U.S. Department of Justice

National Institute of Justice

Ballistic Resistant

Protective Materials

NIJ Standard 0108.01

National Institute

of Justice

Technology Assessment

Program
ABOUT THE TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT PROGRAM

The Technology Assessment Program is sponsored by the Office of Development, Testing, and

Dissemination of the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), U.S. Department of Justice. The program responds

to the mandate of the Justice System Improvement Act of 1979, which created NIJ and directed it to

encourage research and development to improve the criminal justice system and to disseminate the results

to Federal, State, and local agencies.

The Technology Assessment Program is an applied research effort that determines the

technological needs of justice system agencies, sets minimum performance standards for specific devices,

tests commercially available equipment against those standards, and disseminates the standards and the test

results to criminal justice agencies nationwide and internationally.

The program operates through:

The Technology Assessment Program Advisory Council (TAPAC) consisting of nationally

recognized criminal justice practitioners from Federal, State, and local agencies, which assesses

technological needs and sets priorities for research programs and items to be evaluated and tested.

The Law Enforcement Standards Laboratory (LESL) at the National Bureau of Standards, which

develops voluntary national performance standards for compliance testing to ensure that individual items of

equipment are suitable for use by criminal justice agencies. The standards are based upon laboratory testing

and evaluation of representative samples of each item of equipment to determine the key attributes, develop

test methods, and establish minimum performance requirements for each essential attribute. In addition to

the highly technical standards, LESL also produces user guides that explain in nontechnical terms the

capabilities of available equipment.

The Technology Assessment Program Information Center (TAPIC) operated by a grantee, which

supervises a national compliance testing program conducted by independent agencies. The standards

developed by LESL serve as performance benchmarks against which commercial equipment is measured.

The facilities, personnel, and testing capabilities of the independent laboratories are evaluated by LESL

prior to testing each item of equipment, and LESL helps the Information Center staff review and analyze

data. Test results are published in Consumer Product Reports designed to help justice system procurement

officials make informed purchasing decisions.

Publications issued by the National Institute of Justice, including those of the Technology

Assessment Program, are available from the National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS), which

serves as a central information and reference source for the Nation’s criminal justice community. For

further information, or to register with NCJRS, write to the National Institute of Justice, National Criminal

Justice Reference Service, Washington, DC 20531.

James K. Stewart, Director

National Institute of Justice
U.S. Department of Justice

National Institute of Justice

Technology Assessment Program

Ballistic Resistant

Protective Materials

NIJ Standard 0108.01

September 1985
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

National Institute Of Justice

James K. Stewart, Director

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This standard was formulated by the Law Enforcement Standards Laboratory (LESL) of the National Bureau

of Standards under the direction of Daniel E. Frank, Manager, Protective Equipment Program and Lawrence K.

Eliason, Chief of LESL. The technical research was performed by Nicholas J. Calvano of the Automated Production

Technology Division. The standard has been reviewed and approved by the Technology Assessment Program Advisory

Council and adopted by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) as an IACP standard.
iii

FOREWORD

This document, NIJ standard-0108.01, Ballistic Resistant Protective Materials, is an equipment

Standard developed by the Law Enforcement Standards Laboratory of the National Bureau of Standards. It

is produced as part of the Technology Assessment Program of the National Institute of Justice (NIJ). A

brief description of the program appears on the inside front cover.

This standard is a technical document that specifies performance and other requirements

equipment should meet to satisfy the needs of criminal justice agencies for high-quality service. Purchasers

can use the test methods described in this standard to determine whether a particular piece of equipment

meets the essential requirements, or they may have the tests conducted on their behalf by a qualified testing

laboratory. Procurement officials may also refer to this standard in their purchasing documents and require

that equipment offered for purchase meet the requirements. Compliance with the requirements of the

standard may be attested to by an independent laboratory or guaranteed by the vendor.

Because this NIJ standard is designed as a procurement aid, it is necessarily highly technical. For

those who seek general guidance concerning the selection and application of law enforcement equipment,

user guides have also been published. The guides explain in nontechnical language how to select equipment

capable of performance required by an agency.

NIJ standards are subjected to continuing review. Technical comments and recommended

revisions are welcome. Please send suggestions to the Program Manager for Standards, National Institute of

Justice, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington DC 20531.

Before citing this or any other NIJ standard in a contract document, users should verify that the

most recent edition of the standard is used. Write to: Chief, Law Enforcement Standards Laboratory,

National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, MD 20899.

