was considered during the original planning, and 

additional armor test specimens were set aside to 

support future work. 

Recognized then were several other factors that 

could be important, but also diffi cult to quantify, 

such as the effects mechanical damage might have 

on mechanical and ballistic performance, or the 

differences between quasi-static and high-rate mechanical properties. Follow-on vest studies were 

postponed until more advances could be made in 

this area. Research continued last year to develop 

controlled mechanical exposure tests of ZYLON 

and to examine the differences between quasi-static 

and dynamic properties of ballistic materials. An 

additional ballistic penetration test series is planned 

using the body armor panels that were set aside 

from the original study. Details regarding how 

to achieve controlled mechanical exposures and 

how to measure mechanically-induced changes 

are part of the Artifi cial Aging project described 

elsewhere, and this test effort will be tied into that 

other effort.

DELIVERABLES 

Test plan for mechanical exposure of remaining 

Forest Hills armor panels, assessing changes in 

the armor panels, and ballistic testing of the armor 

panels. 

Report on high-rate mechanical properties of 

ZYLON.

•

•
Offi ce of Law Enforcement Standards 3

BALLISTIC PERFORMANCE TESTS OF

ZYLON-CONTAINING BODY ARMOR

There were more than 240 different models of 

ZYLON-based ballistic-resistant body armor from 

16 different manufacturers that had been found to 

comply with either NIJ Standard–0101.04 or NIJ 

Standard–0101.03, “Ballistic Resistance of Police 

Body Armor.” It is estimated that there are/were 

at least 300,000 ZYLON-based armors in fi eld use. 

Drawing valid conclusions about all ZYLON-based 

armor performance requires a signifi cant testing 

effort. A two-phase test plan was developed to 

provide an early indication of whether there were 

ballistic performance concerns and to help ensure 

that a representative sampling of used armors (e.g. 

different manufacturers, threat levels, designs, environmental conditions, age, etc.) would be tested. 

A brief summary of these phases follows.

PHASE I – “WORST CASE TESTING” 

A set of abbreviated ballistic tests (V50 and penetration) were conducted on a limited number of 

used ZYLON armors that were moderately to 

heavily worn. All body armor samples were donated to the testing program by law enforcement 

agencies. The front panel of each vest was subjected to normal ballistic penetration testing. The 

original compliance testing would have required 

six shots of one caliber (bullet type) on a ballistic 

armor panel, and a different ballistic armor panel 

would have received six shots of a second caliber. 

This testing required the same two threat rounds, 

except both were fi red into the same armor panel; 

three shots of one caliber and three shots of the 

other. Furthermore, backface signature measurements (measurement of deformation of the ballistic 

material as a result of bullet impact) were made for 

the fi rst 0-degree shot of each bullet type, which 

again is consistent with the methods used in the 

NIJ Standards (-03 and -04 versions). A “V50 

ballistic limit” test was conducted on each back 

armor panel. For the armor models that were originally found compliant with NIJ Standard–0101.04, 

these V50 values were compared with the baseline 

V50 obtained during the initial compliance tests. 

Generally, statistical comparisons of limited V50 

are diffi cult because of the large uncertainties inherent in the ballistic limit test; however, the V50 

tests provided further confi rmation of a consistent 

downward shift in ballistic performance for nearly 

all samples. This “worst-case” testing phase was 

intended to determine if there was suffi cient evidence of performance issues with ZYLON armor 

taken from the fi eld. The results provided clear 

evidence of concern with ZYLON-containing body 

armor although further testing would be needed to 

confi rm the trends observed. Details of the testing 

and results were reported to the Attorney General. 

No additional activity is planned under this task.

PHASE II – “LARGE SCALE TESTING” 

The scope of the Department of Justice’s Body 

Armor Safety Initiative is much broader than looking at only one model of ZYLON-based armor, 

and one cannot reliably assume that multiple used 

vests of the same model will perform similarly 

because their usage histories and environmental 

exposures will be different. For this reason, direct 

application of the NIJ standard for evaluating used 

armor has always been considered inappropriate. 

To overcome this limitation, this test program 

relies on randomly sampling ZYLON-based vests 

in use around the country and subjecting them to 

a modifi ed ballistics test protocol that is similar to 

and consistent with the NIJ test methodology.

The purpose of this broad-based testing phase 

was to assess the ongoing performance of a broad 

“cross section” of ZYLON-based body armor in 

fi eld use. The original plan required the random 

selection of approximately 500 vests from fi ve different geographic regions of the country, from fi ve 

different age categories, and from four different 

manufacturer categories. Because the selection of 

vests was random, the profi le of the sample should 

look more like a “typical cross section” of what is 

currently in service. There is no national database 

relating agencies to specifi c armor models. The 

most suitable resource available was the database 

maintained by the Bureau of Justice Assistance 

(BJA) to administer the matching funding grants 

awarded to qualifying agencies under the Bulletproof Vest Partnership (BVP) Grant Act. The 

limitation of this database is that it includes only 

those transactions involving agencies that used 

the matching funds, and not all agencies using 

ZYLON-containing body armor obtained their 

body armor with BVP funding. After randomly 

identifying potential samples in this database, 

acquiring the fi eld samples involved a concerted 

effort between NIJ, BJA, NLECTC, and OLES. 

After establishing broadened policies, the resources 

of the BVP program were relied upon to obtain 

body armor in fi eld use and to make arrangements 

for compensation to participating agencies. In the 

end, it was possible to obtain only a fraction of 

the samples originally planned—approximately 

75—due to a number of circumstances, but the 

samples were believed to represent a good cross 
4 Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory

section of the ZYLON-containing body armor that 

was still in fi eld service.

Penetration-backface signature ballistics tests were 

conducted on the test samples using a test protocol 

similar to that under Phase I, except under Phase 

II, the armor samples were tested wet. As was the 

case under Phase I, failure rates obtained from the 

numerous six-shot armor panel tests were much 

higher than would have been expected from new 

armor, thus providing more evidence that the ballistic resistance of most armor models had declined 

substantially. Specifi c results were summarized in 

the Third Status Report to the Attorney General. 

Additional V50 ballistic limit tests are planned 

for the armor models that were originally found 

compliant with NIJ Standard–0101.04. Armor 

samples that exhibit large performance shifts will 

be examined further and compared with those that 

exhibit little or no signifi cant performance shift. 

The comparisons will involve applying some of 

the analytical methods developed under the Applied Research projects to understand if chemical 

and mechanical changes have occurred to a larger 

extent in one group. 

DELIVERABLES 

Ballistic limit test results on the Phase II armor 

samples.

Mechanical and analytical chemical fi ndings on 

ZYLON extracted from select armor samples.

Reports that summarize fi ndings.

TESTING OF UPGRADE KITS

One body armor manufacturer offered upgrade kits 

for use with certain models of body armor. The 

Body Armor Safety Initiative directed that the performance of these upgrade kits be assessed. Vests 

that were considered “degraded” were tested with 

the upgrade kits to determine if the combination of 

the two consistently prevented bullet penetrations 

when tested in accordance with the established test 

protocol. This test effort was completed in early 

fi rst quarter FY2005, and reported on in a status 

report to the Attorney General. Briefl y, the upgrade 

kits were found to improve ballistic resistance to 

some extent, but they did not raise the level of 

ballistic resistance to the original level intended 

for each body armor model. No additional activity is planned.

•

•

•

PROJECT: DEVELOPMENT OF

METHODOLOGIES FOR SERVICE LIFE

PREDICTION AND ACCELERATED

TESTING OF SOFT BODY ARMOR

GOALS

To: (1) identify the exposure variables, acting 

individually or in combination, that initiate performance degradation in soft body armor, (2) identify 

chemical and physical degradation mechanisms in 

soft body armor and (3) initiate the development 

of standardized test protocols for accelerating, 

predicting, and monitoring the service lives of 

ballistic fi bers and body armor.

Over the last couple of years, research focused 

on the identifi cation of chemical indicators of 

PBO fi ber tensile strength loss; systematic characterization of PBO fi bers; procurement of needed 

equipment; and development of an experimental 

design for additional proposed research. Materials 

analyzed included yarns extracted from: 1) the back 

panel of the Forest Hills vest that failed in-service, 

2) new vests, and 3) virgin spool yarn. In addition 

to identifying chemical and physical differences 

between the specimens, this work helped determine 

which analytical techniques were the most sensitive 

in detecting chemical changes that refl ect subsequent losses in mechanical strength. In particular, 

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy 

was particularly useful in elucidating chemical 

changes that occurred in the fi bers. Evidence of 

benzamide breakdown, a product of benzoxazole 

ring-opening, was detected via detailed analysis of 

the FTIR spectra. 

Beginning in 2004 and continuing into 2005, research focused on temperature and moisture aging 

of PBO ballistic panels in a humidity chamber. 

Fibers were extracted from the panels at biweekly 

intervals and tested in tensile mode and analyzed by 

FTIR. Over the course of the 25 week study, tensile 

strengths of the extracted yarns decreased ~ 30 % 

relative to the unaged material, and evidence of 

signifi cant benzoxazole ring breakage was detected 

by the FTIR analysis. 

A question that arose at the completion of this 

study was whether residual moisture in the fi bers 

was suffi cient to initiate degradation even if the 

fi bers were shielded from external moisture. To 

help answer this question, a study was conducted 

in which PBO fi bers were hermetically sealed in 

an inert argon environment in glass tubes and then 

subjected to the same temperatures as the PBO 

panels in the previous study. Tensile strengths 
Offi ce of Law Enforcement Standards 5

of the glass-enclosed fi bers decreased only a few 

percent relative to the unaged material. 

The remainder of 2005 was focused on the 

combined effects of temperature, humidity and 

ultraviolet (UV) exposure on PBO yarns properties. Virgin yarn was placed in specially-designed 

specimen holders and subjected to a short-term high 

intensity UV-visible radiation on NIST’s Simulated 

Photodegradation by High Energy Radiant Exposure (SPHERE) system, which is an integrating 

sphere-based weathering device. Severe degradation (> 50 % decrease) of yarn tensile strength was 

observed. Preliminary chemical analysis results 

indicate similar changes in chemistry as observed 

with the moisture-conditioned specimens; more 

detailed testing and analyses are in progress. 

CUSTOMER NEEDS

Identifi cation and understanding of the phenomena 

responsible for the loss of mechanical strength in 

PBO and other ballistic fi bers will lead to improvements in the selection of durable and reliable fi bers 

used in body armor. The development of a scientifi cally-based protocol for screening, testing, and 

comparing the long-term performance of new and 

existing fi bers for use in ballistic applications will 

have long term benefi ts in identifying fi bers having 

improved long-term ballistic performance. 

Recent failures of body armor manufactured from 

PBO fi bers have underscored the need to study the 

service life of these ballistic fi bers under a variety 

of environmental and operating conditions. Manufacturer-supplied data, as well as tests conducted 

by other commercial research laboratories and 

governmental labs, have indicated that PBO fi ber 

(which is relatively new in the ballistic armor arena) 

undergoes degradation in tensile strength following exposure to temperature, moisture and light. 

Degradation on this level has not yet been observed 

with more established materials such as Kevlar or 

Spectra fi ber. An extensive and ongoing review of 

the scientifi c literature has revealed that neither 

systematically controlled experiments involving 

relevant environmental factors, nor detailed chemical analysis of the mechanisms and kinetics of 

fi ber degradation, have yet been carried out. The 

proposed research will address these issues.

TECHNICAL STRATEGY

Development of scientifi cally-based accelerated 

aging and life monitoring protocols for ballistic 

materials is of vital importance to the body armor 

industry. Before such development can be undertaken, it is critical that the following issues are 

addressed:

The key functional yarn/fi ber properties that 

affect ballistic performance of body armor must 

be identifi ed, and relevant performance metrics/

indices established.

Key factors in the service environment must be 

accurately characterized, so that the appropriate test 

conditions, e.g., temperature, moisture (vapor and 

condensed), stress amplitude, number of cycles, 

etc., can be selected and rationally justifi ed. 

A fundamental understanding of the effects 

of these key factors on degradation mechanisms 

and kinetics in ballistic fi bers/yarns must be obtained.

Input from key industry players: A NIST 

workshop is planned to bring key industry players 

(fi ber manufacturers, weavers, vest manufacturers, 

law enforcement) and members of the NIJ technical 

working group on body armor together to discuss 

technical issues associated with accelerated testing/service life prediction including expected vest 

service life and warranty periods, expected conditions of use, selection of study materials, among 

others. It is also expected that the workshop will 

also provide NIST with pertinent information on 

fi ber, fabric, and body armor manufacturing. 

LARGER-SCALE STUDIES ARE PLANNED

INVOLVING UV, TEMPERATURE, AND

HUMIDITY EXPOSURE OF BALLISTIC

MATERIALS, IN WHICH CHEMICAL, 

PHYSICAL, AND MECHANICAL TESTING

WILL BE CARRIED OUT AS A FUNCTION

OF EXPOSURE

Molecular Spectroscopy (infrared, UV-visible, 

X-ray, NMR, Raman): To assess differences in 

fi ber chemistry, e.g., determine if any hydrolysis 

has occurred, as well as detect possible degradation 

products or impurities. 

Atomic Spectroscopy (emission spectrometry, 

atomic absorption spectroscopy): To identify the 

presence of trace elements such as phosphorus from 

residual polyphosphoric acid. 

X-ray Diffraction, Neutron Scattering: To determine if any differences in crystallinity or crystal 

structure exist between various fi ber specimens.

Moisture Absorption (thermogravimetric 

analysis, moisture sorption analysis): To measure 

equilibrium moisture content and to measure kinetics of water absorption as a function of temperature 

and humidity.

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6 Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory

Water and Organic Solvent Extraction: To 

identify soluble degradation products, fi ber additives or sizings, residual polyphosphoric acid, 

etc., as analyzed by gas chromatography-mass 

spectrometry (GC-MS) or infrared spectroscopy.

Dynamic Mechanical Thermal Analysis: To 

obtain information on fi ber modulus, damping and 

thermal transitions.

Tensile Testing: To measure the tensile 

strength, modulus and elongation of the fi bers/

yarns.

Ballistic materials that will be tested include single 

fi bers, yarns and woven fabrics. Temperatures and 

relative humidities that span the range of normal 

use will be used as factors in the study, as well as 

more extreme temperatures and relative humidities that may be encountered during storage and 

immersion. UV-visible spectral intensity and 

UV-visible spectral distribution are also important 

environmental factors. Of particular interest is to 

determine and model the degradation kinetics as 

a function of these environmental factors acting 

alone and in combination. Another interest is to 

identify the wavelengths of light that contribute 

the most to photodegradation, if it is indeed observed. This study will provide information on the 

antagonistic relationships that could exist between 

temperature, humidity, UV as well as other environmental and processing variables that are not 

known at this time.

The results that are obtained will provide critical 

data necessary for an understanding of the factors 

responsible for the degradation of ballistic fi bers, 

and will lead to the development of reliable and 

effective methods for screening and accelerated 

durability testing. 

DELIVERABLES

Report on chemical analysis of failed and new vests.

Research reports.

PROJECT: CORRELATION OF

FIBER PROPERTIES TO BALLISTIC

RESISTANCE

GOALS

To reduce failures of personal body armor by 

developing tests and standards of assessment for 

reliability of the active polymeric materials that 

comprise them. Utilizing the test methods developed in phase I, the research program will be 

expanded to evaluate the property/performance 

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relationships of other ballistic fi bers, such as Kevlar and M5 and the impact of residual processing 

aids on long-term durability of ballistic fi bers. 

Through the preparation of model fi ber systems, 

the program will be expanded to quantify the link 

between molecular structure, ballistic performance, 

and durability. This endeavor will provide a muchneeded database of design parameters to facilitate 

the development of new and more effective ballistic fi bers.

CUSTOMER NEEDS

By developing test methodologies that assist in 

the certifi cation process of protective equipment, 

the most important outcome of this research will 

be to save lives.

TECHNICAL STRATEGY

From Phase I of this research project conducted 

over the last several years it is now known that 

chemical activity (hydrolytic and UV exposures) 

and mechanical folding promotes ballistic fi ber 

degradation. Furthermore, new ballistic technologies suggest that ballistic fi ber performance and 

durability are linked to the molecular structure of 

the polymer. Outputs from Phase I include: (a) 

A moderately invasive test for evaluating the in 

service properties of soft body armor. (b) A new 

device for mechanically degrading yarns, woven 

fabric, and sections of ballistic armor, and (c) A 

new methodology for detecting the presence of 

residual acid.

In Phase I, an armor ballistic performance parameter called U*, which scales with the V50 velocity 

of an armor system, was shown to be related to 

the physical properties of the ballistic fi ber [see 

following equation]. Utilizing this concept, a test 

methodology was developed that monitors the in 

service properties of the ballistic fi ber by testing 

fi bers from a single strand of yarn. This method 

still compromises the integrity of the armor panel 

covering, but only minimally disturbs the ballistic 

panel structure. The new test methodology has 

been termed the modifi ed-single fi ber test (mSFT). A journal publication describing the details, 

reproducibility, and sensitivity of this procedure to 

mechanical degradation is being prepared.
Offi ce of Law Enforcement Standards 7

After determining the reproducibility of the procedure, a detailed investigation was initiated using 

the m-SFT to quantify the degree of degradation 

of aged and worn vests relative to un-aged vests. 

The testing is ongoing since the study involves 

over 1000 samples.

To address the issue of mechanical durability a 

single 180-degree fold was made in single fi ber 

PBO specimens and evaluated using the m-SFT. 

The strain-to-failure and ultimate tensile strength 

of the fi bers (i.e., key parameters that quantify the 

U* parameter) were degraded by approximately 

10 %. A device was then designed and built for the 

repeated folding of ballistic yarns, woven fabric, 

and sections of ballistic armor (see photo below). 

Initial results from a fatigued woven yarn indicate 

that a 20 % drop in the properties of the PBO ballistic fi ber may occur within 7 months of wear. 

A fatigue test is ongoing to simulate longer wear 

times. Since this is a new testing methodology, a 

standard folding protocol must be determined. 

To determine and quantify the morphological 

changes that occur during the mechanical folding of ballistic fi bers, a special attachment was 

purchased for the critical dimension – small angle 

X-ray scattering (CD-SAXS) instrument. Data on 

virgin fi bers shows that the ordered structure of the 

ballistic fi bers can be observed by this approach. 

Analysis algorithms are currently being written to 

illuminate morphological changes that occur in 

damaged ballistic fi bers.

PBO and many ballistic fi bers are precipitated from 

concentrated acid solutions (see fi gure below). 

Many attempts have been made to unambiguously 

detect the presence of residual acid and determine 

the impact of these acids on the hydrolytic degradation of PBO fi bers. Complicating this process 

in PBO is the presence of phosphorus containing 

processing aids. A test methodology was devised 

involving the water extraction of acid species 

coupled with a methylation procedure to facilitate 

detection. Interestingly, initial results indicate that 

the water extraction process removed only 25 % 

of the phosphorus from the fi bers, presumably the 

phosphorus containing processing aids. The fi bers 

are now being manually damaged to facilitate the 

ingress of moisture into the fi bers during the extraction procedure.

The acid research is part of an overall effort to link 

the chemical degradation mechanisms to changes 

in the molecular structure of ballistic fi bers. The 

MALDI (matrix assisted laser desorption ionization) technique is being used to detect and quantify 

these changes in model PBO compounds since 

where

fi ber ultimate axial tensile strength

fi ber ultimate tensile strain

fi ber density

fi ber modulus (assumed to be linear elastic)

[from P. M. Cunniff and M. A. 

Auerbach, “23rd Army Science Conference,” Assistant 

Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology), Orlando, FL, (December 

2002)]

Mechanical Folding Device attached to MTS testing 

platform being loaded with a piece of woven ballistic 

fabric.

Chemistry of preparation and structure of poly(pphenylenebenzoxazole) [PBO] fi bers. Fibers made 

from the reaction of 1,3-diamino-4,6-dihydroxybenzene [DADHB] dihydrochloride with terephthalic acid 

[TA] with poly(phosphoric acid) [PPA] as a catalyst.
8 Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory

ballistic fi bers are insoluble in most mediums. In 

addition, a grinding methodology is being explored 

to facilitate the detection of insoluble ballistic 

fi bers.

We proposed to complete the degree of aging study 

currently underway on worn, aged, and un-aged 

PBO vest and extend the study to include other 

ballistic fi bers. To increase the throughput of this 

analysis procedure, we will evaluate the feasibly 

of modifying the Favimat automatic tensile testing 

device, which is currently being used throughout 

the fi ber industry, to profi le the diameter of the 

tested fi ber and measure the fi ber displacement. 

Utilizing the newly developed mechanical folding 

device, we propose to standardize on a folding 

procedure and test all relevant ballistic fi bers. The 

m-SFT will be used to quantify the properties of the 

tested fi bers, since the m-SFT is the best method 

for quantifying fi ber degradation. Therefore, automation of this technique utilizing the Favimat 

will be critical. The folded fi ber region will also 

be analyzed using the CD-SAXS to quantify morphological changes in the fi ber. The mechanical 

degradation research will be extended to include 

all ballistic fi bers.