Lester D. Shubin

Program Manager for Standards

National Institute of Justice
v

NIJ STANDARD

FOR

BALLISTIC RESISTANT

PROTECTIVE MATERIALS

CONTENTS

Page

Foreword iii

1. Purpose 1

2. Scope and Classification 1

3. Definitions 2

4. Requirements 4

 4.1 Acceptance Criteria 4

 4.2 Workmanship 4

 4.3 Labeling 4

 4.4 Ballistic Resistance 4

5. Test Methods 6

 5.1 Sampling 6

 5.2 Test Equipment 6

 5.3 Ballistic Resistance Test 7

Appendix A—References 9
vi

COMMONLY USED SYMBOLS AND ABBREVIATIONS

A ampere H henry nm nanometer

ac alternating current h hour No. number

AM amplitude modulation hf high frequency o.d. outside diameter

cd candela Hz hertz (c/s) Ω ohm

cm centimeter i.d. inside diameter p. page

CP chemically pure in inch Pa pascal

c/s cycle per second ir infrared pe probable error

d day J joule pp. pages

dB decibel L lambert ppm part per million

dc direct current L liter qt quart

°C degree Celsius lb pound rad radian

°F degree Fahrenheit lbf pound-force rf radio frequency

diam diameter lbf•in pound-force inch rh relative humidity

emf electromotive force lm lumen s second

eq equation ln logarithm (natural) SD standard deviation

F farad log logarithm (common) sec. section

fc footcandle M molar SWR standing wave radio

fig. figure m meter uhf ultrahigh frequency

FM frequency modulation min minute uv ultraviolet

ft foot mm millimeter V volt

ft/s foot per second mph mile per hour vhf very high frequency

g acceleration m/s meter per second W watt

g gram N newton λ wavelength

gr grain N•m newton meter wt weight

area = unit2 (e.g., ft2, in2, etc.); volume = unit3 (e.g., ft3, m3, etc.)

PREFIXES

d deci (10-1) da deka (10)

c centi (10-2) h hecto (102)

m milli (10-3) k kilo (103)

μ micro (10-6) M mega (106

)

n nano (10-9) G giga (109)

p pico (10-12) T tera (1012)

COMMON CONVERSIONS

(See ASTM E380)

ft/s x 0.03048000 = m/s lb x 0.4535924 = kg

ft x 0.3048 = m lbf x 4.448222 = N

ft•lbf x 1.355818 =J lbf/ft x 14.59390 = N/m

gr x 0.06479891 = g lbf•in x 0.1129848 = N•m

in x 2.54 = cm lbf/in2 x 6894.757 = Pa

kWh x 3,6000,000 = J mph x 1.609344 = km/h

qt x 0.9463529 = L

Temperature: (T °F-32) x 5/9 = T °C

Temperature: (T °C x 9/5)+32 = T °F
1

NIJ STANDARD

FOR

BALLISTIC RESISTANT

PROTECTIVE MATERIALS

1. PURPOSE

The purpose of this standard is to establish minimum performance requirements and methods of

test for ballistic resistant protective materials. This standard supersedes NIJ Standard-0108.00, Ballistic

Resistant Protective Materials, dated December 1981. This revision adds threat level III-A and

establishes threat level classifications that are consistent with other NIJ standards for ballistic

protection.

2. SCOPE AND CLASSIFICATION

2.1 Scope

This standard is applicable to all ballistic resistant materials (armor) intended to provide protection

against gunfire, with the exception of police body armor and ballistic helmets, which are the topic of

individual NIJ performance standards [1,2]1. Many different types of armor are now available that

range in ballistic resistance from those designed to protect against small-caliber handguns to those

designed to protect against high-powered rifles. Ballistic resistant materials are used to fabricate

portable ballistic shields, such as a ballistic clipboard for use by a police officer; to provide ballistic

protection for fixed structures such as critical control rooms or guard stations; and to provide ballistic

protection for the occupants of vehicles. The ballistic resistant materials used to fabricate armor

include metals, ceramics, transparent glazing, fabric, and fabric-reinforced plastics; they are used

separately or in combination, depending upon the intended threat protection.