In addition to completing the residual acid study, 

we propose to perform the controlled hydrolytic 

and UV exposures on PBO model compounds (see 

fi gure below for PBO model compounds shown in 

red) and PBO fi bers. Initially, MALDI and related 

preparation procedures will be used to identify and 

quantify the degradation pathways. The key technical challenge is this research area is the insolubility 

of the ballistic fi ber. As before, this research will be 

extended to include all relevant ballistic fi bers.

The continued research into M5, which has been 

shown to be hydrolytically and UV stable, by 

Dupont, who also owns Kevlar fi bers, and the 

similarity of the M5 polymer structure to PBO 

indicates that understanding the impact of molecular structure is the key to developing high 

performance and environmentally stable ballistic 

fi bers. To predict the performance and durability 

of these new classes of ballistic fi bers, we propose 

to quantify the impact that molecular modifi cations have on ballistic fi ber performance by having 

model ballistic fi bers prepared that gradually morph 

the structure of PBO to the environmentally stable 

M5 polymer. This type of data should facilitate the 

development of more effi cient ballistic fi bers while 

showing the impact of structural modifi cations on 

ballistic performance. In addition, understanding 

the correlation between structure and performance 

will admit more effi cient screening of new fi bers 

targeted for ballistic applications. 

DELIVERABLES

A detailed investigation using the m-SFT of how 

the physical material properties of worn PBO vests 

compare with un-aged and laboratory aged vests.

Initiate and complete similar studies with Kevlar, M5 

and other ballistic fi bers.

Automate the m-SFT through the use of the fi ber 

industry standard Favimat automated testing 

system. Thereby delivering a protocol that has 

potential for adoption by industry.

Assess using PBO ballistic fi bers the impact of 

mechanical folding on ballistic performance through 

the testing of woven fabric, yarns, and/or sections of 

ballistic material.

Extend this testing protocol to other ballistic fi bers.

Use CD-SAXS to quantify morphological changes in 

ballistic fi bers due to mechanical folding.

Write recommended practice guidelines for the mSFT testing procedure and the mechanical folding 

device.

Determine if phosphoric acid is extractable from 

PBO fi bers and quantify its impact on PBO 

degradation.

Establish the Hydrolysis and UV-photolysis 

degradation mechanisms through the use of 

MALDI, model compounds, chemical modifi cation 

techniques, and relevant analytical techniques.

Establish a database that quantifi es the impact 

of molecular structural changes on ballistic 

performance. Morphing the structure of PBO to the 

M5 ballistic fi ber will do this.

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Proposed model compounds (shown in red) and their 

relevancy to the primary structure of PBO fi bers.
Offi ce of Law Enforcement Standards 9

PROJECT: BALLISTIC LIMIT

EVALUATION

GOALS

To improve the implementation of the conventional 

V50 ballistic limit test so that it can be relied upon 

as an estimator of armor performance. 

CUSTOMER NEEDS

Recent studies of used body armor performance 

have indicated the need for improved ballistic test 

methods. Ballistic limit (V50) and penetrationbackface signature (P-BFS) testing is currently 

used to estimate the performance of body armor, 

but both methods have limitations. P-BFS tests 

can reliably determine if armor exhibits a certain 

level of ballistic resistance, but they cannot show 

if the performance of the body armor has changed, 

unless the performance has shifted dramatically to 

unacceptable levels that produce penetrations. V50 

ballistic limit tests are more likely to identify modest shifts in performance; however, as the tests are 

currently performed they can only provide a rough 

estimate of the ballistic limit and they generally 

cannot determine how well the armor will perform 

at the real threat velocities. Furthermore, the uncertainty associated with the estimated V50 value has 

never been satisfactorily addressed. Improvements 

in the V50 test and data analysis methods can be 

incorporated into the NIJ body armor standard and 

adopted by the armor industry.

TECHNICAL STRATEGY

In 2004 and 2005, research involved analyzing 

the V50 ballistic limit tests from all NIJ Standard0101.04 models tested under the NIJ compliance 

testing program up until that time and fi tting the 

data to a logistic model. The fi tted data and certain 

other characteristics of each data series (experimentally determined V50, low complete velocity, 

zone of mixed results, NIJ reference velocity, 

etc.) were examined to identify weaknesses and 

inconsistencies in the current methods. Followon studies involved the development of computer 

simulations to mirror the test protocols employed 

by test laboratories when they conduct V50 tests. 

Decision making is guided by the prior ballistic test 

results, and the armor performance (penetration 

probability vs. velocity) was modeled as an idealized logistic function. Comparisons were made 

between the V50 values determined via simulation 

and the known V50 values used to defi ne the idealized armor performance function. 

In 2006, the approach was extended and Monte 

Carlo methods were used to explore a wide range 

of armor performance functions and variations 

in V50 test methods, and improved data analysis 

methods were implemented. A spreadsheet tool 

that employs the data analysis methods was also 

developed for ease of use. The Monte Carlo methods are important because they provide insight that 

cannot be determined experimentally because other 

factors interfere with isolating effects of certain 

key variables. Generally it is recognized that more 

ballistic testing can lead to a better characterization of the armor, but in the case of V50 testing, 

understanding how much testing is necessary to 

achieve reasonable levels of confi dence in the results is critical. These simulations have produced 

estimates of bias and uncertainty associated with 

the V50 test method, and have proven invaluable 

in terms of providing evidence to support recommended changes in the amount of testing, in how 

the data are analyzed, and in how the tests should 

be performed.

Further studies are planned to determine if the 

“lower tail” of the armor performance curve can be 

estimated better using various test strategies. The 

more favorable strategies will be experimentally 

demonstrated by testing armor panels or shoot 

packs. 

DELIVERABLES

Test methodology recommendations.

Report summarizing research.

Report of ballistic limit tests demonstrating preferred 

methods.

PROJECT: CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT

PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT

GOALS

To improve the program whereby body armor 

is tested and certifi ed as “compliant” to the NIJ 

standard. This effort provides technical support 

to develop a lab accreditation guide, involvement 

from the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP), and expertise from NIST’s 

Technology Services group specializing in Conformity Assessment.

CUSTOMER NEEDS

The ballistic resistance issue that was discovered 

with used ZYLON-containing body armor has 

highlighted the importance in improving the 

process whereby body armor is certifi ed. With 

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10 Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory

the envisioned improvements, there would be 

greater confi dence that future production lots of 

body armor also complied with the requirements 

of the standard and that used body armor was still 

performing as intended.

TECHNICAL STRATEGY

The performance of body armor is presently assessed against the applicable requirements of 

either:

Ballistic Resistance of Personal Body Armor 

(NIJ Standard–0101.04)

Stab Resistance of Personal Body Armor (NIJ 

Standard–0115.00)

A key gap inherent in the standards exists because 

armor is “certifi ed” based on a test of manufacturer-provided samples that are intended to represent production units without any surveillance 

to provide confi dence that production units meet 

the same minimum performance requirements 

as the tested samples. Ensuring that future production units comply with these requirements is 

not addressed by the standard; instead it is the 

responsibility of the body armor manufacturer to 

prove, and the purchasing authority to require, that 

new production units of body armor comply with 

certain performance requirements. There is much 

confusion about these issues among vest users and 

procurement offi cials. 

An initial assessment of the standards and testing 

program has been made, and an outline for the 

“Body Armor Certifi cation Program” has been 

developed. Potential revisions to the current 

certifi cation program include enhancing the accreditation requirements, audits and assessments 

of the type-testing laboratories and developing a 

factory surveillance program to provide confi dence 

that production units continue to meet the performance requirements. The surveillance program 

will enable the suspension and/or withdrawal of 

certifi cation of models when continued compliance 

is in doubt or no longer demonstrated. Audit and 

assessment of manufacturers’ production facilities, 

quality management system, and inspection of 

production units are surveillance tools that could 

be employed in the certifi cation process. NIST 

intends to work with NIJ to defi ne an improved 

conformity assessment program and then work 

with NIJ’s certifi cation authority to develop the 

necessary program documents.

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PROJECT: DEVELOPMENT AND

VALIDATION OF SHORT-TERM

ARTIFICIAL AGING PROTOCOL FOR

SOFT BODY ARMOR

GOALS

The project goals are to: 

Use previous research into the chemical and 

physical degradation of ballistic fi bers to develop 

an interim protocol for artifi cial aging, suitable 

for incorporation into the revisions to NIJ Standard– 0101.04

Validate this interim artifi cial aging protocol 

by running new ZYLON, Kevlar, and Dyneema 

vests through it, and then comparing their condition 

to the condition of used vests.

Adjust the artifi cial aging protocol based on 

the results to allow it to better approximate fi eld 

aging.

CUSTOMER NEEDS

To comply with the recently modifi ed NIJ requirements for soft body armor (2005 Interim Requirements that became effective September 26, 2005), 

manufacturers are required to provide evidence that 

their product(s) will maintain ballistic performance 

through a declared warranty period. There are signifi cant technical challenges in demonstrating this. 

As an alternative, the introduction of a consistently 

applied artifi cial aging, or “armor pre-conditioning,” protocol would provide an objective method 

for exposing armor to potential damage-causing 

mechanisms, and successful post-exposure ballistic 

test results would provide assurance that the armor 

will maintain acceptable ballistic performance levels under real fi eld conditions. Body armor users 

and the industry will benefi t from this approach 

because the exposure conditions can be applied 

consistently and it results in a demonstration that 

long-term performance requirements are met.

TECHNICAL STRATEGY

In 2003, fi eld failures of body armor manufactured 

from poly(phenylenebenzobisoxazole) (PBO) fi -

bers brought to national attention the need to study 

the service life of ballistic fi bers under a variety of 

environmental and operational conditions. The current NIJ standard does not consider environmental 

factors in vest performance or provide test methods 

to predict the lifetime of the armor. In order to make 

an effort to assess the service life of body armor, 

the fi rst step is to develop a basic artifi cial aging 

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Offi ce of Law Enforcement Standards 11

protocol which will give an approximate idea of 

body armor performance after exposure to aggressive, but reasonable, use and storage conditions. 

Then the protocol will be validated by comparison 

with fi eld return (used) vests.

In early 2006, interactions with industry researchers 

led to a description of a proposed artifi cial aging 

protocol that incorporated elevated temperature, 

humidity, and mechanical damage as stressing 

factors. This protocol is based on an engineering assessment of the fundamental conditions 

infl uencing armor performance degradation. The 

protocol continues to be refi ned and is currently 

being drafted as a part of the revision to NIJ Standard–0101.04. 

Research is planned to perform simple validation 

tests on the protocol and to allow for adjustments 

to the test method to better approximate wear in 

the fi eld. New equipment, including a temperature 

and humidity chamber and a tumbler, has been set 

up and the project is awaiting delivery of armor 

samples. Development of this interim accelerated 

aging protocol is of vital importance to the body 

armor industry. The following are crucial components that are being addressed by this research:

The effect of tumbling/mechanical damage 

on vests will be investigated and guidelines for 

using tumbling to cause mechanical damage will 

be developed.

The effect of the proposed protocol on new 

vests will be established through chemical, physical, and ballistic tests involving vests made from 

common materials such as Kevlar, ZYLON, and 

Dyneema. Later, this research will be extended to 

hybrid armor models.

Comparisons must continue to be made 

between artifi cially aged vests and used fi eld 

return vests to ensure that the damage induced in 

the artifi cial aging protocol is reasonable.

Input from key industry players: Collaborations must be established between users, industry, 

and NIJ/NIST-OLES to acquire materials for these 

studies. 

DELIVERABLES

Report summarizing the results of validation tests.

Peer reviewed journal paper on damage effects.

Final report describing protocol recommended for 

incorporation into standard.

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PROJECT: REVIEW AND UPDATE OF

THE BALLISTIC-RESISTANT BODY

ARMOR STANDARD

GOALS

To conduct a review of the body armor program and 

further strengthen the NIJ body armor standard and 

associated Compliance Testing Program.

CUSTOMER NEEDS

A critical review of the incident in Forest Hills and 

subsequent discussions with the criminal justice 

and public safety communities have clearly shown 

the need for more oversight of ongoing body armor 

performance and for changes to provide confi dence 

that all body armor produced satisfi es certain ballistic performance requirements. To address this, 

revisions to the ballistic-resistant body armor 

standard and related compliance testing program 

are necessary. 

TECHNICAL STRATEGY

Consideration was given to input received from 

public safety agencies, organizations, and associations; manufacturers; and standards and testing 

organizations. This input coupled with research 

initiatives underway have led to recommendations 

to strengthen the ballistic-resistant body armor 

standard in the following areas: change shot-toedge distances, revise threat levels, change V50 

testing protocols, introduce artifi cial aging protocols, and test various sizes of body armor. These 

changes in concert with a more robust conformity 

assessment program are expected to strengthen 

the body armor standards and testing program to 

address the concerns expressed by the criminal 

justice and public safety communities.

Other efforts planned for the future will investigate 

additional improvements that could be incorporated into future versions of the standard, such as 

the development of an improved torso surrogate, 

introduction of electronic measurements of impact 

conditions, establishment of requirements of multiple shot resistance, development of contact shot 

methodologies, and establishment of coverage area 

requirements.

DELIVERABLES

Briefi ngs to law enforcement, corrections, public 

safety, and industry personnel on proposed changes 

to the NIJ standard and testing program.

Draft revised body armor standard for comment and 

review.

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12 Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory

PROJECT: BLUNT TRAUMA RESEARCH

AND DEVELOPMENT OF AN IMPROVED

TEST METHODOLOGY

GOALS

To develop a robust test methodology for evaluating the injury potential from Behind Armor Blunt 

Trauma (BABT) based on biomechanical studies. 

CUSTOMER NEEDS

An area identifi ed in the current NIJ standard 

requiring further attention is related to test fi xturing and the backface deformation performance 

requirement that is often associated with the threat 

due to BABT. Deformation of body armor during the ballistic impact event may lead to injuries 

behind the armor. Though the NIJ standard has 

been successful in defi ning a test methodology and 

performance requirements that led to effective body 

armor systems, the biomechanical basis for using 

clay deformation to characterize BABT is uncertain. Unlike the clay, the human thorax is generally 

viscoelastic, so it is unlikely the response of clay 

is appropriate for widely varying rates or ranges 

of deformation. The current test methodology was 

validated using goat experiments performed over 

30 years ago. In addition, the standard does not 

account for the “penciling effect.” This impact does 

not penetrate the skin, but results in deep deformation over a small area.

Optimization of soft body armor systems requires 

a more biofi delic coupling of the body armor and 

the fi xture on which it is mounted for testing. 

Thoracic deformations having the same deformation depths, but different cavity volumes may have 

signifi cantly different risks of serious injury, and 

the standard does not address this possibility. In addition, defi ciencies identifi ed with the clay system 

argue for the development of a robust technique for 

BABT injury assessment. Beyond the existing NIJ 

standard, there exists no generally accepted injury 

criterion for thoracic BABT.

TECHNICAL STRATEGY

Two separate efforts have been initiated to address 

the needs identifi ed. Biokinetics and Associates 

Ltd. was awarded a contract to develop a torso 

impact membrane that reproduces the human response for BABT assessment. Development of 

the enhanced technique for evaluating body armor 

will involve:

Engineering of the membrane structure to 

produce a robust and repeatable physical response 

that responds in a human-like manner. 

Identifi cation of a relevant engineering measurement, such as force, acceleration, etc. that may 

be used to quantify the physical response of the 

torso. The instrumentation is intended to indicate 

the severity of the ballistic impact. 

Establishment of an injury risk evaluation, 

which is accomplished by correlating the engineering measurement and an injury model. The 

injury risk evaluation is expected to be based on 

mid-thoracic injury tolerance levels. In the NIJ 

standard, the injury risk evaluation is based on a 

maximum clay deformation of 44 mm. Under this 

program, the injury risk evaluation will be based 

on other quantities obtained from biomechanics 

research.

Validation of the injury model, which is accomplished by correlating the injury risk evaluation to a physical model of injury. A meaningful 

injury risk model must be validated using: 1) 

epidemiology or physical reconstruction of actual 

injury events, 2) an animal injury model, or 3) a 

cadaveric human injury model. Development of a 

relationship between a robust torso surrogate and 

a validated injury model is crucial to the success 

of this approach. The injury model for the NIJ 

standard includes animal tests that were scaled 

to human values. Under this program, the injury 

model will be based on epidemiology and existing 

injury models established by other biomechanics 

research programs.

With the development of an instrumented torso 

surrogate, a two-step process for evaluating body 

armor will be considered. The potential for bullet 

penetration would be assessed fi rst on a surrogate 

with minimal cost risk (i.e., should a penetration 

occur, valuable instrumentation would not be lost). 

Following the penetration assessment, further tests 

on an instrumented surrogate would assess the 

potential for BABT impact injuries for those body 

armor systems that pass the penetration tests.

The second research effort supporting this project 

will provide epidemiological data. This research 

is being conducted by Wayne State University, 

which was awarded a contract to study the types 

of injuries sustained by offi cers wearing body 

armor. Study candidates will be identifi ed from 

the IACP/DuPont Survivors’ Club database, and 

after obtaining approvals, the medical details will 

be assessed by subject matter experts.

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Offi ce of Law Enforcement Standards 13

DELIVERABLES

Torso impact membrane design and test 

methodology recommendations.

Report describing epidemiological fi ndings.

PROJECT: BULLET DEFORMATION

BEHAVIOR

GOALS

To provide quantitative measurements of the 

deformation behavior of commercial bullets that 

threaten wearers of body armor to improve the 

ballistic threat assessments used in the NIJ Ballistic-Resistant Body Armor standard. 

CUSTOMER NEEDS

An effective body armor standard depends on the 

ability to accurately characterize the ballistic threats 

facing offi cers. The NIJ standard currently specifi es bullet velocity, mass, and basic construction 

(collectively constituting a “threat level”), but it 

does not address how the material properties of 

the various bullets, such as strength, ductility and 

strain rate sensitivity affect their ability to penetrate 

body armor. These properties can vary among bullets classifi ed in a single threat level category due 

to different fabrication methods or different alloy 

compositions used by the various bullet manufacturers. Currently there is no test or means to evaluate the effect of these variations in bullet properties 

on the performance of body armor.

The customers of this project are those developing 

and using the NIJ ballistic-resistant body armor 

standard. This includes modelers who use constitutive models for bullet materials to simulate 

ballistic impacts on body armor, and government 

and industry researchers evaluating new threats. 

Ultimately, the benefi ciaries of this work include 

all who employ body armor for personal protection 

in the line of duty.

TECHNICAL STRATEGY

Originally this effort began because of concerns 

over the threat posed by some types of frangible 

ammunition to soft body armor. “Frangible ammunition” is ammunition loaded with a bullet that 

is designed to shatter into small pieces upon impact 

with hard surfaces. Generally this type of ammunition is free of lead, and because of its tendency 

to shatter upon impact, thereby minimizing the 

potential for ricochets and collateral damage, it has 

gained widespread acceptance for use on shoot-

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ing ranges, training exercises, and in some cases, 

certain tactical situations. Frangible ammunition 

is currently used by several government agencies, 

state and local law enforcement agencies, and other 

public safety agencies.

Work from various agencies and other groups was 

reviewed and construction details were researched 

to better understand differences between various 

types of frangible bullets. Ballistic tests using 

different types of frangible ammunition were also 

conducted against conventional soft body armor. 

Results suggested that some types of ammunition 

posed potentially serious problems that were not 

refl ected in the NIJ ballistic-resistant body armor 

standard. To study this further, efforts were initiated to evaluate the infl uence of bullet material 

properties and construction on the penetration 

ability of the bullet against soft body armor using 

fi nite element modeling. However, the high-strain 

rate mechanical properties necessary for modeling 

are generally not available. To address this, we began development of a dynamic material properties 

database for bullet and armor materials, including 

high rate and heating effects. 

Simply measuring the complete set of attributes 

for every material used in commercially available 

bullets is prohibitively time consuming and costly. 

Instead, a simple mechanical test was proposed to 

quickly evaluate and compare the overall deformation behavior of all commercially-available bullets. 

This technique was demonstrated on high strain 

rate mechanical testing of frangible bullets using 

the NIST Kolsky Bar. A similar approach has been 

taken to study high-strain rate mechanical properties of individual polymer fi bers used in ballistics 

applications at Purdue University. Results from 

those mechanical properties tests have supported 

modeling work on frangible bullet deformation and 

fracture behavior. 

Finite element analysis of a bullet deforming in a 

Kolsky Bar test. One quarter of the bullet is modeled.
14 Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory

The bullet characterization test subjects bullets to a 

precise impact load in the NIST Kolsky Bar facility. 

High speed video cameras capture the deformation of the bullet, and strain gage measurements 

record the applied force during deformation. The 

results can then be used to assess whether bullets 

of a given threat category produced by different 

manufacturers deform similarly or not. Then detailed metallurgical analyses will be performed on 

bullets that exhibit unusual deformations, including 

microstructure, yield stress and strain rate sensitivity measurements. The property data will then be 

used to predict the deformation observed in the 

Kolsky Bar tests using fi nite element analysis. The 

predictions will reveal the underlying causes of the 

varied deformation, whether they are due to geometry effects or property differences. The results 

of this work will enable an improved assessment 

of the current ballistic threat classifi cation used in 

the body armor standard and, if necessary, to serve 

as a basis for developing a new, more useful classifi cation system that would provide a better threat 

assessment for the next body armor standard.

The Technical Support Working Group is also 

sponsoring a related effort to examine the ballistic penetration performance of a wide variety 

of ammunition of interest to law enforcement. 

That information will become part of a projectile 

database, and when coupled with constitutive data 

from this project, will support advanced model 

development efforts.

DELIVERABLES

Year 1:

A data set of whole-bullet Kolsky Bar tests, including 

load vs. time during bullet deformation and video 

record of bullet deformation for at least 40 bullets 

from various threat categories and manufacturers.

Evaluation of data set for consistency of deformation 

behavior within the existing categories identifi ed in 

NIJ Standard 0101.04 and identifi cation of possible 

outliers.

Years 2 and 3:

Forensic metallurgical analysis of outlier and 

representative bullets from the same NIJ 0101.04 

category. 

Finite element model of deformation of outlier and 

representative bullet using existing constitutive 

models of bullet materials as needed to identify 

possible structural infl uences on deformation 

behavior.

Improved constitutive models for bullet materials 

based on in-house test data, as needed. 

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Final analysis of the deformation behavior of outlier 

and normal bullets and conclusions as to the 

primary structural or material behaviors leading to 

unusual deformation behavior.

Suggestions for revised categories of ballistic 

threats and recommended test methods/

characteristic data needed to classify bullets into 

these new categories for next generation Body 

Armor Standards.

PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

PROGRAM

A number of projects are underway to revise other 

protective equipment performance standards. Similar to the body armor program, the public safety 

community depends on these standards to assist 

them in making informed purchasing decisions 

about important life safety equipment.

PROJECT: NIJ STANDARD–0106.01, 

“BALLISTIC HELMETS” 

GOALS

The objective of this project is to revise the NIJ 

“Ballistic Helmets” standard and establish new 

performance levels and test methods based on 

ballistic impact biomechanics research.

CUSTOMER NEEDS

The new standard will lead to improved helmet 

designs that will increase the probability of user 

survivability. It will also provide a standard in 

which the user community has confi dence. Customers will also fi nd that more test laboratories will 

be able to perform this testing because of changes 

to the equipment required for testing.

The current NIJ helmet standard is more than 

twenty years old, was not regularly updated, and 

was not based on ballistic impact biomechanical 

principles. Research conducted in the “Study of 

Head Injuries During Ballistic Loading of Helmets” 

by the University of Virginia Impact Biomechanics 

Center (under contract to the U.S. Army Soldier 

and Biological Chemical Command’s Natick Soldier Center (NSC)) indicated that requirements 

in the existing standard may not ensure adequate 

protection for individuals wearing ballistic protective helmets meeting the standard. Additionally, 

relatively few helmets are certifi ed to the existing 

standard due to a number of reasons: NIJ does not 

administer a formal Compliance Testing Program 

for ballistic helmets; the test equipment is diffi cult 

to obtain; and the performance levels are outdated 

and have not kept pace with those defi ned in the 

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Offi ce of Law Enforcement Standards 15

ballistic-resistant body armor standard. The new 

standard will reduce the risk of serious injury due 

to ballistic impacts, as well as standardize testing 

and performance requirements based on modern 

ballistic impact biomechanical principles.

TECHNICAL STRATEGY

Work will continue under a contract to Biokinetics and Associates Ltd. Numerous issues will be 

addressed: 1) the current revision only addresses 

threats up to level II, while existing helmet technologies can readily provide higher levels of 

protection; 2) the threat defi nitions in the current 

revision are different from those in the recently 

updated ballistic-resistant body armor standard; 3) 

instrumentation for assessing helmet performance 

has improved dramatically; and 4) head trauma 

research has led to a better understanding of injury 

mechanisms and injury risk criteria. A recently 

developed ballistic helmet test rig with a load cell 

module to measure impact loadings will be used to 

validate the improved test method against a number 

of commercial and experimental helmet designs. A 

draft revised standard will be written and sent out 

for comment and review.

DELIVERABLES

Report describing validation tests conducted under 

contract.

Test equipment and instrumentation.

Draft revised standard.

PROJECT: NIJ STANDARD–0108.01, 

“BALLISTIC RESISTANCE OF

PROTECTIVE MATERIALS” 

GOALS

The objective of this project is to revise the NIJ 

standard that establishes minimum performance 

requirements and methods of test for ballistic resistant protective materials.

CUSTOMER NEEDS

Law enforcement agencies rely on the NIJ Standard–0108.01 to ensure the quality and reliability 

of ballistic resistant materials used for personal 

protection purposes. These materials are of many 

types, and can be found in shields, ballistic resistant 

plates, and vehicle armor.

The current revision of the standard, NIJ Standard–

0108.01 was released in September 1985. It added 

ballistic threat level IIIA and established threat level 

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classifi cations that were consistent with other NIJ 

standards for ballistic protection. Since that time, 

an extensive amount of work was done that led to 

the NIJ ballistic-resistant body armor standard (NIJ 

Standard–0101.04), and more recently, the next 

version of the standard, which is still in draft form. 

The current NIJ Standard–0108.01 does not refl ect 

any of the improvements that have been introduced 

into the ballistic resistant body armor standard, and 

harmonizing the test methods and threat levels of 

the two ballistic standards is important.

TECHNICAL STRATEGY

Several improvements that have been recommended for the NIJ ballistic-resistant body armor 

standard will be incorporated into the draft revision 

of the Ballistic Resistant Materials standard. Improvements include introduction of a V50 ballistic 

limit test methodology and updating of the ballistic 

threats. Further clarifi cations of the scope of the 

standard are also necessary, and a determination 

will be made whether to include testing of transparent materials in the revised standard or to develop a 

separate performance standard for those materials. 

Additional work is planned to evaluate alternative sample mounting methods, and experimental 

validation tests of the recommended methods will 

be conducted.

DELIVERABLES

Revised draft standard.

Summary report of validation tests.

PROJECT: NIJ STANDARD–0104.02, 

“RIOT HELMETS AND FACE SHIELDS” 

GOALS 

The objective of this project is to revise NIJ Standard–0104.02.

CUSTOMER NEEDS

NIJ Standard–0104.02, “Riot Helmets and Face 

Shields,” was last reviewed in October 1984. 

Since that time, technological improvements 

incorporated into helmets and face shields offer 

better protection, and research has led to a better understanding of head and neck injuries. An 

improved performance standard that incorporates 

these considerations into it will allow law enforcement and corrections personnel to specify and 

procure improved equipment that offers higher 

levels of protection.

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16 Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory

TECHNICAL STRATEGY

Other national standards dealing with helmets 

were reviewed and comments from practitioners 

were considered to develop a solicitation seeking 

a technical contractor to conduct further research 

leading to a revised draft of the standard. In 2006 a 

contract was awarded to Biokinetics and Associates 

Ltd. to conduct research leading to the establishment of a draft standard. Improvements envisioned 

include revising the threat levels to be consistent 

with current injury threshold research, requiring 

the use of ISO headforms, adopting fl ammability 

resistance test methods, and giving consideration to 

the performance of the “tails” protecting the nape. 

Validation tests are also anticipated to confi rm that 

the test methods can be applied to a fair selection of 

commercially available riot helmets on the market. 

The contract duration is 18 months. After delivery 

of the draft standard, it will be circulated for review 

and comment by interested parties and then submitted to NIJ for fi nal review and publication. 

DELIVERABLES

Revised draft standard for comment and review.

Validation test report.

Finalized revised standard.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Provided technical leadership for the Attorney 

General’s Body Armor Safety Initiative. 

Determined degradation mechanisms responsible for diminished ballistic performance of PBOcontaining body armor in fi eld service. 

Drafted a series of reports for the National 

Institute of Justice that described fi ndings related 

to the PBO-containing body armor performance 

assessment. 

Hosted a Body Armor Workshop to inform 

practitioners and the body armor industry about 

activities being conducted under the Body Armor Safety Initiative, to discuss ideas under 

consideration for the next version of the body 

armor standard, and to solicit feedback from the 

participants.

Developed test and measurement methods 

for assessing changes in PBO and other ballistic 

materials. Methods are based on assessing certain 

chemical and mechanical properties.

Developed specifi c recommendations for improving the NIJ body armor standard.

Developed an engineering solution to establish 

an artifi cial aging protocol for soft body armor 

that will be used to pre-condition body armor 

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before ballistic certifi cation testing, thus providing increased confi dence that the body armor will 

maintain intended ballistic performance levels after 

it is pressed into fi eld service.

Initiated the establishment of a robust conformity assessment program for body armor, but 

which could also be applied to other equipment 

certifi cation programs.

Developed improved test methodologies for 

assessing ballistic helmets.

PUBLICATIONS

Forster, A. L., Chin, J. W., Gundlach, M., “Effect of Bending and 

Mechanical Damage on the Physical Properties of Polybenzobisoxazole (PBO) Fiber.” Polymer Preprints (in press).

Chin, J. W., Forster, A. L., Rice, K. “Temperature and Moisture 

Aging of Polybenzobisoxazole Fibers.” Polymer Preprints (in 

press). 

G. A. Holmes, K. Rice, and C. R. Snyder. “Ballistic Fibers: A 

Review of the Thermal, Ultraviolet and Hydrolytic Stability of 

the Benzoxazole Ring Structure.” Journal of Materials Science, 

41(13), 4105-4116 (2006).

U.S. Department of Justice report, “Third Status Report to the 

Attorney General on Body Armor Safety Initiative Testing and 

Activities.” NCJ 210418, (August 24, 2005).

J. Chin, E. Byrd, A. Forster, X. Gu, T. Nguyen, W. Rossiter, S. Scierka, L. Sung, P. Stutzman, J. Sieber, and K. Rice. 

“Chemical and Physical Characterization of Poly(p-phenylene 

benzobisoxazole) Fibers Used in Body Armor.” NISTIR 7237, 

(March 2005).

U.S. Department of Justice report, “Status Report to the Attorney General on Body Armor Safety Initiative Testing and 

Activities.” NCJ 204534, (March 11, 2004).

U.S. Department of Justice report, “Supplement I: Status Report 

to the Attorney General on Body Armor Safety Initiative Testing 

and Activities.” NCJ 207605, (December 27, 2004).

S. P. Mates, R. Rhorer, S. W. Banovic, E. Whitenton, and R. J. 

Fields. “High Rate Tensile Strength Measurements of Frangible 

Bullets using a Kolsky Bar.” in Proceedings of the 2006 SEM 

Annual Conference and Exposition on Experimental and Applied Mechanics, June 4-7 2006, St. Louis, MO, USA.

S. W. Banovic. “Microstructural Characterization and Mechanical Behavior of Cu-Sn Frangible Bullets.” Submitted to Material 

Science and Engineering A.

PRESENTATIONS AND POSTERS

NIJ JUICE Session July 2006, Washington, DC “Artifi cial Aging Protocols” (Presentation).

NIJ Body Armor Technical Working Group Meeting, Washington DC, April 2006 “Short Term Artifi cial Aging Protocols 

for Incorporation into the Revised NIJ 0101.04 Body Armor 

Standard” (Presentation).

American Chemical Society, Atlanta GA, March 2006 “Effect 

of Bending and Mechanical Damage on the Physical Properties 

of Polybenzobisoxazole (PBO) Fiber” (Presentation).

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Offi ce of Law Enforcement Standards 17

DETECTION, INSPECTION, AND ENFORCEMENT

TECHNOLOGIES

Technical Contacts:

Nicholas Paulter

Donald Larson

Staff-Years:

7

As America’s homeland security efforts to detect, 

locate, and interdict threats intensify, the work of 

OLES’ Detection, Inspection and Enforcement 

Technologies program becomes increasingly 

important. 

This program has been continually improving the 

NIJ standards for walk-through and hand-held 

metal detectors. Two continuing projects focus on 

testing and improving the capabilities of current 

walk-through metal detectors (WTMDs) and handheld metal detectors (HHMDs). The latest revision 

of HHMD standard, NIJ Std-0602.03, was recently 

completed. This revision updated the requirements 

and improved one of the test methods. The next 

step is to establish an NIJ test and evaluation program for this standard. The WTMD standard is also 

being revised. The changes will include updating 

the requirements, as was done with the HHMD 

standard, and revising several test procedures bearing in mind the cost of test cannot be prohibitively 

expensive. One issue, common to both HHMD 

and WTMD testing, is the materials used to fabricate the test objects. Although the geometry and 

material specifi cations are accurately defi ned, this 

does not guarantee the electromagnetic properties 

of the test objects are reproducible, which is important for device assessment. Consequently, we 

are testing a sample of metals to get mean values 

and lot-to-lot and between-manufacturer variations 

for the appropriate electromagnetic properties. In 

addition, human phantoms will be developed to 

emulate the electromagnetic properties of humans, 

thereby removing the last nonquantitative test from 

the standards. 

A draft of the NIJ standard for the portable X-ray 

systems used by bomb technicians to identify improvised explosive devices and subsequently plan 

strategies for their interdiction has been recently 

completed. This revision introduces mechanical 

tolerance, electromagnetic immunity, and environmental tolerance requirements. Another revision 

has been started to address imaging quality requirements. Presently, the image quality requirement 

is not rigorous nor does it lend itself to objective 

evaluation. We plan on separating this requirement into several metrics that can be objectively 

evaluated. We are also examining the possibility 

of establishing protocols for including the effects 

of human perception in these requirements.

This year, the Detection, Inspection and Enforcement Technologies program started a new and 

broad program in imaging quality as applied to 

systems and devices used by emergency responder, 

law enforcement, criminal justice, and security 

providing agencies. Thus far, this program includes 

developing minimum performance requirements 

for the X-ray backscatter systems used for personnel screening, the portable X-ray systems as 

mentioned above, the infrared cameras used by 

fi refi ghters, visible-light digital video cameras 

used by police and other agencies performing 

surveillance, and radio-frequency through-wall 

surveillance and imaging systems. Each of these 

activities has unique requirements for evaluating 

the performance of the imager, including for example, unique test objects and test scenarios. This 

will be discussed in detail below. 

Three activities are presently being supported for 

detection of concealed objects. This includes two 

passive imaging systems, one directed to short 

stand-off (1 m to 5 m) imaging in both indoor 

and outdoor environments and with sufficient 

thermal resolution to allow rapid acquisition rates 

(> 20 fps), and the other dedicated to long standoff (to 100 m) for suicide bomber detection. Both 
18 Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory

systems use cyro-cooled detector technology, 

which has become a commercially-viable solution 

in the last few years because of the development 

of related medical imaging technology. The short 

stand-off system uses standard silicon technology 

thereby signifi cantly reducing the cost of the arrays 

relative to presently-available indium-phosphidebased detectors and associated low-noise amplifi ers. The long stand-off system will leverage the 

now-mature and reliable technology developed by 

NIST for astronomical research. The third activity 

is the development of a pulsed terahertz system 

based on optical pulse generation and sampling 

techniques.

The Detection, Inspection, and Enforcement Technologies program is also developing evaluation 

standards for advanced human recognition systems 

that will allow qualitative performance testing of 

recognition products over a wide range of watchlist and access-control applications.

In the enforcement arena, standards for traffi c speed 

measuring devices are constantly being updated to 

keep pace with the enhancements manufacturers introduce into their products to improve the ability of 

law enforcement offi cers to catch speed offenders 

on our nation’s highways and roads. In addition, a 

new standard is being prepared for detection systems that capture information of light violations at 

traffi c-light controlled intersections.

PROJECT: NIJ STANDARD–0601.02, 

“WALK-THROUGH METAL DETECTORS

FOR USE IN CONCEALED WEAPON AND

CONTRABAND DETECTION” 

GOALS

To continue improving the latest revision of the 

Walk-Through Metal Detector (WTMD) performance standard, design and implement improvements to the robot used for WTMD performance 

tests, and provide technical assistance in the 

establishment of the NIJ Compliance Testing 

Program. 

CUSTOMER NEEDS

Increasing attention is being given to checkpoint 

security, and great confi dence is placed in walkthrough metal detectors to detect items that might 

pose a threat to public safety. Routinely, one can 

fi nd WTMDs being used to screen correctional 

facility populations and their visitors, as well as to 

screen people for admission to airport terminals, 

courthouses, schools, sports stadiums, amusement 

parks, and political events, and this is only a partial 

list. It is essential for the WTMD to be adjusted 

properly to sense the types of threat objects of interest, and that it performs this detection function 

accurately and reliably. The WTMD performance 

standard fi lls an important void in that it is the only 

reference developed specifi cally for these products 

that ties together many important performance 

requirements (electrical safety and vulnerability, 

electromagnetic compatibility, detection performance, and environmental resistance). 

Historically, WTMD manufacturers were not 

compelled to design their products to meet a broad 

array of performance requirements, but rather only 

a subset of requirements to meet basic electrical 

safety and perhaps electromagnetic emissions 

requirements. In consultation with a group of 

industry, users, and government representatives, 

OLES developed what has now become the current 

version of the NIJ “Walk-Through Metal Detector” 

performance standard, NIJ Standard–0601.02. A 

formal WTMD Compliance Testing Program based 

on this standard was initiated in mid-FY2002 and 

completed in FY2003. NIST worked closely with 

the National Law Enforcement and Corrections 

Technology Center (NLECTC) and a commercial 

test laboratory to implement the WTMD Compliance Testing Program, through which several 

models of commercially available WTMDs were 

tested. This test program has proven very valuable, both in terms of generating data on products 

of interest and in terms of pinpointing areas in the 

standard that could be improved further. Comments and suggestions for further improvements 

to the standard were, and continue to be, collected 

from industry. 

Since the fi rst series of tests under the Compliance Testing Program, numerous requests have 

been made by manufacturers and procurement 

authorities to have units tested against the standard. 

Presently there are no commercial laboratories 

recognized by NIJ to do this. This project will start 

on the next revision of the standard and provide the 

technical support needed to implement an ongoing 

Compliance Testing Program. 

TECHNICAL STRATEGY

Provide technical support to NIJ and the 

NLECTC, which will administer the Compliance 

Testing Program, for re-establishing the testing 

program.

Revise standard, including the following: 

1) revise test procedures; 2) update references 

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Offi ce of Law Enforcement Standards 19

to other standards; and 3) revise performance 

requirements.

Publish the new test objects document that 

includes fabrication details for the test object, 

materials of construction, and required test orientations. 

Modify the OLES robot. Of special interest 

is the addition of hardware to minimize test object 

bounce and to improve positional accuracy. Software modifi cations are also planned to improve the 

measurement process.

DELIVERABLES

Revised standard.

Separate test objects document.

Administrative manual for test program.

Compliance test report form.

PROJECT: NIJ STANDARD–0602.02, 

“HANDHELD METAL DETECTORS FOR

USE IN CONCEALED WEAPON AND

CONTRABAND DETECTION” 

GOALS

To implement the latest revision of the Hand-Held 

Metal Detector (HHMD) performance standard, 

and provide technical assistance to the NIJ’s Compliance Testing Program.

CUSTOMER NEEDS

Hand-held metal detectors are often used to 

supplement the interrogation provided by walkthrough metal detectors (WTMDs), especially if 

the WTMD gives a positive alarm. The HHMD 

allows the security screener to pinpoint areas of 

primary concern and to inspect them more closely 

to detect items that might pose a threat to public 

safety. These devices are found nearly everywhere 

that WTMDs are found, and they are often the last 

inspection devices used to screen someone; therefore, it is critical that they perform their intended 

function accurately and reliably. As is the case 

with WTMDs, manufacturers of HHMDs were 

not compelled to design their products to meet a 

broad array of performance requirements, but this 

standard and a coordinated Compliance Testing 

Program will fi ll that void. 

In consultation with a group of industry, users, and 

government representatives, OLES has developed 

a draft revision of the NIJ “Hand-Held Metal Detector” performance standard, which will be NIJ 

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Standard–0602.03. Both manufacturers and users 

have requested establishment of a sustainable test 

program through which HHMD performance can 

be certifi ed. A formal Compliance Testing Program 

based on this standard has not been initiated.

With the new revision of the standard and the 

establishment of a Compliance Testing Program, 

manufacturers will be able to assess their designs 

against the full array of performance requirements, 

make adjustments to improve their designs to address vulnerabilities that might be exposed during 

testing, and allow users of HHMDs to purchase 

compliant products with confi dence. The standard has been used by quality manufacturers as a 

developmental aid to achieve improved HHMD 

performance. 