The ballistic threat posed by a bullet depends, among other things, on its composition, shape,

caliber, mass, and impact velocity. Because of the wide variety of cartridges available in a given

caliber, and because of the existence of hand loads, armors that will defeat a standard test round may

not defeat other loadings in the same caliber. For example, an armor that prevents penetration by a

357 Magnum test round may or may not defeat a 357 Magnum round with a higher velocity.

Similarly, for identical striking velocities, nondeforming or armor-piercing rounds pose a significantly

greater penetration threat than an equivalent lead core round of the same caliber. The test ammunitions

specified in this standard represent common threats to the law enforcement community.

2.2 Classification

Ballistic resistant protective materials covered by this standard are classified into five types, by

level of performance.

2.2.1 Type 1 (22 LR; 38 Special)

 

1

Numbers in brackets refer to the references in appendix A.
2

This armor protects against the standard test rounds as defined in section 5.2.1. It also provides

protection against lesser threats such as 12 gauge No. 4 lead shot and most handgun rounds in calibers

25 and 32.

2.2.2 Type II-A (Lower Velocity 357 Magnum; 9 mm)

This armor protects against the standard test rounds as defined in section 5.2.2. It also provides

protection against lesser threats such as 12 gauge 00 buckshot, 45 Auto., 38 Special ± P and some

other factory loads in caliber 357 Magnum and 9 mm, as well as the threats mentioned in section

2.2.1.

2.2.3 Type II ( Higher Velocity 357 Magnum; 9 mm)

This armor protects against the standard test rounds as defined in section 5.2.3. It also provides

protection against most other factory loads in caliber 357 Magnum and 9 mm, as well as threats

mentioned in section 2.2.1 and 2.2.2.

2.2.4 Type III-A (44 Magnum; Submachine Gun 9 mm)

This armor protects against the standard test rounds as defined in section 5.2.4. It also provides

protection against most handgun threats as well as the threats mentioned in sections 2.2.1 through

2.2.3.

2.2.5 Type III (High-Powered Rifle)

This armor protects against the standard test round as defined in section 5.2.5. It also provides

protection against most lesser threats such as 223 Remington (5.56 mm FMJ), 30 Carbine FMJ, and

12 gauge rifle slug, as well as the threats mentioned in sections 2.2.1 through 2.2.4.

2.2.6 Type IV (Armor-Piercing Rifle)

This armor protects against the standard test round as defined in section 5.2.6. It also provides at

least single hit protection against the threats mentioned in sections 2.2.1 through 2.2.5.

2.2.7 Special Type

A purchaser having a special requirement for a level of protection other than one of the above

standards should specify the exact test rounds to be used, and indicate that this standard shall govern

in all other respects.

3. DEFINITIONS

3.1 Angle of Incidence

The angle between the line of flight of the bullet and the perpendicular to the plane tangent to the

point of impact (see fig. 1). Also known as angle of obliquity.
3

FIGURE 1. Angle of incidence

3.2 Fair Hit

A hit that impacts the ballistic resistant protective material at an angle of incidence no greater than

5°, and is at least 5 cm (2 in) from a prior hit or the edge of the test specimen and at an acceptable

velocity as defined in this standard. A bullet that impacts too close to the edge or a prior hit and/or at

too high a velocity, but does not penetrate, shall be considered a fair hit for the determination of

nonpenetration..

3.3 Full Metal Jacketed (FMJ) Bullet

A bullet made of lead completely covered, except for the base, with copper alloy (approximately

90 copper-10 zinc).

3.4 Jacketed Soft Point (JSP) Bullet

A bullet made of lead completely covered, except for the point, with copper alloy (approximately

90 copper-10 zinc).

3.5 Lead Bullet

A bullet made of lead alloyed with hardening agents

3.6 Penetration

Perforation of a witness plate by any part of the test specimen or test bullet, as determined by

passage of light when held up to a 60-W light bulb.

3.7 Strike Face
4

The surface of a ballistic resistant protective material designated by the manufacturer as the

surface that should be exposed to (face) the weapon threat.

3.8 Semiwadcutter

A bullet shape characterized by a flat nose and a tapered section leading to a cylindrical bullet

body with a sharp break where the taper meets the body.

3.9 Witness Plate

A thin sheet of aluminum alloy placed behind a test specimen to determine the potential for an

incapacitating injury.

4. REQUIREMENTS

4.1 Acceptance Criteria

A ballistic material satisfies the requirements of this standard if the sample item (see sec. 5.1)

meets the requirements of sections 4.2 through 4.4.