The current activities of this project are to publish 

the draft revision of the NIJ standard and to provide 

the technical support required to implement an 

ongoing Compliance Testing Program. 

TECHNICAL STRATEGY

Provide technical support to NIJ and NLECTC, 

which will administer the Compliance Testing Program. Assist in identifi cation of laboratories that 

can conduct the tests in the standard and work 

closely with NLECTC to implement the HHMD 

Compliance Testing Program.

Publish the new test objects document that 

includes fabrication details for the test object, 

materials of construction, and required test orientations.

DELIVERABLES

Revised standard.

Identifi cation of laboratories.

Test objects document.

Administrative manual for test program.

Compliance test report form.

PROJECT: EVALUATION OF BIOMETRIC

RECOGNITION SYSTEMS

GOALS 

To design methods for the evaluation of systems 

and technologies that identify humans in imagery 

and promote and advance face recognition technology designed to support existing face recognition 

efforts in the U.S. Government. Questions to be 

addressed include: has face recognition technology 

performance improved by an order of magnitude 

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20 Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory

since the last formal independent evaluation; how 

well does it perform based on different image/video 

quality levels? Is there correlation with other biometrics such as iris? This technology will improve 

public services and benefi t law enforcement and 

homeland security applications.

CUSTOMER NEEDS

In prior fi scal years, NIST has been funded to conduct data gathering efforts, which have resulted in a 

human identifi cation database. Using the database, 

NIST has developed the measurement methods 

for analyzing performance of facial recognition 

systems. The methods have proven suffi ciently 

generic such that iris recognition systems can be 

evaluated in much the same manner. Indeed the 

measurement techniques and performance statistics 

are applicable to a wide range of biometrics, and 

non-human recognition tasks.

This effort is funded by the National Institute of 

Justice. Several image databases have been used 

for the NIST face tests. First, a NIST-gathered collection of volunteer images constitutes a database 

of multi-modal, multi-site, and multi-biometric 

collection. Second, 6.8M operational images from 

the Department of State give very large-scale performance numbers that are predictive of deployed 

performance in visa processing applications. Two 

additional databases collected at other government 

and academic facilities contain multi-modal images 

and video streams that can be used to test correlation between various biometric applications.

This effort will lead to increased effi ciency and 

accuracy of verifi cation/identifi cation systems; 

allow quantitative performance testing of human 

recognition technology over a wide range of watchlist and access-control applications. 

This project represents a continuation of the face 

and iris recognition evaluation projects that are 

anticipated to continue for at least another year. 

Emphasis will be on analyzing current evaluation 

results, measuring performance on various quality 

levels, and conducting correlation testing with other 

biometric modalities. An additional emphasis on 

performance from high and low quality video is 

anticipated.

These independent and unbiased technical evaluations are activities to which NIST is uniquely 

qualifi ed. Related activities at NIST include face 

recognition technology development, evaluation 

of iris recognition, and mandated certifi cation of 

government face recognition systems under the 

US Patriot Act. 

TECHNICAL STRATEGY

NIST will conduct a series of independent, government evaluations on face and iris recognition and 

analyze the results to measure improved performance accuracy and correlation between biometric 

modalities. 

NIST will administer the Facial Recognition Verifi cation Test (FRVT) 2006 and the Iris Challenge 

Evaluation (ICE) 2006 independent Government 

evaluations and write the fi nal report for the Face 

Recognition Grand Challenge (FRGC).

NIST will administer the FRVT 2006 and the ICE 

2006 independent Government evaluations, analyze the results and write the fi nal reports. 

DELIVERABLES

A summary report will be written upon the 

completion of each biometric evaluation. The fi nal 

report on the FRGC is to be completed by the end of 

the fourth quarter.

PROJECT: FAST CAPTURE

EVALUATION

GOALS 

To evaluate fast capture devices for collecting 

rolled-equivalent fingerprints being developed 

under grants awarded by NIJ. Questions to be addressed include: does the device effectively capture 

fi ngerprints; with what speed; at what resolution, 

with what quality; and are the fi ngerprints captured 

compatible with legacy fi ngerprint systems and 

repositories? These devices promise an order of 

magnitude decrease in capture time, making it 

more effi cient to collect rolled fi ngerprints from 

subjects. This technology, if proven, will improve 

public services and benefi t law enforcement and 

homeland security applications.

CUSTOMER NEEDS

Tenprint capture technology today on average 

requires (under ideal circumstances) around 3 

minutes to process a subject. New fast capture 

technologies promise complete tenprint capture 

on the order of 10 seconds.

Legacy fi ngerprints and systems have been designed to process inked fi ngerprint cards that have 

been scanned and live scan fi ngerprint images. To 

date, hundreds of millions of prints have been collected and enrolled into systems such as the FBI 

IAFIS and DHS IDENT. The sensor technologies 

being applied in this fast capture initiative are 

considerably different. These include contactless 

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Offi ce of Law Enforcement Standards 21

sensors and photographic capture of friction skin 

detail. Tests are required to determine the quality of 

fi ngerprint images produced by these new devices 

and their compatibility with legacy fi ngerprint 

systems and repositories.

This project represents a new activity that is anticipated to go on for at least two years. These NIST 

evaluations are commencing at the end of the fi rst 

year of NIJ funding to grant awardees, and the 

evaluations are expected to continue through at 

least the end of a second year of NIJ funding.

These independent and unbiased technical evaluations are activities to which NIST is uniquely 

qualified. Related activities at NIST include 

mandated certifi cation of government fi ngerprint 

systems under the US Patriot Act, and mandated 

testing and certifi cation for PIV, which include the 

development and standardization of a fi ngerprint 

image quality algorithm along with SDK fi ngerprint matcher tests.

This effort will lead to increased effi ciency and 

accuracy; increased latent search ability improving 

prosecutions and forensic investigations.

TECHNICAL STRATEGY

NIST will receive prototype devices on loan from 

NIJ and conduct a series of investigative tests to 

evaluate the fi ngerprint images produced by these 

devices. Factors to be studied include: fi ngerprint 

image quality, fi ngerprint compatibility, capture 

speed, and device usability. It should be noted 

that this project will not include any large-scale 

data collection.

DELIVERABLES

A summary report will be written and given to NIJ 

upon the completion of each device evaluation. 

Quarterly reports and an annual report will be 

provided

PROJECT: TECHNOLOGIES FOR

TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT

GOALS

To develop and maintain performance specifi cations that assure the accuracy and reliability of 

speed-measuring devices and systems used by 

law enforcement, and to assist the International 

Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) with administering an independent testing program from which 

a products list for each type of speed-measuring 

device is maintained.

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CUSTOMER NEEDS

Police traffi c radar devices have been used in this 

country to detect speeding motorists since the 

1940s. Since then, radar devices have evolved 

from clumsy, stationary models into sophisticated, microprocessor-enhanced units capable of 

monitoring vehicle speeds in either direction from 

moving patrol cars, and into automated across-theroad systems that automatically capture images of 

speed-offending vehicles. The successful application of radar technologies to speed enforcement 

has spawned interest in the development of laser 

technologies, such as lidar devices and photolidar 

systems that photographically document speed 

violations, as well as an interest in intersection 

safety systems that record red light violations. 

Against this bewildering array of technically 

complex speed-enforcement tools, law enforcement administrators are forced to make diffi cult 

procurement decisions.

TECHNICAL STRATEGY

Through the development of minimum performance standards, and testing programs administered by the IACP, baselines are established for 

acceptable device and system performance. This 

gives courts and law enforcement offi cers assurance that those product models, determined by 

test to comply with the specifi cations, will provide 

accurate and defensible information.. To further 

this program, it is recommended that equipment 

buyers incorporate these performance specifi cations into their procurement documents, requiring 

that units offered for purchase meet or exceed the 

requirements of the performance specifi cations. 

This is intended to encourage manufacturers to 

produce better devices and systems. Since device 

features are constantly evolving, the specifi cations 

are subjected to continuing review.

DELIVERABLES

Maintenance of up-to-date minimum performance 

specifi cations for traffi c speed-measuring devices 

and systems.

Development of an intersection safety system 

standard.

Assistance to the IACP with administration of its 

device and system Compliance Testing Program.

PROJECT: IMAGING METROLOGY

This general program is directed to the development of metrology for a broad range of imaging 

technologies used in security, surveillance, and 

evidence-gathering applications. Although the 

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22 Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory

imaging systems may use different sensor technologies, such as X-ray, infrared, visible light, and 

radio frequency sensors, there are many common 

requirements that can be addressed simultaneously. 

The common components include, for example, 

display quality, human-in-the-loop, the effects 

of algorithmic processes, and dissemination of 

the measurement capability to qualifi ed testing 

laboratories. 

GOALS

To develop a comprehensive imaging system characterization program that will result in test methods, 

systems, and metrics to evaluate the performance 

of each component in an imaging system, including image acquisition device, encryption/decryption and compression/decompression algorithms, 

recording devices, display devices, and transmit 

and receive devices as necessary for wireless image transfer; to assess the performance of the entire 

video system as defi ned by the user; and to assess 

the effi cacy of automatic recognition software. 

CUSTOMER NEEDS

Presently there are no quantifi able and reproducible 

methods for assessing the imaging performance 

of imaging systems used by fi rst responder, law 

enforcement, and criminal justice agencies. Users 

of this equipment are forced to rely upon manufacturer claims and comparisons. Furthermore, 

there is no traceable or reference on which to base 

a technical comparison of imaging technology 

and/or systems. 

TECHNICAL STRATEGY

The list below is in order of increasing wavelength 

of the electromagnetic energy used by the imaging 

system.

X-ray personnel screeners (backscatter and 

transmission systems). These are the personnel 

screening systems being considered for deployment 

at security checkpoints or that have been deployed 

for evaluation.

Work in collaboration with manufacturers, users, and other government agencies to 

develop minimum requirements for imaging 

performance, which will become IEEE/ANSI 

Std. N42.47.

X-ray portable package imagers (pulsed, cw, 

and dual energy). These are the portable X-ray 

imaging devices use by bomb squads to identify 

bombs in leave-behind packages and to plan appropriate interdiction strategies. 

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Work in collaboration with the International Association of Bomb Technicians and 

Investigators (IABTI), bomb squads across the 

nation, and manufacturers to develop the second revision of the National Institute of Justice 

(NIJ) Standard, 0603.02, which will address 

imaging performance requirements.

Develop appropriate transfer standards.

Establish laboratory facility for assessing 

applicability of imaging requirements and ability of systems to meet these requirements.

Develop objective performance metrics 

that include the effect of human perception 

on imaging performance.

Visible, digital video camera. These are the 

camera systems that will soon be replacing the 

analog video systems used in a plethora of security, 

surveillance, and evidentiary applications. The 

imaging system may include several components 

that are not part of the camera but are important for 

the utility of the imaging system for their targeted 

purposes. Applications of this work includes police 

in-car video, perimeter/site security, and general 

surveillance.

Develop minimum performance requirements, in collaboration with manufacturers 

and users.

Develop test methods and standards for 

evaluating requirements.

Develop visible-light complex scene 

projector.

White-light source, pixel-level control of light spectrum and intensity

Frames rates > 20 fps

Develop reference test bed from which to 

accredit third-party labs. 

Infrared (IR) digital cameras. These are the 

camera systems that will be replacing and have 

replaced analog cameras in security, surveillance, 

and emergency response applications. Applications 

that will be addressed include the cameras used by 

fi refi ghters to fi nd downed people inside of collapsing and burning structures and to assess conditions 

within burning structures. The fi refi ghter cameras 

have unique requirements relative to conventional 

IR cameras in that they are exposed to high temperatures, a small temperature differential between 

target object and background, and the requirement 

for automatic control of certain functions. The 

unique requirements will also be addressed.

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Offi ce of Law Enforcement Standards 23

Develop minimum performance requirements, in collaboration with manufacturers 

and users.

Develop test methods and standards for 

evaluating requirements.

Develop IR complex scene projector.

Monochromatic source, pixel-level 

control of light intensity

Frames rates > 20 fps

Develop reference test bed from which to 

accredit third-party labs. 

DELIVERABLES

Prototype visible-light complex scene projector.

Prototype IR complex scene projector.

List of performance metrics for IR imager.

List of performance metrics for in-car digital video 

system.

List of imaging performance metrics for portable 

X-ray systems.

List of imaging performance metrics for personnel 

screener X-ray systems.

PROJECT: THROUGH-WALL IMAGING

AND SURVEILLANCE

Imaging and surveillance are two different functions and operations for through-wall systems. 

Whereas imaging requires information appropriate for recognition of objects, surveillance does 

not. Surveillance may, for example, be based on 

motion of objects. More than likely, because of 

the physical principles involved and size and cost 

restrictions for a system, imaging will likely be a 

short-standoff (less than 20 m) operation and surveillance will be a long stand-off (up to 1000 m) 

operation.

GOALS

To develop functionally agile and programmable 

reference through-wall system on which the performance of commercially-available systems can 

be assessed and on which to base the development 

of applicable minimum performance standards and 

a reference measurement test bed.

CUSTOMER NEEDS

Law enforcement and military have long required 

the ability to determine the occupancy of structures 

at a safe distance and to be able to track motion of 

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several occupants simultaneously. Furthermore, 

once a structure has been identifi ed as necessary 

to breach or to surveil with greater detail, the law 

enforcement and military personnel require images 

of suffi cient accuracy to infer the intent or disposition of the occupants.

Several manufacturers have recently made available through-wall systems for imaging and surveillance to meet the above requirements. However, 

there are no minimum performance standards for 

these systems and the user, consequently, must 

rely solely on the manufacturers’ claims regarding 

the performance of these systems. The users need 

established standards on which to base comparative 

studies and/or to make an objective performance 

assessment. 

TECHNICAL STRATEGY

Establish collaboration with industry to develop a reference through-wall imaging system 

for short stand-off distances using non-mechanical 

sub-5-GHz scanning systems.

Establish collaboration with the US military 

and contractors to develop a reference through-wall 

surveillance system for long stand-off distances 

using stepped multi-band radar technology. 

Develop accurate methods for measuring the 

broadband electromagnetic properties of building 

materials and then to apply these techniques to 

assess the electromagnetic properties of prepared 

building materials. Use the data to create a NISTtraceable measurement database. 

Design reference test bed, including walls, 

human phantoms, clutter, and targets for assessing 

performance of through-wall systems.

Initiate development of human phantoms for 

the 200 MHz to 10 GHz frequency range.

DELIVERABLES

Electromagnetic property measurements for a wide 

spectrum of building materials, including concrete 

and rebar, over a broad range in frequency.

The fabrication, analysis and experimental testing 

of a number of accurate, non-destructive RF and 

microwave measuring systems.

A database of dielectric materials.

Publications in the form of NIST Technical Notes 

and/or articles in professional journals.

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24 Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory

PROJECT: CONCEALED WEAPON

DETECTION AND IMAGING

GOALS

To develop imaging systems that can be used to 

fi nd objects concealed under clothing at distances 

from 1 m to 100 m.

CUSTOMER NEEDS

Law enforcement and military personnel require the 

ability to identity suicide bombers at long stand-off 

distances (to 100 m) and smaller weapons (handguns and knives) at shorter stand-off distances (1 

m to 5 m).

TECHNICAL STRATEGY

Develop a real-time (>20 frames/s) imaging 

system that can be used to detect large concealed 

objects for identifying suicide bombers at distances 

up to 100 m. The imaging will use a staring array 

developed by NIST for astronomical research over 

that last couple decades.

Develop a hyperspectral imaging system using 

short pulsed lasers and optoelectronic devices to 

provide images of the contents of optically opaque 

containers and packages, and to provide spectral 

identifi cation capability for certain classes of organic materials hidden inside these containers. 

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Two new staff were added: a new program 

manager and an electronics engineer.

Established hand-held metal detector and 

walk-though metal detector test bed.

Redesigned the metal detector test robot to 

accommodate heavy test objects, laser positioning of test objects, automatic test object parameter 

selection, etc.

Draft document describing metal detector test 

objects.

Proposed revision of NIJ hand-held metal 

detector (HHMD) standard, NIJ Std-0602.03. 

Draft compliance test report form for handheld metal detectors.

Draft administrative manual for HHMD test 

program.

The HHMD robotic tester was successfully 

used to test six HHMDs by an inexperienced outside operator with minimal training (less 2 hrs).

Draft revision of NIJ portable X-ray standard, 

NIJ Std-0603.01. 

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Started development of test bed for evaluation 

of portable X-ray systems.

Established an ad hoc group of industry, user, 

and government representatives to address imaging quality requirements of NIJ’s portable X-ray 

standard.

Initiated and led review of IACP’s sampling 

process for testing traffi c enforcement devices.

The basic metrology underlying the measurement of materials for security applications and a 

list of the dielectric parameters of a large number 

of commonly-used materials was written and published, Technical Note 1536 (150 pages): “Measuring the permittivity and permeability of lossy 

materials: Solids, liquids, metals, building materials, and negative index materials,” Feb. 2005.

Developed and extended the shielded-opencircuit holder method to use 7 mm diameter coaxial 

transmission lines, and have investigated the use 

of 3.5 mm coaxial line, to extend our liquid measurement capability. This work allows us to obtain 

measurements on many liquids from 1 MHz to 10 

GHz. This work is being summarized in a paper 

that will be submitted to an IEEE journal.

A generalized polarization model that yields 

material relaxation times from dielectric measurements was developed from basic statistical 

mechanics. This model helps describe the unique 

permittivity signatures of materials in the radiofrequency and microwave bands. This work has 

been summarized in a publication submitted to 

Physical Review.

Determined that making a digital recording 

of the composite video (CV) output signal of the 

thermal imagers is not necessarily a good indicator 

of the performance of the entire imaging system 

(which includes the electronic visual display of the 

device). The transfer function between the CV and 

the image displayed by the video display may not 

be fl at, and varies from imager to imager.

Fabrication of the antenna-coupled microbolometer (ACMB) arrays for use in the close-proximity CWD imaging system was successfully 

outsourced to commercial foundry. This is a major 

step because now the arrays can be fabricated at 

an implied cost of less $ 15/channel (unpackaged) 

compared to almost $1000 for the competitive 

detector technology, indium phosphide detectors 

and low-noise amplifi ers.

The spectral response of the ACMB detectors was measured to be between 0.1 THz and 

1.5 THz.

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Offi ce of Law Enforcement Standards 25

ACMB detector performance was verifi ed in 

a refrigerated (cryogen-free) platform.

The performance of the ACMB array modules, 

which are 8-element modules, was verifi ed. These 

modules will be assembled to provide the array 

size and arrangement appropriate for given CWD 

applications.

For the long stand-off CWD system using 

transition-edge sensors (TESs), the optics design 

was completed and the optical path has been fully 

simulated.

The room-temperature electronics for the TES 

array readout is being fabricated and assembled.

The Face Recognition Grand Challenge, a 

technology development project facilitated by 

NIST. 

Preliminary results show an order of magnitude improvement over FRVT 2002 results. 

Facial Recognition Vendors Test 2000 and 

2002, www.frvt.org. 

Supplemental report on FRVT 2002, released 

January 2004. 

October 2003, New color, high resolution, 

release of the FERET face database (superseding 

the greyscale version 500 copies of which were issued between February 2001 and September 2003); 

http://www.itl.nist.gov/iad/humanid/feret/.

PUBLICATIONS

J. Baker-Jarvis, M. D. Janezic, B. F. Riddle, R. T. Johnk, P. 

Kabos., C. Holloway, R. G. Geyer, and C. A. Grosvenor, “Measuring the Permittivity and Permeability of Lossy Materials: 

Solids, Liquids, Metals, Building Materials, and Negative-Index 

Materials,” NIST Technical Note 1536, February 2005.

J. Baker-Jarvis, B. Riddle, and M. D. Janezic, “Polarization 

Evolution, Relaxation Times, and the Local Field,” submitted 

for publication, Phys. Rev.

F. Amon, A. Hamins, and J. Rowe, “First responder thermal 

imaging cameras: establishment of representative performance 

testing conditions,” SPIE Defense and Security Symposium, 17 

– 20 April 2006, Orlando, FL, paper 6205-37.

F. Amon, and A. Hamins, “First responder thermal imaging 

cameras: development of performance metrics and test methods,” SPIE Defense and Security Symposium, 17 – 20 April 

2006, Orlando, FL, paper 6207-28. 

J. B. Dinaburg, F. Amon, A. Hamins, and P. Boynton, “LCD 

display screen performance testing for handheld thermal imaging cameras,” SPIE Defense and Security Symposium, 17 – 20 

April 2006, Orlando, FL, paper 6207-29.

F. Amon and N. Bryner, “Advances in thermal imaging 

technology in the fi rst responder arena,” SPIE Defense and 

Security Symposium, 17 – 20 April 2006, Orlando, FL, paper 

6207-32.

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S. W. Brown, J. P. Rice, J. D. Jackson1, J. E. Neira, and B.C. 

Johnson, “Spectrally tunable sources for advanced radiometric applications,” submitted to J. Res. Nat’l. Inst. Stands. 

Technol.

J. P. Rice, S. W. Brown, B. C. Johnson and J. E. Neira, “Hyperspectral image projectors for radiometric applications,” 

Metrologia, Vol. 43, 2006, pp. S61–S65.

J. P. Rice, S. W. Brown, and J. E. Neira, “Development of hyperspectral image projectors,” SPIE Optics and Photonics, 14 

- 15 August 2006, Sand Diego, CA, paper 6297-01.

S. W. Brown, J. P. Rice, J. E. Neira, R. Bousquet, and B. C. 

Johnson, “Hyperspectral Image Projector for Advanced Sensor 

Characterization,” SPIE SPIE Optics and Photonics, 14 - 15 

August 2006, Sand Diego, CA, paper 6292-02.

A. Luukanen, E. N. Grossman, and A. J. Miller, “A Superconducting bolometer for THz imaging,” submitted to IEEE 

Microwave and Wireless Components Letters.

C. Dietlein, A. Luukanen, Z. Popovic, and E. Grossman, “AWband Polarization Converter and Isolator,” submitted to IEEE 

Microwave and Wireless Components Letters.

A. Luukanen, E. N. Grossman, A. J. Miller, P. Helistö, 

J. S. Penttilä, H. Sipola,, H. Seppä, “An Ultra-Low Noise 

Superconducting Antenna-Coupled Microbolometer with a 

Room-Temperature Read-Out,” IEEE Microwave and Wireless Components Letters, Vol.16, No. 8, August 2006, pp. 

464 – 466.

P. Helistö, A. Luukanen, L. Grönberg, J. S. Penttilä1, H. Seppä, 

H. Sipola1, C. R. Dietlein, and E. N.Grossman, “Antennacoupled microbolometers for passive THz direct detection 

imaging arrays,” Proceeding of European Microwave Conf. 

2006, 10 – 15 Sept. 2006, Manchester, UK. 

A. Luukanen, A. J. Miller, and E. N. Grossman, “Passive 

hyperspectral terahertz imagery for security screening using 

a cryogenic microbolometer,” Proc. SPIE, 17 – 18 Apr. 2006 

Bellingham, WA, paper 62120Y.

C. Dietlein, A. Luukanen, F. Meyer, Z. Popovic, and E. 

Grossman, “Phenomenology of Passive Broadband Terahertz 

Images,” Proceedings of Fourth ESA Workshop on Mmw 

technology and applications, Noordwijk, NL, 15 – 17 Feb 

2006, pp 405-410.

A. Luukanen, P. Helistö, J. S. Penttilä, H. Seppä, H. Sipola, 

C. R. Dietlein, and E. N. Grossman, “An array of superconducting antenna-coupled microbolometers for passive videorate THz imaging,” Proceedings of Fourth ESA Workshop on 

Mmw technology and applications, , NL, 15 – 17 Feb 2006, 

pp 417-422.
26 Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory

FORENSIC SCIENCES

The term “forensic” conjures up a vivid association 

with several major television shows. These shows 

provide a brief look into the basic principles and 

theories of forensic sciences and how the sciences 

are used to solve criminal and civil cases. Although 

these T.V. shows imply the investigators commonly 

are experts in all facets of the scientifi c disciplines, 

the reality is, that premise is far from the truth. Scientifi c research at NIST starts with understanding 

the fundamentals of science, from which standards 

are created. These standards are the focal point of 

the forensic science program at the Offi ce of Law 

Enforcement Standards (OLES). This supporting 

research may require several months or several 

years to come to fruition. Whatever the length 

of time, the end result is a standard that provides 

the necessary basis by which forensic analysts 

provide the scientifi c results that meet judicial 

acceptability.

The diversity of forensic applications requires 

a multi-disciplinary approach, and thus work in 

this area has been distributed across many NIST 

laboratories. For example, projects relating to computer usage in crimes are based in the Information 

Technology Laboratory (ITL). These projects address issues such as: the evaluation of investigative 

software, the prevention of inadvertent modifi cations of electronic fi les under investigation and the 

development of a National Software Reference 

Library (NSRL) that helps computer analysts to 

quickly identify suspect fi les on a hard drive. The 

Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory 

(CSTL) has been assigned all aspects of DNA research and the creation of biological standard reference materials (SRMs). The Precision Engineering 

Division has been assigned projects addressing 

bullet and cartridge cases and the Building and 

Fire Research Laboratory (BFRL) handles projects 

related to burn pattern recognition, measurement 

and simulation of ignition sources, and computer 

simulations of actual fi re events.

The following text highlights a few of the active projects targeting the needs of the forensic 

analyst.

PROJECT: COMPUTER FORENSIC

REFERENCE DATA SETS (CFREDS) 

GOALS

To provide a readily accessible Internet site that 

can be used by computer forensic analysts and 

management to obtain mock case examples for 

in-house evaluation. These case examples can be 

used to test examiners skills as part of accreditation 

requirements or to evaluate/calibrate equipment 

prior to use. 

CUSTOMER NEEDS

The burgeoning number of crimes committed 

with the aid of the computer is overwhelming 

the nation’s crime laboratories. To assist with the 

“controls” and evaluation of analyst’s expertise, 

management desires a quick and assured method 

for evaluation. In general, they need test sets that 

have been validated and are freely available for use 

to determine the functionality of equipment as well 

as the skill set of an analyst.

TECHNICAL STRATEGY

The project participants will continue to converse 

with individuals knowledgeable in the fi eld to 

determine the type of test sets needed and in what 

format. The received suggestions will then be 

evaluated, verifi ed, and if necessary, used to create 

an appropriate story line. This includes determining what features to include in the data sets, such 

as; target strings in fi les, slack space, unallocated 

space, fi le system metadata. The tests will be available through the web site, easily accessible by any 

individual seeking this type of assistance. 

DELIVERABLES

Active web site; http://www.cfreds.nist.gov

PROJECT: COMPUTER FORENSICS

TOOLS TESTING (CFTT) 

GOALS

To verify the operation and output of software and 

hardware that is used to examine digital evidence 

and to provide documentation on the fi ndings for 

use in judicial proceedings.

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Technical Contact:

Susan Ballou

Staff-Years:

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Offi ce of Law Enforcement Standards 27

CUSTOMER NEEDS

Computer forensic investigators and analysts require documented evaluation of currently available 

software/hardware (tools) that advertise forensic 

capabilities. This step is essential to support collection, examination, analysis, and court testimony of 

digital evidence. NIST is highly suited to provide 

an unbiased determination of a tool’s capability 

and therefore to verify the results produced by 

these tools. NIST was asked to provide expertise 

in developing test suites and a testing framework 

to structure the testing of the products in use. The 

information provided by NIST as a neutral party is 

used to determine several factors: whether specifi c 

tools should be used in forensic examinations; how 

the tools should be used; and the limitations of the 

tools’ capabilities.

TECHNICAL STRATEGY

To assist the computer forensic community NIST 

has conducted functionality tests on specific 

software and hardware products. The selection 

of a specifi c software/hardware product and its 

functionality (e.g., imaging) is accomplished 

through specifi c listserv announcements and input from select federal agencies. The actual test 

results are provided in a report form and posted 

on two different Web sites: http://www.cftt.nist.

gov and http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/sciencetech/

welcome.html.

DELIVERABLES

Published documents describing the overall concept 

and framework for testing computer forensics tools. 

Details for the Law Enforcement agency on how 

to use this information is also provided. Electronic 

documentation can be found at: http://www.cftt. nist.

gov.

PROJECT: DNA RELATED PROJECTS

GOALS

To provide technical support to state and local forensic DNA laboratories regarding the underlying 

science of available DNA products and STR-based 

research. To conduct direct instructional support to 

state and local forensic DNA laboratories through 

workshops, training sessions and presentations 

and through continued population of the NIST 

STRbase web site. 

CUSTOMER NEEDS

State and local forensic DNA analysts do not have 

the time or the funds to conduct research into new 

technologies or evaluate newly released products. 

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In addition, the incorporation of non-evaluated 

products into a laboratory’s standard protocol 

requires that laboratory to conduct a lengthy 

validation. To advance the state-of-the-art and 

alleviate associated time and cost constraints, NIST 

undertakes the necessary research, development 

and evaluation tasks.

TECHNICAL STRATEGY

NIST provides ready access to reference material, 

new technology and tutorials through a service 

called strbase, which can be found at http://

www.cstl.nist.gov/biotech/strbase/NISTpub.htm. 

Through this service analysts have resources at 

their fi ngertips.

NIST will continue research in such areas as: analysis of degraded DNA through the use of miniSTRs, 

continue evaluating the applicability of Y-chromosome analysis through the use of Y-SNP markers 

and Y-STR markers and evaluate and improve tools 

that will aid state and local crime laboratories in 

the areas of quality assurance and quality control 

software, equipment upgrades and variant allele 

cataloging and characterization. 

DELIVERABLES

To continue to provide service to all state and 

local DNA laboratories through SRM production, 

presentations, publications, Web site postings, 

NIST developed software (i.e., AutoDimer, mixSTR, 

Multiplex_QA) and release of new technologies.

PROJECT: ION MOBILITY

SPECTROMETRY (IMS) TRACE DRUG

DETECTION DEVICES

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Selecting particles for IMS analysis.
28 Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory

GOALS

To research the utilization of the IMS method as applied to contraband drugs to characterize detection 

effi ciency and to develop methods to characterize 

and standardize swipe-based and portal-based collection effi ciencies of contraband drug particles.

CUSTOMER NEEDS

Detection of contraband drugs is a high priority 

for a large number of law enforcement organizations. A promising technology for screening for 

trace amounts of contraband drugs is Ion Mobility 

Spectrometry (IMS), which is also used nationally 

for the detection of traces of explosives at airports 

and other points of entry. However, there exists 

a number of defi ciencies, including high false 

positive alarm rates for some drugs and high false 

negative rates (lack of detection) for other drugs. 

Agencies require a general understanding of detection limits, reliability, and false alarm rates for 

IMS-based systems. 

TECHNICAL STRATEGY

To study an immunoassay instrument marketed 

for law enforcement applications that should have 

a similar sensitivity to IMS, but better selectivity. 

In addition, to study a IMS-based portal detector, 

and two new desktop IMS instruments. This will 

require the design of a multivariate experiment 

that includes at least two desktop instruments and 

tests for a number of factors including temperature, 

humidity, sample preparation, and sample matrix. 

Solid phase microextraction (SPME) used in 

conjunction with IMS will also be studied. The 

SPME-IMS approach has the potential to provide 

a faster, easier, and more portable method of drug 

analysis in biological samples than those commonly 

used today.

DELIVERABLES

Test instrument response using desktop IMS 

instruments. Submit Report of Analysis. 

Evaluate use of PLM/FT-IR spectrometer system for 

analysis of fi ngerprints. 

Complete study of effect on false positive rates from 

common contaminants, adulterants, and excipients. 

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PROJECT: NATIONAL SOFTWARE

REFERENCE LIBRARY (NSRL) 

GOALS

To provide several library attributes; a collection 

of actual commercial-off-the-shelf (cots) software products and a validated database of known 

software, fi le profi les, and fi le signatures (“fi ngerprints”) in different hash formats. 

CUSTOMER NEEDS

The computer forensic analyst is confronted with 

the examination of an increasing expanse of fi les 

per hard drive and in many instances numerous 

hard drives per forensic case. In addition, all methods and tools utilized in an examination must meet 

stringent accreditation and judicial requirements. 

TECHNICAL STRATEGY

To support the computer forensic investigator or 

analyst, a validated automated fi lter program has 

been created that will either assist in the elimination 

of thousands of legal fi les that have no intrinsic 

forensic value, or provide a quick identifi cation 

of a specifi c fi le of interest. This capability can 

signifi cantly reduce the amount of examination 

time required on behalf of the analyst. 

Legal requirements may also dictate that the computer forensic analyst produce the basis for the 

hash values used in an examination, or the specifi c 

software version used to obtain the hash. To meet 

this, NIST retains the actual commercial product 

that was tested in an in-house library. 

DELIVERABLES

The master database is the primary deliverable (see 

http://www.nsrl.nist.gov for further information).

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Offi ce of Law Enforcement Standards 29

An extracted database that is available to users in 

CD format. The CD can be purchased through the 

NIST SRD Offi ce on a subscription basis.

The compilation of the commercial product library.

PROJECT: STANDARD CASING

REFERENCE MATERIAL

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PROJECT: REAL TIME FORENSICS

IMAGING FOR ANALOG AND DIGITAL

VIDEO TAPES

GOALS

To provide forensic analysts with state-of-the-art, 

nano-engineered magnetic imaging methods for 

screening data and recovering data from media 

that is damaged or was tampered with. This will 

greatly increase the accuracy of criminal investigations through identifi cation of specifi c types 

of machines used, whether or not the tapes are 

original, and to allow investigators to recover data 

from catastrophic events.

CUSTOMER NEEDS

Law Enforcement and criminal investigators require to “see” signs of tampering in analog audio 

tapes – erasing, overdubbing and other alterations 

– while listening to the tapes. It is also important 

that law enforcement has systems that can evaluate 

the authenticity of both analog and digital videotape as well as audio recordings. Because magnetic 

data storage tape is ubiquitous in surveillance and 

monitoring devices, it is expected that it will remain 

a challenge to law enforcement forensics teams. 

The sheer amount of tape (miles on a single roll) 

and the high density (down track resolution higher 

than 0.1 micrometer) renders existing techniques, 

based on magnetic fl uids, obsolete. Real-time 

magnetic scanners will solve this problem.

TECHNICAL STRATEGY

To develop a high resolution (1600 pixels/inch) imaging system that operates in real-time. This allows 

investigators to see signs of tampering in analog 

audiotapes — erasing, overdubbing and other alterations — while listening to the tapes. In FY04-05 

we fabricated three complete systems. One of these 

systems is built around an audiocassette system, 

and will be deployed at the FBI Audio Laboratory 

in Quantico, Virginia. The other two systems are 

modular, and can be connected to a cassette deck, 

a VHS video player, or a DAT (digital audio tape) 

player. The two modular systems will be kept at 

NIST and used for testing and characterizing the 

sensor arrays and validating this technology for use 

and presentation in court cases. In addition, for the 

LOC, NTSB, and NARA it is necessary to explore 

the effi cacy of these systems for both routine and 

emergency data recovery from damaged and aged 

magnetic data storage tape media.

GOALS 

To provide virtual signature standards and NIST 

Standard Reference Materials (SRMs) standards 

for casings to be used with equipment that captures 

images for comparison purposes. 

CUSTOMER NEEDS

Firearm analysts currently utilize in-house standards for equipment calibration and inter-laboratory evaluation. Laboratory accreditation requirements and federal mandates are dictating the use 

of traceable reference materials in an effort to 

establish measurement uniformity.

TECHNICAL STRATEGY

Utilizing an electroforming process on casings 

from actual test fi res, a set of master casings has 

been produced. For maximum signature reproducibility, the decay factor for these masters will be 

determined. Each casing produced will be evaluated through topography measurements to ensure 

maximum cross correlation factor (CCF). 

DELIVERABLES

Standard Reference Material (SRM), standard 

casing.

Report stating the CCF for all casings produced.

•

•
30 Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory

In order for this technique to have an impact, it 

is necessary to do blind and double blind testing 

of altered and original tapes. These tests will be 

conducted in close collaboration with the FBI. 

Validation work in this study will focus on the 

videotape area.

DELIVERABLES

Forensics – Complete validation report for the VHS 

& DAT tape.

Data recovery – Reel-to-Reel tape, test up to 10 kHz

Data recovery – Reel-to-Reel tape, test up to 10 kHz

PROJECT: REFRACTIVE INDEX GLASS

STANDARD REFERENCE MATERIAL

GOALS

To replenish the depleted NIST standard reference 

material stock, which is utilized by forensic laboratories that conduct glass analysis. 

CUSTOMER NEEDS

To meet quality assurance and accreditation requirements, traceable reference materials must be 

used when analyzing forensic evidence. The depletion of the NIST glass refractive index standard 

reference material (SRM) caused some laboratories 

to seek other options to meet accreditation requirements. Therefore, the forensic community needs a 

new glass refractive index SRM. 

TECHNICAL STRATEGY

Glass samples have been specially annealed to 

remove residual stress birefringence to ensure 

uniform optical quality. 5-decimal place index of 

refraction values will be extracted from the measurements and glass prism samples (7 in total) will 

be subjected to index of refraction measurements. 

This portion of the process has been completed. 

The remaining aspect in the process is density 

measurement determination. 

DELIVERABLES

A glass standard reference material available for 

purchase, which, when completed, can be found 

at https://srmors.nist.gov or http://ts.nist.gov/ts/

htdocs/230/232/232.htm.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

National Software Reference Library: Reference Data Set (RDS) is continually upgraded and 

available at; http://www.nsrl.nist.gov 

•

•

•

•

■

Issued the following Standard Reference 

Materials (SRMs):

SRM 1828b Ethanol-Water Solutions: 

Blood-Alcohol Testing: Six Levels

SRM 1847 Ethanol-Water Solutions: 

Breath-Alcohol Testing: Three levels

SRM 2285 Arson Test Mixture in 

Methylene Chloride 

SRM 2391b PCR-Based DNA Profi ling 

Standard

SRM 2392-I Mitochondrial DNA 

Sequencing (Human HL-60 DNA)

SRM 2395 Human Chromosome DNA 

Profi ling Standard

SRM 2372 Human DNA Quantifi cation 

Standard

SRM 2390 DNA Profi ling Standard for 

RFLP Testing

SRM 2460 Standard Bullet

SRM 2891 Ethanol-Water Solutions: 

(nominal 0.02 % by mass)

SRM 2892 Ethanol-Water Solutions: 

(nominal 0.04 % by mass)

SRM 2893 Ethanol-Water Solutions: 

(nominal 0.08 % by mass)

SRM 2894 Ethanol-Water Solutions: 

(nominal 0.1 % by mass)

SRM 2895 Ethanol-Water Solutions: 

(nominal 0.2 % by mass)

SRM 2896 Ethanol-Water Solutions: 

(nominal 0.3 % by mass)

SRM 2897 Ethanol-Water Solutions: 

(nominal 2 % by mass)

SRM 2898 Ethanol-Water Solutions: 

(nominal 6 % by mass)

SRM 2899 Ethanol-Water Solutions: 

(nominal 25 % by mass)

SRM 8107 Additives in Smokeless Gunpowder.

PUBLICATIONS

Duewer, D.L. and Butler, J.M. (2006) MULTIPLEX_QA: an 

exploratory quality assessment tool for multiplexed electrophoretic assays, Electrophoresis, (in press). [preprint] 

■
Offi ce of Law Enforcement Standards 31

Hill, C.R., Butler, J.M., Coble, M.D. (2006) Allele frequencies 

for 27 new miniSTR loci with U.S. Caucasian, African American, and Hispanic populations. J. Forensic Sci. (in press).

Butler, J.M. (2005) Constructing STR multiplex assays. Methods in Molecular Biology: Forensic DNA Typing Protocols 

(Carracedo, A., ed.), Humana Press: Totowa, New Jersey, 297: 

53-66. [preprint].

J. Song, T. Vorburger, T. Renegar, H. Rhee1, A. Zheng, L. Ma, 

J. Libert, S. Ballou, B. Bachrach and K. Bogart, “Correlation of 

Topography Measurements of NIST SRM 2460 Standard Bullets 

by Four Techniques,” Meas. Sci. Technology, Jan. 31, 2006.

Test Results for Hardware Write Block Device: FastBloc IDE 

(Firmware Version 16), NCJ 212956, April 2006, Special Report, National Institute of Justice.

Test Results for Hardware Write Block Device: Digital Intelligence Firefl y 800 IDE (FireWire Interface), NCJ 212957, April 

2006, Special Report, National Institute of Justice.

Test Results for Hardware Write Block Device: MyKey NoWrite 

(Firmware Version 1.05), NCJ 212958, April 2006, Special 

Report, National Institute of Justice.

Test Results for Hardware Write Block Device: ICS ImageMasster DriveLock IDE (Firmware Version 17), NCJ 212959, 

April 2006, Special Report, National Institute of Justice.

Test Results for Hardware Write Block Device: WiebeTech 

FireWire DriveDock Combo (FireWire Interface), NCJ 212960, 

April 2006, Special Report, National Institute of Justice.

Test Results for Hardware Write Block Device: Digital Intelligence UltraBlock SATA (USB Interface), NCJ 212961, April 

2006, Special Report, National Institute of Justice.

Test Results for Hardware Write Block Device: WiebeTech 

Forensic ComboDock (USB Interface), NCJ 214065, May 2006, 

Special Report, National Institute of Justice.

Test Results for Hardware Write Block Device: Digital Intelligence UltraBlock SATA (FireWire Interface), NCJ 214067, 

May 2006, Special Report, National Institute of Justice.

Test Results for Hardware Write Block Device: WiebeTech 

Bus Powered Forensic ComboDock (FireWire Interface), 

NCJ 214064, May 2006, Special Report, National Institute 

of Justice.

Test Results for Hardware Write Block Device: WiebeTech Bus 

Powered Forensic ComboDock (USB Interface), NCJ 214065, 

May 2006, Special Report, National Institute of Justice.

Test Results for Hardware Write Block Device: WiebeTech 

Forensic ComboDock (FireWire Interface), NCJ 214066, May 

2006, Special Report, National Institute of Justice.

Coble, M.D., Vallone, P.M., Just, R.S., Diegoli, T.M., Smith, 

B.C., Parsons, T.J. (2006) Effective strategies for forensic 

analysis in the mitochondrial DNA coding region. Int. J. Legal. 

Med. 120:27-32. [Supplementary Data]. 

Butler, J.M., Decker, A.E., Vallone, P.M., Kline, M.C. (2006) 

Allele frequencies for 27 Y-STR loci with U.S. Caucasian, 

African American, and Hispanic samples. Forensic Sci. Int. 

156:250-260. 

Butler, J.M. (2006) Genetics and genomics of core STR loci used 

in human identity testing. J. Forensic Sci. 51(2): 253-265. 

Butler, J.M., Coble, M.D., Decker, A.E., Duewer, D.L., Hill, 

C.R., Kline, M.C., Redman, J.W., Vallone, P.M. (2006) Setting 

standards and developing technology to aid the human identity 

testing community. Progress in Forensic Genetics 11, Elsevier 

Science: Amsterdam, The Netherlands, International Congress 

Series 1288, 628-635.

Test Results for Software Write Block Tools: PDBLOCK Version 1.02 (PDF-LITE), NCJ 209831, June 2005, Special Report, 

National Institute of Justice

Test Results for Software Write Block Tools: PDBLOCK Version 2.00, NCJ 209832, June 2005, Special Report, National 

Institute of Justice

Test Results for Software Write Block Tools: PDBLOCK Version 2.01, NCJ 209833, June 2005, Special Report, National 

Institute of Justice

Vallone, P.M., Fahr, K., Kostrzewa, M. (2005) Genotyping SNPs 

using a UV photocleavable oligonucleotide in MALDI-TOF 

MS. Methods in Molecular Biology: Forensic DNA Typing 

Protocols (Carracedo, A., ed.), Humana Press: Totowa, New 

Jersey, 297: 169-178. 

Vallone, P.M., Decker, A.E., Butler, J.M. (2005) Allele frequencies for 70 autosomal SNP loci with U.S. Caucasian, 

African American, and Hispanic samples. Forensic Sci. Int. 

149: 279-286. 

Kline, M.C., Vallone, P.M., Redman, J.W., Duewer, D.L., Calloway, C.D., Butler, J.M. (2005) Mitochondrial DNA typing 

screens with control region and coding region SNPs. J. Forensic 

Sci. 50: 377-385. 

Kline, M.C., Duewer, D.L., Redman, J.W., Butler, J.M. (2005) 

Results from the NIST 2004 DNA Quantitation Study. J. Forensic Sci., 50(3): 571-578. 

Butler, J.M., Appleby, J.E., Duewer, D.L. (2005) Locus-specifi c 

brackets for reliable typing of Y-chromosome short tandem 

repeat markers. Electrophoresis, 26: 2583-2590. 

Butler, J.M., Decker, A.E., Kline, M.C., Vallone, P.M. (2005) 

Chromosomal duplications along the Y-chromosome and their 

potential impact on Y-STR interpretation. J. Forensic Sci. 

50(4): 853-859. 

Kline, M.C., Vallone, P.M., Decker, A.E., Redman, J.W., 

Duewer, D.L., Butler, J.M. (2005) Testing candidate DNA 

quantitation standards with several real-time quantitative PCR 

methods. Proceedings of the 16th International Symposium on 

Human Identifi cation. http://www.promega.com/geneticidproc/

ussymp16proc/abstracts/kline.pdf. 

J. Song, E. Whitenton, L. Ma, T. Vorburger and A. Zheng, 

“Initial Measurement Results for 40 NIST SRM 2460 Standard 

Bullets,” Proceedings of 2004 MSC (Measurement Science 

Conference), January 15-16, 2004, CA.

Test Results for Disk Imaging Tools: dd Provided with FreeBSD 4.4, NCJ 203095, January 2004, Special Report, National 

Institute of Justice.

Test Results for Software Write Block Tools: RCMP HDL 

Vol. 8, NCJ 203196, February 2004, Special Report, National 

Institute of Justice.

Forensic Examination of Digital Evidence: A Guide for Law 

Enforcement, NCJ 199408, April 2004, Special Report, National 

Institute of Justice.
32 Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory

L. Ma, J. Song, E. Whitenton, A. Zheng, T. Vorburger and J. 

Zhou, “NIST Bullet Signature Measurement System for SRM 

(Standard Reference Material) 2460 Standard Bullets,” Journal 

of Forensic Science, Vol. 49, No. 4, July 2004, pp. 649-659.

Test Results for Software Write Block Tools: RCMP HDL 

Vol. 4, NCJ 206231, August 2004, Special Report, National 

Institute of Justice.

Test Results for Software Write Block Tools: RCMP HDL 

Vol. 5, NCJ 206232, August 2004, Special Report, National 

Institute of Justice.

Test Results for Software Write Block Tools: RCMP HDL 

Vol. 7, NCJ 206233, August 2004, Special Report, National 

Institute of Justice.

J. M. Butler, and P. M. Vallone, (2004) High-throughput genetic 

analysis through multiplexed PCR and multicapillary electrophoresis. PCR Technologies: Current Innovations (2nd edition), 

Weissensteiner, T., Griffi n, H.G., Griffi n, A. (Eds.) CRC Press: 

Boca Raton, Chapter 11, pp. 111-120.

R. Schoske, P. M. Vallone, M. C. Kline, J. W. Redman, J. M. Butler (2004) High-throughput Y-STR typing of U.S. populations 

with 27 regions of the Y chromosome using two multiplex PCR 

assays, Forensic Science International Vol. 139, pp. 107-121.

P. M. Vallone and J. M. Butler, (2004) Multiplexed assays for 

evaluation of Y-SNP markers in U.S. populations. Progress in 

Forensic Genetics 10, Elsevier Science: Amsterdam, The Netherlands, International Congress Series 1261, pp. 85-87.

J. M. Butler and R. Schoske, (2004) Forensic value of the multicopy Y-STR marker DYS464. Progress in Forensic Genetics 10, 

Elsevier Science: Amsterdam, The Netherlands, International 

Congress Series 1261, pp. 278-280.

J. M. Butler, E. Buel, F. Crivellente, B. R. McCord, (2004) 

Forensic DNA typing by capillary electrophoresis: using the 

ABI Prism 310 and 3100 Genetic Analyzers for STR analysis. 

Electrophoresis, Vol. 25, pp. 1397-1412.

P. M. Vallone, R.S. Just, M. D. Coble, J. M. Butler, T. J. Parsons, 

(2004) A multiplex allele-specifi c primer extension assay for 

forensically informative SNPs distributed throughout the mitochondrial genome. Int. J. Legal Med., Vol. 118, pp. 147-157.

J. M. Butler and R. Schoske, (2004) Duplication of DYS19 

fl anking regions in other parts of the Y chromosome. Int. J. 

Legal Med., Vol. 118, pp. 178-183.

P. M. Vallone and J. M. Butler, (2004) Y-SNP typing of U.S. 

African American and Caucasian samples using allele-specifi c 

hybridization and primer extension. J. Forensic Sci. Vol. 49 

(No. 4), pp. 723-732.

D. T. Chung, J. Drabek, K. L. Opel, J. M. Butler, B. R. McCord, (2004) A study on the effects of degradation and template 

concentration on the effi ciency of the STR miniplex primer sets. 

J. Forensic Sci. Vol. 49 (No. 4), pp. 733-740.

J. Drabek, D. T. Chung, J. M. Butler, B. R. McCord, (2004) Concordance study between miniplex STR assays and a commercial 

STR typing kit, J. Forensic Sci. Vol. 49(4), pp. 859-860.

P. M. Vallone and J. M. Butler, (2004) AutoDimer: a screening 

tool for primer-dimer and hairpin structures. Biotechniques, 

Vol. 37(2), pp. 226-231.

P. M. Vallone, A. E. Decker, J. M. Butler, (2004) Allele frequencies for 70 autosomal SNP loci with U.S. Caucasian, African 

American, and Hispanic Samples., Forensic Sci. Int., in press.

J. M. Butler, (2004) Short tandem repeat analysis for human 

identity testing. Current Protocols in Human Genetics, John 

Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, NJ, Unit 14.8, (Supplement 41), pp. 

14.8.1-14.8.22. 

J. M. Butler, (2004) Constructing STR multiplex assays. Methods in Molecular Biology: Forensic DNA Typing Protocols 

(Carracedo, A., ed.), Humana Press: Totowa, New Jersey, in 

press. 

P. M. Vallone, K. Fahr, M. Kostrzewa, (2004) Genotyping SNPs 

using a UV photocleavable oligonucleotide in MALDI-TOF 

MS. Methods in Molecular Biology: Forensic DNA Typing 

Protocols (Carracedo, A., ed.), Humana Press: Totowa, New 

Jersey, in press.

M. D. Coble and J. M. Butler, J. M. (2004) Characterization 

of new miniSTR loci to aid analysis of degraded DNA., J. 

Forensic Sci., in press. 

D. L. Duewer, M. C. Kline, J. W. Redman, J. M. Butler, (2004) 

NIST Mixed Stain Study #3: signal intensity balance in commercial short tandem repeat multiplexes, Anal. Chem., in press.

M. C. Kline, P. M. Vallone, J. W. Redman, D. L. Duewer, 

C. D. Calloway, J. M. Butler, (2004) Mitochondrial DNA 

typing screens with control region and coding region SNPs, 

submitted.

M. C. Kline, D. L. Duewer, J. W. Redman, J. M. Butler, 

(2004) Results from the NIST 2004 DNA Quantitation Study, 

submitted.

M. A. Menotti-Raymond, V. A. David, L. A. Wachter, L. A., J. 

M. Butler, S.J. O’Brien, (2004) An STR forensic typing system for genetic individualization of domestic cat (Felis catus) 

samples, submitted.

J. M. Butler, A. E. Decker, M. C. Kline, P. M. Vallone, (2004) 

Chromosomal duplications along the Y-chromosome and their 

potential impact on Y-STR interpretation, submitted.

E. Whitenton, C. Johnson, D. Kelley, R. Clary, B. Dutterer, 

L. Ma, J. Song and T. Vorburger, “Manufacturing and Quality 

Control of the NIST Standard Reference Material 2460 Standard 

Bullet,” Proceedings of the 2003 ASPE (American Society for 

Precision Engineering); October 28-31, 2003, Portland, OR, 

pp. 99-102.

J. Song, L. Ma, E. Whitenton and T. Vorburger, “2D and 3D 

Surface Texture Comparisons Using Autocorrelation Functions,” Proceedings of the 6th ISMTII (International Symposium 

on Measurement Technology and Intelligent Instruments), 

November 28-29, 2003, Hong Kong. 
Offi ce of Law Enforcement Standards 33

PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS

Too often in critical situations communications the 

data exchanges between law enforcement and public safety agencies are hampered by equipment incompatibilities. In large part these incompatibilities 

are due to a lack of standards to provide a common, 

nationwide approach to telecommunications and 

information sharing. The Department of Homeland 

Security’s Wireless Public SAFEty Interoperable 

COMmunications program (SAFECOM), the 

umbrella initiative to coordinate all Federal, state, 

local, and Tribal users to achieve national wireless 

communications interoperability and the Department of Justice’s Community Oriented Policing 

Services (COPS) have a common goal to resolve 

these issues by supporting the development and 

implementation of communications standards that 

will advance communications interoperability.

The OLES Public Safety Communications Systems 

program provides technical support to both of 

these programs. The OLES program, drawing on 

existing standards as well as critical requirements 

provided by public safety practitioners, provides 

insight and direction to IT and wireless standards 

committees that are developing standards for voice, 

data, image, and video communications. To meet 

the short term needs of law enforcement and public 

safety agencies until such standards are in place, 

the program also evaluates commercial devices that 

can provide for interim interoperability.

PROJECT: STANDARDIZATION EFFORTS

RELATED TO TELECOMMUNICATION

AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

INTEROPERABILITY

GOALS

The objective of this program is to support the 

SAFECOM and COPS Programs by providing 

engineering support through scientifi c analysis, 

standards leadership, and a technical liaison to 

practitioners to promote the identifi cation, development and validation of standards for communication system products and services that support 

interoperable communications within the Justice/

Public Safety/Homeland Security community. 

Further, OLES provides technical assessments and 

evaluations of existing and emerging commercial 

products and services that may provide interim solutions under various interoperability scenarios.

CUSTOMER NEEDS

With the explosion of telecommunications and 

information technologies has come a disturbing 

trend – a lack of interoperability among systems. 

This problem is particularly acute in the justice/

public safety community where product lifecycles 

are especially long and manufacturer proprietary 

solutions abound. The problem is evidenced 

over and over as police and other agencies (fi re 

departments, emergency medical services, etc.) 

fail to communicate with each other during multijurisdictional events (such as the Oklahoma City 

bombing or the September 11 terrorist incidents). 

Even in the absence of high-profi le local, state, or 

regional calamities, daily interoperability problems 

continue to plague justice/public safety agencies 

nationwide.

The focus of the SAFECOM and COPS programs 

continues to be the development of robust, open 

telecommunications standards which promote 

interoperability amongst public safety-related 

communications devices and systems. In support 

of interoperable voice communications standards, 

OLES continued its focused involvement with 

Project 25 and the Telecommunications Industry 

Association (TIA) TR 8 standards committees—especially in the development of key interfaces that 

will fulfi ll the promise of seamlessly interconnecting different manufacturers’ infrastructures. In 

2005, at the request of the P25 Steering Committee, OLES expanded its role in TIA by heading the 

development of a compliance assessment program 

designed to ensure that users can procure missioncritical Project 25 equipment with a high level of 

confi dence that the equipment complies with the 

relevant standards.

TECHNICAL STRATEGY

The current phase of the project can be seen as falling 

into the following fi ve functional support areas:

PUBLIC SAFETY STATEMENT OF

REQUIREMENTS AND ARCHITECTURE

FRAMEWORK

OLES continues to work with SAFECOM to 

further develop the Public Safety Statement of 

Requirements (PS SoR) for Communications and 

Interoperability. This document which was initially 

released in 2004 is the recognized defi nition of long 

term communications requirements for the public 

safety community. The PS SoR provides a vision 

Technical Contact:

Dereck Orr

Staff-Years:

25
34 Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory

of public safety’s communications and information sharing needs, defi ned by the practitioners 

themselves to meet their functional and operational 

requirements well into the future. The PS SoR is 

focused on the functional needs of public safety 

fi rst responders — Emergency Medical Services 

(EMS) personnel, fi re fi ghters, and law enforcement 

offi cers — to communicate and share information 

as authorized when it is needed, where it is needed, 

and in a mode or form that allows the practitioners 

to use it effectively. The communications mode 

may be voice, data, image, video, or multimedia 

that includes multiple forms of information. The 

original PS SoR release focused on qualitative requirements. Since then extensive research has been 

conducted using subjective practitioner evaluations 

to establish baseline quantitative requirements for 

both audio and video quality. The results of this latest research which provide more detail on technical 

parameters and values are planned to be released as 

a second of the PS SoR this fi scal year.

Based on the communications requirements outlined in the Public Safety Statement of Requirements, OLES and SAFECOM began development 

of the Public Safety Architecture Framework 

(PSAF). The architecture framework will provide 

public safety agencies with the necessary tools to 

compare and integrate legacy communication and 

information systems and allow them to leverage 

resources and migrate towards interoperability. The 

PSAF provides practitioners with a set of tools and 

a common lexicon for describing the elements of 

their local communications systems and enables 

practitioners to compare capabilities and equipment 

to achieve interoperability between jurisdictions. 

In addition to assisting the SAFECOM program 

in identifying needed standards by highlighting 

compatibility problems at key communications 

interfaces, the PSAF will also serve as a guide for 

localities planning for interoperability or technical 

capability upgrades. The PSAF enables engineers 

and planners to document their current public 

safety communication capabilities and analyze their 

system in relation to other systems. Ultimately, the 

PSAF will provide public safety with the ability 

to examine and develop both their operational and 

communications system capabilities.

With the publication of the PSAF in early 2006, 

OLES and SAFECOM are moving forward with 

a trial to demonstrate the utility of architecture 

framework principles within the public safety community by developing a database driven application which doesn’t require enterprise architecture 

expertise. The fi rst stage of the trial will leverage 

the Communications Assets Survey and Mapping 

(CASM) tool developed by DHS’s Interoperable 

Communications Technical Assistance Program. 

The CASM tool’s baseline capabilities, which 

gather operational data, will be extended to gather 

more technical details of a communications system. Public safety agencies participating in the 

trial activity will apply their real world experience 

to shape and defi ne the tool and ensure it and the 

underlying architecture framework process are 

user friendly. 

PROJECT 25 KEY INTERFACES

STANDARDIZATION ACCELERATION

In early 2005 three Project 25 interfaces were 

identifi ed as crucial for public safety agencies to 

purchase and implement both operable and interoperable P25-compliant systems. Those interfaces are 

listed below and represent where the most effective 

acceleration of the P25 Standards occurred in the 

past year and a half. While the initial releases will 

not fully satisfy all of the users’ requirements, they 

will allow manufacturers to build interoperable 

equipment possessing the most common, basic 

features. 

ISSI (Inter-RF Subsystem Interface) – This 

interface allows public safety agencies to interconnect systems on their wired networks (intranets). 

The initial ISSI protocol specifi cation was approved by the TR8.19 group on May 31, 2006 as 

a TIA standard. This specifi cation, also known as 

“Release 1,” supports a limited feature set, i.e., 

trunked voice operation but no over-the-air rekeying (OTAR) for encryption, and limited roaming of 

mobile radio users between systems. This standard, 

TIA-102.BACA, was published by TIA in August, 

2006. Compliance specifi cation standards for the 

ISSI are under active development. 

Fixed/Base Station Subsystem Interface 

(FSSI): This interface allows an RF site (with base 

station transmitters and receivers) to interconnect 

with an RF subsystem – the P25 system administrator and controller. The initial FSSI protocol 

specifi cation was approved by the TR8.19 group on 

January 11, 2006 as a TIA standard. This standard, 

TIA-102.BAHA, was published by TIA in June, 

2006. Compliance specifi cation standards for the 

FSSI are under active development.

Console Subsystem Interface (CSSI): This 

interface allows public safety dispatchers and communication center supervisors to interconnect via 

their consoles with an RF subsystem. Completion 

of the FSSI, which enables direct basic console 

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Offi ce of Law Enforcement Standards 35

control of fi xed/base station equipment, and the 

ISSI now serve as the supporting foundations for 

more comprehensive CSSI standards currently 

under development. 

PROJECT 25 COMPLIANCE ASSESSMENT

PROGRAM

In April 2005, at the request of the Project 25 Steering Committee, OLES, again working on behalf of 

SAFECOM, began efforts to develop a conformity 

assessment program for Project 25 equipment, now 

known as the Project 25 Compliance Assessment 

Program. Since then OLES has worked with representatives from both user and industry communities 

to focus the efforts of the program and to develop 

an initial framework for the assessment program. 

To these ends the Project 25 Compliance Assessment Working Group (CAWG) was formed under 

the auspices of the Telecommunications Industry 

Association (TIA) to consider the processes and 

procedures necessary to implement a program. A 

key accomplishment of this group was a memorandum of understanding stipulating the basic 

assumptions for testing and the means by which 

test results would be collected and disseminated. 

That group has established a basic framework for 

the program and decided upon a fi rst-party testing regimen to back a Supplier’s Declarations of 

Compliance. 

At the recommendation of OLES, the Project 25 

Compliance Assessment Process and Procedures 

Task Group was formed by expanding the scope of 

another committee to encompass all of compliance 

assessment. OLES representatives drafted and the 

committee accepted a work plan that prioritized 

the various conformance and interoperability test 

procedures—the test procedures that underpin the 

compliance assessment program. Subsequently, 

TIA has formed the TR-8.25 Compliance Assessment committee to address an increasing number 

of compliance assessment related issues.

The initial work of the Compliance Assessment 

Program focused on the Common Air Interface 

(CAI), the most mature of the P25 interfaces. 

Testing of the CAI begins with evaluations of 

interoperability for both trunked and conventional 

mode operation and are on track for completion by 

the end of calendar year 2006. Work is ongoing to 

update and publish more complete interoperability 

test procedures, and conformance test procedures 

for the CAI will follow. 

Testing of wireline-based interfaces such as the ISSI 

poses additional challenges not the least of which 

is the need for new test equipment and metrology. 

In response to this challenge OLES representatives 

authored the ISSI Measurement Methods standards 

document and have undertaken the development of 

the DoC ISSI Emulation and Test System (DIETS) 

which provides a set of tools for testing emerging 

ISSI technologies. The tool will emulate a P25 

Radiofrequency Subsystem (RFSS) and exercise 

the protocols defi ned in the ISSI standards. A 

complete test tool is being developed that will 

implement all of the ISSI conformance test cases 

being developed by TIA. In addition, the tool will 

include a packet capture and visualization tool that 

will support system analysis and troubleshooting. 

Future incremental enhancements to DIETS would 

enable the tool to support ISSI performance testing 

as well. The DIETS architecture is also capable of 

supporting conformance and performance testing 

for the Fixed Station and Console interfaces.

PUBLIC SAFETY BROADBAND DATA

STANDARDS EFFORTS

OLES is driving the broadband standardization 

effort on behalf of public safety. OLES leadership 

in this area is evidenced by its sponsorship of the 

Chair for the APIC Broadband Task Group, and its 

support from the public safety community derives 

from its commitment to faithfully representing their 

requirements. The OLES strategy is to conduct 

extensive simulation work based on real world 

scenarios taken from the Public Safety Statement 

of Requirements. In support of this effort OLES 

sponsors the project leader for the simulation effort 

and coordinates the efforts of a contractor from 

Booze Allen Hamilton who performs the simulations in OPNET. The goal is for public safety to 

be able to quantify their specifi c spectrum needs 

and tie these needs directly back to a repeatable 

simulation effort. To date reports summarizing the 

fi ndings of simulations of the fi rst three disciplinespecifi c scenarios from the Public Safety Statement 

of Requirements have been produced. These reports have been accepted by all participants in the 

APIC Broadband Task Group and have essentially 

become the working group’s de facto fi ndings. 

With OLES support the Task Group will soon be 

prepared to select an air interface for use in the 

4.9 GHz band. This effort marks the fi rst time that 

public safety will be standardizing broadband data 

communications, and as such, will have an enormous impact on the way fi rst responders conduct 

day-to-day business. 

OLES is also instrumental in the Project 34 User 

Needs Working Group. This is a working group 
36 Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory

made up of practitioners that determines the user 

needs and requirements for broadband communications. OLES has participated in writing many of 

the requirements documents produced by the P34 

Working Group, including the latest Statement of 

Requirements for Incident Area Networking.

Owing to its contributions to public safety broadband data standards, OLES has been requested 

by both the SAFECOM Advisory Group and 

the National Public Safety Telecommunications 

Council to participate in a study of how public 

safety could better utilize the 700 MHz band for 

broadband data communications. While this work 

has just begun, it is expected that the deliverables 

will dramatically impact public safety’s use of this 

spectrum. In support of this role, OLES sponsors 

the Co-Chair of NPSTC’s newly formed Broadband 

Interoperability Working Group, which is charged 

with standardizing public safety’s 700 MHz broadband spectrum.

OLES is also advancing the work of Project MESA 

on behalf of fi rst responders in the United States. 

Project MESA is a global effort to address public 

safety communications needs and is a cooperative 

effort between TIA in the United States and ETSI 

in Europe. Project MESA aims to develop a worldwide set of specifi cations for public safety to create a global market for equipment and to promote 

interoperability at the international level. OLES’s 

strategy in Project MESA has been to sponsor the 

Chair of the Technical Systems Group who then 

leverages the Public Safety Statement of Requirements to ensure that US public safety agency 

communications requirements are adequately 

represented and addressed. 

TECHNOLOGY EVALUATION AND

ENGINEERING SUPPORT

OLES continues to evaluate commercial interim 

interoperability products for their ability to satisfy near term interoperability requirements. The 

various products are selected for evaluation by the 

SAFECOM Test and Evaluation Working group, 

which looks for those products which appear to 

have the greatest potential over the short and longterm as interim interoperability solutions. 

OLES also responds to the immediate needs of the 

SAFECOM and COPS programs by performing 

other research and applied engineering activities as 

requested. These activities may include strategic 

and tactical planning, system engineering, technical analysis, economic benefi t studies, etc. OLES 

also develops formal documents such as guides 

or handbooks, presentations, white papers, and 

other documentation to support existing program 

tasks and/or proposed initiatives. On occasion, 

at the request of NIJ, OLES provides technical 

representatives to evaluate proposals, designs, 

approaches, and other technical overtures submitted/offered to NIJ.

DELIVERABLES

Revised Statements of Requirements (SORs) 

for both IT and wireless telecommunications 

applications, architectural framework documents, 

NIJ standards, reports, guides, guidelines, 

handbooks, white papers, and other products 

required to advance the CommTech Program and 

other interoperability-related efforts within NIJ. 

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

OLES representatives hold the following 

leadership positions in Project 25 related task 

groups/committees or other organizations: 

Vice-Chair of the ISSI Task Group

Vice-Chair of the P25 Systems Architecture Working Group (PSAWG)

Vice-Chair of the Vocoder Task Group

Vice-Chair of the Compliance Assessment Process and Procedures Task Group

Chair of the APCO 25 Interface Committee Broadband Task Group

Vice-Chair of the Technology Committee 

in the National Public Safety Communications 

Working Group

Co-Chair of the Broadband Interoperability Working Group in NPSTC

Chair of the Security Working Group in 

NPSTC

Chair of the VoIP Working Group in 

NPSTC

Chair of the Technical Systems Group in 

Project MESA

Provided technical support for SAFECOM’s 

fi rst Voice over IP (VoIP) Industry Roundtable to 

address the growing problem of the increasing 

number of incompatible IP-based interoperability gateways. Representatives from public safety 

VoIP vendors such as Motorola, EADS, MACOM, 

Twisted Pair, Cisco, Catalyst and public safety 

representatives from APCO, IACP, FPS were in 

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Offi ce of Law Enforcement Standards 37

attendance. A key outcome of this event was a 

commitment to consider leveraging the efforts of 

Project 25 ISSI for use as the base set of standards 

for public safety related VoIP devices.

Completed a LabVIEW based software test 

suite to perform automated Radio Performance 

Measurements on Project 25 Land Mobile Radios. 

This software will support uniform and repeatable 

tests of Project 25 subscriber unit performance.

Demonstrated a functioning prototype of the 

DoC ISSI Emulation and Test System (DIETS), a 

SIP-based Project 25 Radiofrequency Subsystem 

(RFSS) emulator.

Developed technical approaches and contributions to Project 25 and Project MESA that advanced 

the defi nition of user requirements and critical 

interface standards.

Assisted COPS and SAFECOM management 

by developing the technical strategy for formally 

achieving telecommunications interoperability, 

deriving the process and procedures for involving 

local, state, and federal public safety practitioners 

in the strategy, and creating position papers and 

outreach documents that will help high-level 

Government offi cials better understand the methodology.

Played key roles in developing and shepherding through approval two critical standards in TIA 

TR-8: the ISSI (Inter-RF Subsystem Interface) 

– and the Fixed/Base Station Subsystem Interface 

(FSSI): 

PUBLICATIONS

The following documents provide signifi cant input to the 

standardization of telecommunications interoperability for the 

public safety community:

Public Safety Statement of Requirements for Communications 

and Interoperability Version 1,1, April 2006, DHS/SAFECOM 

and NIST/OLES (see http://www.safecomprogram.gov).

Public Safety Statement of Requirements for Communications 

and Interoperability Volume I, Version 1.2 and Volume II, Version 1,0, due to be released this calendar year, DHS/SAFECOM 

and NIST/OLES

Public Safety Architecture Framework Volumes I and II, Version 

1.0, February 10, 2006, DHS/SAFECOM and NIST/OLES (see 

http://www.safecomprogram.gov).

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38 Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory

CBRNE STANDARDS

Long before September 11, 2001, OLES was heavily engaged in domestic preparedness and homeland 

security, particularly in developing performance 

standards for countermeasures against chemical, 

biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive 

(CBRNE) agents. The fi rst OLES CBRNE programs centered on developing CBRNE protective 

equipment for the emergency response community 

and were initially funded by the National Institute 

of Justice (NIJ) beginning in 1999. These programs 

continue today and form the core of a greatly expanded OLES effort. In FY2003 primary funding 

of OLES’s CBRNE programs shifted from NIJ to 

the Offi ce for Domestic Preparedness, Grants and 

Training (G&T) and in 2004 shifted again, to the 

Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate of the 

Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

SHARED MANAGEMENT

RESPONSIBILITIES

OLES’s steadily growing role in CBRNE standards development has required a number of 

organizational changes. Prior to 2001, OLES’s 

protective equipment projects were managed by 

its Chemical Systems and Materials Program. As 

the number and diversity of CBRNE projects grew, 

however, OLES recognized the need to consolidate its ongoing projects and new projects under 

a single administrative banner. And so, in 2001, 

OLES created its Critical Incident Technologies 

(CIT) program area. CIT expanded signifi cantly 

in FY2003 and FY2004, and matured further 

through FY2005 and FY2006, overseeing a broad 

range of standards development activities in many 

divergent areas. This growth necessitated further 

changes to ensure adequate management, and in 

2005 OLES redefi ned its Chemical Systems and 

Materials program area to assume management of 

specifi c types of CBRNE programs, and renamed 

it the Public Safety and Security Technologies 

(PSST) program.

Today, CIT and PSST share management of 

OLES’s portfolio of CBRNE-related programs. 

CIT is responsible for standards-development 

projects related to personal protective equipment 

(PPE); emergency response operational equipment, 

such as urban search and rescue (US&R) robots; 

border and transportation security; cybersecurity; 

and infrastructure protection. PSST manages 

standards-development projects focusing on CB 

and explosives detection, CB decontamination, 

riot control PPE, and less-than-lethal chemical 

technologies, such as pepper spray. PSST also 

compiles and updates CBRNE equipment guides 

for emergency responders and conducts programs 

related to non-intrusive detection of illegal drugs.

Each program area is discussed in a separate section below.

MEETING CUSTOMER REQUIREMENTS

The CIT and PSST program areas address the 

requirements of America’s emergency response 

and homeland security communities for integrated 

suites of performance standards, supporting test 

protocols, appropriate conformity assessment 

programs, and user guidance related to equipment 

and practices. These needs are broadly described 

in documents such as the Homeland Security Presidential Directives, National Security Presidential 

Directives, and the National Plan for Homeland 

Security.

The programs also fulfi ll the requirements of specifi c customers within the broader public safety and 

security community, such as emergency responders 

(law enforcement, fi re service, medical, HAZMAT, 

and others), the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs 

and Border Protection, the U.S. Secret Service, 

operators of key infrastructure (water, power, 

transportation), and the information community. 

Typically, specifi c customer needs are identifi ed 

through studies, surveys, working groups, professional and trade associations, and similar avenues, 

such as NIJ’s Law Enforcement and Corrections 

Technology Advisory Council (LECTAC). The 

InterAgency Board for Equipment Standardization 

and InterOperability (IAB) serves an important 

role in identifying and validating requirements, 

and OLES serves as the organization’s Executive 

Agent for standards development. Requirements 

are also identifi ed by monitoring emerging science 

and technology and their potential applications.

PROJECT FUNDING AND EXECUTION

Both CIT and PSST oversee projects spanning 

many disciplines. The Department of Homeland 

Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate’s Standards Offi ce sponsors most of this work, 

although the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) 

and NIST itself also sponsor projects managed by 

these program areas. The scientifi c and technical work involved in these projects is conducted 

at NIST and at other organizations, including 

the National Institute for Occupational Safety 

Critical Incident 

Technologies

Technical Contacts:

Philip Mattson

Pamela Gray

James Stewart 

Staff-Years:

40

Public Safety and 

Security Technologies

Technical Contacts:

Alim Fatah

Lisa Rothwell

Staff-Years:

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Offi ce of Law Enforcement Standards 39

and Health (NIOSH), the U.S. Army Edgewood 

Chemical Biological Center (ECBC), and the U.S. 

Army Natick Soldier Center. For the DHS-funded 

projects, the actual bench work is conducted by 

other OLES program areas and through the Thrust 

Area Coordinators identifi ed by DHS S&T, and the 

CIT and PSST program managers serve as DHS 

technical contacts.

TECHNICAL STRATEGY

In its over 30 years of developing standards for the 

criminal justice community, OLES developed a 

uniform process for developing minimum performance standards for critical equipment, based on its 

expertise in completing scores of projects on behalf 

of the criminal justice and public safety communities. The process (see fi gure below) has proven so 

effective that OLES and many of OLES’s technical 

partners have adopted it to guide the development 

of standards not only for CBRNE equipment but 

also for other types of equipment standards. Some 

of OLES’s standards-development projects require 

following the entire process; others may be more 

limited in scope and may not require completion of 

the whole process illustrated in the fi gure below. 

Standards Development Process.

Requirements Development. The fi rst step is 

to develop the requirements for the standard. A 

threat and hazard analysis is used to determine the 

requirements of the user, what the responder needs 

the equipment to do and under what conditions. 

In the analysis, a number of factors need to be 

addressed such as: what is the threat that is to be 

countered? What is the use of the technology? What 

environmental conditions need to be considered; 

i.e. temperature, humidity ranges to be considered, 

fl ame resistance, etc.? What key endpoints must be 

measured, i.e. is it detection of specifi c agents and 

at a what range of concentrations?

Standards Development and Research. The next 

step is the development of the performance standard and test methods to evaluate the performance 

of the equipment to the standard. Maximum use is 

made of the voluntary consensus standards development process, the development and promulgation of the standards through recognized Standards 

Development Organizations (SDO) such as ASTM 

International, the American National Standards 

Institute (ANSI), AOAC International, and other 

such organizations. A review of existing standards 

and test methods is conducted to identify: 1) standards and test methods that meet the requirements 

as identifi ed, or 2) standards and test methods that 

if modifi ed could meet the requirement, or 3) if 

no such standards and test methods exist, then 

identify the appropriate SDO for development and 

promulgation of the new standard, and initiate the 

development of the standard through the SDO. In 

some cases supporting research must be conducted 

as part of the standards development process to 

provide technical support in the development 

of the standard or supporting test 

methods.

Test Method Validation. Once 

the draft standard and test methods 

have been developed, the next step 

is to procure commercially available products, and test them to 

the draft standard. This process 

validates the test methods, in that 

the test methods can be translated 

to standard operation procedures 

that qualifi ed laboratories can use 

and implement, and it benchmarks 

currently available equipment. If no 

equipment benchmarked meets the 

standard, then the standard must be 

closely scrutinized. If however, the 

preliminary benchmarking indicates 

that no equipment can meet the 

standard, even with modifi cations by the manufacturer, then the performance standards and the 

test methods must be reevaluated. Decisions must 

be made whether or not to revise the standards 

and test methods based on the results of the initial 

benchmark testing without sacrifi cing health and 

safety requirements or to maintain the standards 

as drafted.
40 Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory

Revise and Issue Standard. After identifying all 

concerns, the standard is issued or promulgated 

by the appropriate SDO. One key component of 

this program is the adoption of these standards 

by the Department of Homeland Security. This 

ties compliance to appropriate standards with 

the federal grants programs, in compliance with 

Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD) 

& (National Preparedness).

Conformity Assessment Program. The development of performance standards and test methods to 

evaluate performance to these standards does not 

ensure that the equipment going to the responders 

does indeed meet these standards. Programs must 

be put in place to use the test methods to evaluate 

conformity to the appropriate standards. The details of these conformity assessment programs will 

vary, depending on the type of technology being 

evaluated, the consequence of non-conformance 

to the standard, whether the standard promulgated 

by a particular SDO contains provisions for conformity assessment and a number of other factors. 

Appropriate third party test facilities must be 

identifi ed that satisfactorily conduct the testing, and 

the appropriate test management and certifi cation 

program must be established. 

User Guidance and Training. The standards and 

associated test methods by necessity are very specifi c and technical documents. The capabilities and 

limitations on the performance of the technology 

must be translated in terms that are understandable 

and useable by the end users of the equipment. 

They must know whether the system has been 

tested against Toxic Industrial Chemicals/Materials (TIC/TIMs) or just against Chemical Warfare 

Agents. Development and distribution of this type 

of information is essential for the user, the procurement offi cial, and in the development of concepts 

of operation and training programs. Training 

programs and concepts of operations (CONOPS) 

must be adapted or developed to effectively use 

and understand the capabilities of technologies that 

meet these standards.

Maintenance of Standard. There must be provisions for the review and update of the standard. As 

experience is gained in the use of the standard, as 

new technologies and test methods become available, or in the case of unforeseen problems with the 

standard and test method, the standard will require 

periodic revisions. Most SDOs have procedures to 

accomplish these tasks, and this will be one of the 

considerations in selecting the appropriate SDO 

for the development and promulgation of any new 

standard. A list of compliant equipment must be 

maintained and available for the user community. 

One such portal is the DHS-funded Responder 

Knowledge Base.

Public Comment. This process is not conducted in 

a vacuum. Public comment from users, developers, 

manufacturers and other concerned individuals and 

organizations is critical in the development of the 

standards. There are a number of points within 

the process where such comment will be actively 

solicited. 

CRITICAL INCIDENT

TECHNOLOGIES (CIT)

GOALS

The primary goals of the CIT Program are to:

1) Develop performance standards, test and evaluation protocols, reference materials and reference 

data, conformity assessment programs and user 

guidance for products and services.

2) Develop consistent and verifi able measures of 

technology effectiveness in terms of basic functionality, reliability, appropriateness and adequacy for 

the task, interoperability, effi ciency, and sustainability.

3) Work with the DHS and DOJ to link equipment 

compliance with minimum performance standards 

to grants processes.

4) Provide guidance on technology investments to 

allow DHS, NIJ, Federal, state, and local stakeholders to optimize use of limited resources.

5) Disseminate standards and subsequent performance evaluations to the sponsors and stakeholders, to help them make informed equipment 

purchases and to guide manufacturers, developers, 

and the test and evaluation community to ensure 

product compliance.

6) Provide guidance to sponsors and stakeholders 

on cross-cutting standards issues.

CIT PROGRAM AREA PROJECTS

Following are descriptions of three CIT projects.

DHS-FUNDED PROJECTS 

CBRNE Countermeasures Thrust Area Projects. These projects focus on standards related to 

the detection of chemical, radiological and nuclear 

threats, including standards for existing or new 

types of sensors and data analysis techniques. 

Activities aim at developing suites of performance 
Offi ce of Law Enforcement Standards 41

standards, test and evaluation protocols, reference 

materials and reference data, conformity assessment programs and user guidance for preventing, 

detecting, responding to, investigating, and recovering from CBRNE incidents. 

Radiation and Nuclear Standards and 

Validation. Objective: Develop National Standards 

for Homeland Security radioactivity, radiation and 

neutron measurements, and the technical infrastructure to support these standards.

National Standards for X-ray and Gamma 

Ray Security Screening Systems. Objective: Develop consensus standards for X-ray and gammaray screening equipment, and measurements to 

support and validate these standards at NIST.

Borders and Transportation Security Thrust 

Area Projects. This thrust area focuses on Biometrics, Cargo Security, and Radio Frequency 

Identifi cation (RFID). Standards for components 

and systems in border and transportation security 

are critical to systems for protecting our ports and 

borders and improving security of our transportation networks.

Standards for Rapid Evaluation. Objective: 

Establish standards for the procedural offl ine and 

automated evaluation of biometric data.

Latent Fingerprint Analysis. Objective: 

Develop standardized latent fi ngerprint identifi cation protocols.

Usability for Biometric Systems. Objective: 

Develop user interface guidelines, a reference user 

interface, and evaluation methodologies to improve 

the usability of biometric software systems. 

Standards for Image Quality. Objective: 

Develop standard defi nitions and measurements 

of fi nger and face image quality.

Multimodal Biometric Accuracy Research 

Kiosk (MBARK). Objective: Design, develop, 

integrate and deploy a standard reference multimodal biometric accuracy research kiosk to collect, 

maintain and evaluate biometric data.

Cargo Security Requirements Defi nition.

Objective: Develop standards for advanced devices 

and systems to enhance the security of shipping 

containers and cargo handling processes.

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) 

Standards. Objective: Develop appropriate functional tests and performance metrics to facilitate 

reliable use of Radio Frequency Identifi cation 

(RFID) systems for homeland security and fi rst 

responder applications.

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Preparedness and Response Thrust Area 

Projects. These projects focus on developing 

standards that will enable emergency responders 

to identify and purchase reliable personal protective equipment and operational equipment. The 

emphasis is on identifying gaps in the existing 

body of standards and coordinating development 

of new or modifi ed standards to fi ll those gaps. 

The projects range across six areas of concern: 

Incident Management, Communications, Training, 

Personal Protective and Operational Equipment 

(PPOE), Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Robots, and Geographic Information System (GIS) 

Standards.

Incident Management Standards. Objective: Develop standards in the areas of incident 

management, preparedness, planning, and training 

of fi rst responders. 

Performance Metrics and Standards for 

RF Equipment. Objective: Provide performance 

metrics and propagation data to facilitate development of transmission standards for radio-frequency (RF)-based emergency equipment for fi rst 

responders. 

NIOSH CBRN Respiratory Standards 

Development. Objective: Develop performance 

standards for CBRN respirators 

ECBC Support to CBRN Respiratory 

Standards Development. Objective: Facilitate 

Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC) 

technical support to NIOSH’s National Personal 

Protective Technologies Laboratory (NPPTL) and 

the overall standards development effort. ECBC’s 

support enables the effort to build on research and 

development conducted within military respiratory 

programs.

Standards Program Development for First 

Responder Communications. Objective: Develop 

performance metrics and transmission standards 

for RF-based emergency equipment.

Permeation Through Nonporous Barrier 

Polymers. Objective: Develop test methods to assess permeation through selective PPE protective 

materials.

Respiratory Threats for First Responders. 

Objective: Develop performance metrics and testing protocols to support standards development 

for real time environmental and personal exposure 

monitoring equipment.

Development of Verifi cation Method for 

Gas Mask Fit Test. Objective: Develop performance metrics and testing protocols to support 

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42 Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory

standards development for selection of appropriate-sized respiratory face masks.

Chemical/Biological Personal Protective 

Equipment Standards. Objective: Develop 

minimum performance standards and testing 

methodologies for chemical (both warfare agents 

and toxic industrial chemicals) and biological 

protective ensembles for the emergency response 

community.

Emergency Responder Protection Against 

TICs/TIMs. Objective: Conduct TIC/TIM testing 

on representative PPE ensemble material to validate testing methodology. Select TICs and TIMs 

based on the prioritization process previously 

established.

Wear and Tear for Tactical Law Enforcement CB Ensemble. Objective: Assess whether 

current test methods and protocols available for artifi cial wear and weathering of materials accurately 

refl ect the use of CB protective ensembles during 

Homeland Security Operations (HLSO).

Reactive Cooling Systems. Objective: Develop performance metrics and standard testing 

protocols for fi rst responder protective clothing that 

uses reactive cooling to respond to short duration 

high thermal load.

Microclimate Cooling Systems. Objective: 

Develop requirements for Microclimate Cooling 

Systems (MCS) for selected user groups within the 

DHS/Emergency Response community.

Thermal Imager Standards for the Fire Service. Objective: Evaluate the adequacy of current 

thermal equipment standards for electronic devices 

used by fi rst responders for location purposes.

Personal Alert Safety Systems (PASSTechnology). Objective: Develop appropriate functional 

tests and performance metrics to facilitate reliable 

use of PASS systems for homeland security and 

fi rst responder applications.

Development of Next Generation High 

Explosives Standards Requirements. Objective: 

Develop a standard and measurement infrastructure 

for calibration, standardization, and optimization 

of trace explosives detection systems.

Explosive Containment Standards Development (Blast Resistant Trash Receptacles). 

Objective: Develop standards and test methods for 

blast resistant trash receptacles (BRTRs).

Bomb Disposal Robot User Interface Standards. Objective: Develop disaster taxonomy and 

robot performance defi nitions, as well as operating 

procedures and user guides.

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Urban Search and Rescue Robot Metrics 

& Standards. Objective: Develop comprehensive standards for the development, testing, and 

certifi cation of technologies for sensing, mobility, 

navigation, planning, and operator interaction 

within search and rescue robot systems. 

Testing and Measurement Methodology for 

Indoor Localization and a User Guide. Objective: Develop standard and user guide for low rate 

ultra wideband technology for communication 

and ranging.

Thermal Exposure Measurement Method 

for First Responders. Objective: Develop test 

methodologies to determine thermal measurements 

and calculations of heat buildup and insulation 

failure in existing protective clothing.

Cyber Security and Critical Infrastructure 

Protection Thrust Area Projects. Modern buildings and information networks are complex and 

vulnerable to both external and internal threats. 

These projects focus on modeling, simulating and 

analyzing heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems and developing standards for 

building automated controls, integrated sensors, 

structural integrity, and cyber security countermeasures. The emphasis is on leveraging the rapid 

technological developments in the private sector 

and coordinating them with the needs of various 

DHS components.

Standards and Metrics for SCADA and 

Industrial Control Systems. Objective: Develop 

standards and software assurance metrics to help 

SCADA and Industrial Control Systems conform 

to requirements, standards, and procedures. 

Economic Standards for Security Related 

Issues in Constructed Facilities. Objective: 

Develop a suite of economic standards and an 

economic training module and software product 

on how to apply standards to aid in the selection of 

cost effective strategies for the management of risks 

associated with terrorism and natural hazards.

Standards Development for Gaseous Air 

Cleaning in Buildings. Objective: Develop standards and test methods for assessing the performance of gaseous air cleaning devices and the level 

of protection that can be achieved in buildings.

Standards and Test Methods for Sensor 

Networks and Alert Systems. Objective: Develop 

standards and protocols for sensor interfaces for 

interoperable links for sensor networks. 

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Offi ce of Law Enforcement Standards 43

Personal Identity Verifi cation and Access 

Control for Buildings. Objective: Develop standards for the integration of building automation 

systems to address the requirements of personal 

identity and access control systems.

Next Generation Design Economics for 

Structural Integrity. Objective: Develop technical basis for structural and economics standards 

that enable users to select cost effective engineering solutions when designing new building or 

upgrading existing structures to resist progressive 

structural collapse.

Authentication Effectiveness Metrics. Objective: Develop metrics and protocols for assessing 

the effectiveness of various authentication mechanisms for local and remote environments.

Universal Access Control Mechanism. Objective: Develop a standard access control that can 

meet the diverse access control needs of government and industry.

Building Secure Confi gurations/ Security 

Settings/Security Checklists. Objective: Develop 

standards for the integration of building automation 

systems to address the requirements of personal 

identity and access control systems.

DHS Offi ce of Interoperability and Compatibility Project. The Office of Interoperability 

and Compatibility (OIC) has funded the IAB to 

establish a new Compatibility and Interoperability Committee to examine, identify and report on 

interoperability and compatibility issues.

NIJ-FUNDED PROJECTS

Development of Bomb Disposal Robot Standards. Objective: Develop equipment standards 

and test methods based on defi ned operational 

requirements.

Development of Bomb Suit Standard. Objective: 

Develop standards and test metrics to assess the 

operational capability of PPE based on defi ned 

operational requirements.

OLES-FUNDED PROJECTS

Structural Collapse Prediction. Objective: Develop risk assessment protocols to assist in the 

evaluation of structures to endure specifi c risks 

related to terrorism and environmental hazards.

Human/Machine Interface Standards for Bomb 

Disposal Robots. Objective: Develop standards 

and test metrics to evaluate the human/machine 

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interface mechanisms required during specifi c operational requirements for bomb disposal robots.

DELIVERABLES

Major deliverables for all of the programs listed 

above include monthly, quarterly, and annual 

progress reports, ongoing hazard threat analyses 

reports, draft and fi nal performance standards, 

hosting of public hearings on proposed standards, 

contributions to interagency groups, staffi ng and 

equipping a suitable test laboratory, publication 

of user guides, and other relevant products and 

reports required to fully implement the standards 

development activities.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

The Critical Incident Technologies program area 

was established in 2001 in order to consolidate 

and adequately manage ongoing and new OLES 

programs related to public safety and security. 

Among the milestones achieved to date are:

Standards for four types of radiation detection equipment were developed and promulgated 

through IEEE and adopted by the Department of 

Homeland Security in February 2004. Testing is 

being conducted at DOE National Laboratories. 

Five additional standards have been drafted and 

are in fi nal stages of approval and publication by 

ANSI. Two rounds of testing have been conducted 

on commercially available radiation detectors; 

one has been published, the other is under fi nal 

editorial review.

CBRN Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus 

Standard (SCBA), December 2001. Dozens of 

different models of respirators from six major 

manufacturers have been certifi ed to date. Certifi cation testing is ongoing. 

CBRN Air Purifying Respirator Standard, 

March 2003. Certifi cation testing is ongoing. 

CBRN SCBA retrofi t kit approval, March 

2003. This allows previously purchased nonCBRN certifi ed respirators to be upgraded to the 

CBRN standard.

CBRN APR and Self Contained Escape Mask 

Standard, October 2003. Certifi cation testing is 

ongoing.

CBRN Powered Air Purifying Respirator 

(PAPR) standard complete, awaiting implementation by NIOSH.

Adoption of the completed CBRN respirator 

standards by the Interagency Board for Equipment 

Standardization and Interoperability, the Offi ce for 

Domestic Preparedness, and the Department of 

Homeland Security. In addition, the National Fire 

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44 Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory

Protection Agency is referencing the NIOSH CBRN 

respirator standards in the NFPA standards.

Using simulations developed as a result of user 

input, the program has determined the appropriate 

chemical agent concentrations a protective suit 

must endure in hot and warm zones. Initially this 

mode was developed using GB and HD, as they 

are primary agents challenging the respirators. 

However, additional agents are now being studied 

as they may pose a greater percutaneous threat. 

NFPA 1991 and 1994 CBR respirator standards 

have been revised by NFPA to incorporate CW 

agent concentrations and endpoints.

To ensure that users of protective CBRN ensembles experience minimal negative health effects 

and no lasting health effects, the health community 

performed a health hazard assessment, “Evaluation 

of Chemical Warfare Agent Percutaneous Vapor 

Toxicity: Derivation of Toxicity Guidelines for 

Assessing Chemical Protective Ensembles,” July 

2003, by Annetta Watson, Dennis Opresko and 

Veronique Hauschild. 

A draft set of recommendations has been 

presented to the NFPA for development of a new 

standard for thermal imagers.

The PASS project identifi ed a shortcoming in 

the existing NFPA standard, and a warning was 

sent to the users through the NFPA, NIOSH and 

the IAFF. Modifi cations are being made in the next 

revision to the standard.

PUBLIC SAFETY AND SECURITY

TECHNOLOGIES

The Public Safety and Security Technologies 

(PSST) program oversees a broad range of standards development activities and coordinates and 

manages interagency agreements to develop several 

types of emergency response equipment. PSSTmanaged projects are executed at NIST and at other 

organizations, including the U.S. Army Edgewood 

Chemical Biological Center (ECBC), the Defense 

Technical Information Center (DTIC), and the 

Chemical and Biological Information Analysis 

Center (CBIAC).

GOALS

The primary objectives of the PSST program are 

to:

1) Develop performance standards, test and 

evaluation protocols, standard reference materials 

(SRMs) and reference materials (RMs), reference 

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data, and user guidance for equipment used for 

detecting of chemical and biological agents and 

explosives, and for decontamination of chemical 

and biological agents;

2) Develop CBRNE equipment guides for emergency responders;

3) Develop standards for riot control personal 

protection equipment (PPE) for law enforcement 

and corrections offi cers;

4) Perform technical studies and standards for 

chemical-based less-than-lethal (LTL) technologies; and

5) Develop non-intrusive technologies and methods used by the criminal justice community for 

detecting drugs in the human body.

PSST PROGRAM AREA PROJECTS

Following are descriptions of two PSST projects.

CBRNE COUNTERMEASURES THRUST

AREA PROJECTS

Projects in this area focus on standards related to 

CRBNE threat detection, including standards for 

existing and new types of sensors, data analysis 

techniques, and decontamination methodologies. 

Program activities focus on the development of 

a comprehensive suite of performance standards, 

test and evaluation protocols, reference materials 

and reference data and user guidance for the effective prevention, detection, response, recovery 

and forensic investigation of CBRNE incidents. 

Projects within this area include:

Chemical Standards Program Development. Objective: Coordinate efforts among 

National Laboratories, Standards Development 

Organizations, and other professional organizations to assure that fi rst responders have the instrumentation and procedures necessary to make 

rapid, reliable decisions using fi eld instruments in 

challenging situations.

Development of Chemical Detection Equipment Standards. Objective: Establish appropriate 

detection levels for toxic industrial chemicals (TICSs) and toxic industrial materials (TIMs), based on 

the operational performance requirements. 

Development of Chemical Decontamination Standards. Objective: Determine the level at 

which a chemical material is no longer considered 

a health hazard and to which decontamination 

equipment must neutralize that material. 

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Offi ce of Law Enforcement Standards 45

National Independent, Validated Raman 

Libraries for Forensic and Security Applications. Objective: Develop a validated reference 

library of Raman spectral signatures of TICs, for 

use in qualitative identifi cation.

Instrumentation and Protocols for First 

Responder Chemical Detectors. Objective: 

Defi ne user requirements to ensure that detectors 

meet the operational requirements of the responder 

community.

Biological Standards Program Development. Objective: Develop a comprehensive suite 

of performance standards, test and evaluation 

protocols, reference materials and data, conformity 

assessment programs, and user guides.

Reference Materials for Testing Biothreat 

Detection Devices and Instruments. Objective: 

Develop uniform, well-characterized reference 

materials based on Bacillus anthracis spores and 

ricin.

Development of National Sampling Standards for Suspicious Powders. Objective: Develop a national sampling standard for suspicious 

powders, to be validated by the AOAC and adopted 

by ASTM.

Development of a Standard and Measurement Infrastructure for Trace Explosive Detection Systems. Objective: Develop the technical 

tools required to characterize, optimize, calibrate, 

and standardize trace explosive detection equipment.

Trace Particle Explosives Standard Reference Materials. Objective: Develop standard 

reference materials (SRMs) that provide calibrated 

trace amounts of high explosives.

National Standards for X-ray and Gamma 

Ray Security Screening Systems. Objective: Develop consensus standards for X-ray and gammaray screening equipment, and measurements to 

support and validate these standards at NIST.

Drop on Demand Inkjet Printing of Homeland Security Standards. Objective: To develop 

inkjet printing technology as a viable method 

for producing standards to calibrate and validate 

tabletop, handheld, and portal instruments for the 

detection of trace explosives, narcotics and chemical warfare agents.

Metrology for Integrated Gas Sensors. Objective: To promote and support the development 

of hardware and software standards for specifying 

embedded-sensor (ES) virtual-components (VCs) 

for law enforcement and homeland security ap-

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plications, such as breath analyzers and detectors 

of toxic gases, trace explosives, and fi re accelerants. 

To make the ES-VCs compatible with the Systemon-a-Chip (SoC) integration methodology used for 

digital IC design. This NIST effort will enable gas 

sensor ES-VCs to be included in SoC CAD libraries and enable integration of these ES-VCs with 

existing digital VCs used ubiquitously by industry 

to design large ICs. 

To deliver working prototype single-chip smart 

sensor SoCs incorporating ES-VCs, and work with 

electronic-design-automation (EDA) vendors to 

make the ES-VCs available in commercial CAD 

libraries.

Standards and Quality Assurance for Biological and Chemical Threat Agents. Objective: 

To create a program to develop and characterize 

standard materials and measurement methods to 

test and improve devices and methods for detecting 

and identifying chemical and biological agents. 

To coordinate related CW and BW standards development efforts within DoD and work being done on 

TICs and TIMs by EPA, OSHA, and DHS. 

Detection of Toxins in the Water Supply.

Objective: To develop autonomous sensor systems, 

using a microfl uidic platform, for monitoring drinking water for the presence of chemical agents. 

Test of the Molecular Basis of Virulent 

Bacteria. Objective: To test the mechanisms 

by which virulent bacteria kill cells, in support 

of efforts to develop more timely and effective 

therapeutic agents.

PROTECTIVE CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT

Law enforcement, corrections, and security personnel require special personal protective equipment 

(PPE) when operating in violent situations, in order 

to protect them from threats such as blunt trauma, 

slashes, bites, burning petrol, and chemical exposure. Different articles of PPE (helmets, gloves, 

boots, armor) must not only meet appropriate standards but also be compatible and complementary in 

order to provide optimum overall protection.

Protective Clothing. Objective: To develop 

a performance standard for PPE for violent situations. With BSI’s permission, OLES is undertaking 

transforming BS 7971 into a U.S. standard and 

issuing it as an NIJ Standard for use by U.S. law 

enforcement, corrections, and public safety and 

security personnel. While retaining the technical 

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46 Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory

content of the British standard, OLES will apply 

relevant U.S. Safety requirements as promulgated 

by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Code of Federal Regulations 

(CFR).

DELIVERABLES

Major deliverables include monthly, quarterly and 

annual progress reports, ongoing hazard threat 

analyses reports, draft and fi nal performance 

standards, hosting of public hearings on proposed 

standards, contributions to interagency groups, 

staffi ng and equipping a suitable test laboratory, 

publication of user guides, and other relevant 

products and reports required to fully implement the 

standards development activities.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Three Decontamination Reports were fi nalized 

during FY2004: 1) a report defi ning the quantity 

of liquid chemical warfare agents that may be 

deposited on personnel located near a terrorist 

event, and where on their bodies the deposits are 

likely to occur; 2) a chemical kinetics study recommending optimum contact times, decontaminate 

concentration and negative effects of certain contaminate /decontaminate reactions; and 3) a report 

containing preliminary determination of chemical 

contamination residuals allowable by the medical 

community. 

The trace explosive detection standards project 

has accomplished a number of milestones, including: 1) publication of NIST IR 7240 “IMS-based 

Trace Explosives Detectors for First Responders;” 

2) a pilot study of deployment of IMS-based explosives detector in partnership with NIST’s Physical 

Security Offi ce; 3) development of solution-based 

test kits for trace explosive detectors; 4) generation 

of inkjet printed test materials for a pilot study 

for trace explosive detectors; 5) construction of a 

prototype vapor calibrator; 6) submission of ASTM 

standard practice WK8290; and 7) feasibility studies for the production of particle standards.

Almeida, J., Cole, K.D., and Wang, Lili, 

“Development of Standard Bacillus Spore Suspensions,” American Society of Microbiology, Biodefense Meeting Baltimore, MD, March 21, 2005.

Workshop on Reference Materials for Biodefense, sponsored by NIST, DoD, and DHS, held at 

NIST, Gaithersburg, MD, September 13, 2005.

Standard for sampling of suspicious powders 

successfully balloted through ASTM.

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Work with vendors of test equipment and 

their customers to determine the type of reference 

material that will provide the most realistic tests 

of explosives detection equipment.

Ongoing efforts continue on the draft of a 

chemical vapor detection standard, which includes 

additional tests and procedures based on user 

requirements or the interferents study. Input will 

be provided in accordance with ASTM, or other 

standards organization timelines. The standard is 

currently being balloted through ASTM.

Submitted draft ASTM standards for air and 

water heaters used in decontamination operations, 

and completed explosive test chamber studies to 

validate CWA hazard analyses.

A number of reports have been published on 

the Raman spectra of agents and chemicals of 

interest.

E2413-04 Standard Guide for Hospital Preparedness and Response is under review for update 

and coordination with the rewrite of NFPA 473. 

ASTM Work Item WK5498 has been established to 

develop a Standard Guide for Developing Model 

Emergency Operations Plans for All-hazard Events. 

ASTM Work Item WK5516 has been established 

to develop a Standard Guide for Building Indoor 

Dispersion Analysis, Modeling and Health Effect 

Assessment. 

Guides that give fi rst responders comprehensive listings of personal protective equipment, 

chemical and biological detection equipment, 

chemical and biological decontamination equipment and emergency fi rst responder communication equipment. These guides are published in 

hard copy format and are available for download 

from the OLES web site at http://www.eeel.nist.

gov/oles/ and on a searchable CD-ROM. Revised 

second editions of the chemical and biological 

detector guides have been published. The personal 

protective equipment guide has been revised and 

is currently undergoing editorial review. The fi nal 

guides in the series – explosive and radiation detection equipment – are being drafted.

The project to develop a calibration method for 

the gas mask fi t test has completed the fi rst NIST 

traceable aerosol concentration measurements. The 

test method was developed and a technical report 

and other papers have been published, and the 

transfer standard has been conferred to the Army.

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THE ELECTRONICS AND ELECTRICAL

ENGINEERING LABORATORY

One of NIST’s seven Measurement and Standards Laboratories, EEEL conducts research, provides measurement services, and helps set standards in support of: the fundamental electronic technologies of semiconductors, magnetics, and superconductors; information and communications technologies, such as fi ber optics, photonics, microwaves, electronic displays, and electronics manufacturing supply chain collaboration; forensics and security measurement instrumentation; fundamental and practical physical standards and measurement services for electrical quantities; maintaining the quality and integrity of electrical power systems; and the development of nanoscale and microelectromechanical devices. EEEL provides support to law enforcement, corrections, and criminal justice agencies, including homeland security. EEEL consists of four programmatic divisions and two matrixmanaged offi ces:Semiconductor Electronics DivisionOptoelectronics DivisionQuantum Electrical Metrology DivisionElectromagnetics DivisionOffi ce of Microelectronics ProgramsOffi ce of Law Enforcement StandardsThis document describes the technical programs of the Offi ce 

of Law Enforcement Standards (OLES). Similar documents describing the other Divisions and Offi ces are available. Contact NIST/EEEL, 100 Bureau Drive, MS 8100, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8100, Telephone: (301) 975-2220, On the Web: www.eeel.nist.gov