4.2 Workmanship

Ballistic resistant protective materials shall be free from dents, blisters, cracks, crazing, chipped or

sharp corners, and other evidence of inferior workmanship.

4.3 Labeling

The Sample item and each full size panel of ballistic resistance material shall be permanently and

legibly labeled and shall include the following information.

a) Name, designation, or logo of the manufacturer

b) Type of material, according to section 2 of this standard

c) Month and year of manufacture

d) Lot number

e) Strike face, if any

f) Certification of compliance with this edition of this standard

Items c and d may be incorporated into a single number, e.g., a serial number.

4.4 Ballistic Resistance

The ballistic resistance of each test specimen of ballistic resistant protective material shall be

determined in accordance with section 5.3. The test weapon and ammunition used during this test

shall be those specified in table 1 in accordance with the type (threat level rating) specified by the

manufacturer (sec. 4.3). Any penetration of the witness plate shall constitute failure.

The ballistic resistance test variables and test requirements are presented in table 1.
5

Table 1. Test Summary

 Test Variables Performance Requirements

Armor Type Test Ammunition

Nominal

Bullet Mass

Suggested Barrel

Length

Required Bullet

Velocity

Required

Hits Per

Armor

Specimen

Permitted

Penetrations

I 22 LRHV

Lead

2.6 g

40 gr

15 to 16.5 cm

6 to 6.5 in

320 ± 12 m/s

1050 ± 40 ft/s

5 0

38 Special

RN Lead

10.2 g

158 gr

15 to 16.5 cm

6 to 6.5 in

259 ± 15 m/s

850 ± 50 ft/s

5 0

II-A 357 Magnum

JSP

10.2 g

158 gr

10 to 12 cm

4 to 4.75 in

381 ± 15 m/s

1250 ± 50 ft/s

5 0

9 mm

FMJ

8.0 g

124 gr

10 to 12 cm

4 to 4.75 in

332 ± 12 m/s

1090 ± 40 ft/s

5 0

II 357 Magnum

JSP

10.2 g

158 gr

15 to 16.5 cm

6 to 6.5 in

425 ± 15 m/s

1395 ± 50 ft/s

5 0

9 mm

FMJ

8.0 g

124 gr

10 to 12 cm

4 to 4.75 in

358 ± 12 m/s

1175 ± 40 ft/s

5 0

III-A 44 Magnum

Lead SWC Gas

Checked

15.55 g

240 gr

14 to 16 cm

5.5 to 6.25 in

426 ± 15 m/s

1400 ± 50 ft/s

5 0

9 mm

FMJ

8.0 g

124 gr

24 to 26 cm

9.5 to 10.25 in

426 ± 15 m/s

1400 ± 50 ft/s

5 0

III 7.62 mm

308 Winchester

FMJ

9.7 g

150 gr

56 cm

22 in

838 ± 15 m/s

2750 ± 50 ft/s

5 0

IV 30-06

AP

10.8 g

166 gr

56 cm

22 in

868 ± 15 m/s

2850 ± 50 ft/s

1 0

Special

Requirement

(see sec. 2.2.7)*

* * * * * *

* These items must be specified by the user. All of the items must be specified.

Abbreviations: AP - Armor Piercing

 FMJ - Full Metal Jacket

 JSP - Jacketed Soft Point

 LRHV - Long Rifle High Velocity

 RN - Round Nose

 SWC - Semi-Wadcutter
6

5. TEST METHODS

5.1 Sampling

The test specimen shall be a current production sample of the ballistic resistant material at least

30.5x30.5 cm (12x12 in).

5.2 Test Equipment

It should be noted that hand-loaded ammunition may be required to achieve some of the bullet

velocities required in the following sections.

5.2.1 Type I Test Weapons and Ammunition

5.2.1.1 22 LR

The test weapon may be a 22-caliber handgun or test barrel. The use of a handgun with a 10 to 12

cm (6 to 6.5 in) barrel is suggested. Test bullets shall be 22 Long Rifle High Velocity lead, with

nominal masses of 2.6 g (40 gr) and measured velocities of 320 ± 12 m (1050 ± 40 ft) per second.

5.2.1.2 38 Special

The test weapon may be a 38 Special handgun or test barrel. The use of a handgun with a 15 to

16.5 cm (6 to 6.5 in) barrel is suggested. Test bullets shall be 38 Special round-nose lead, with nominal

masses of 2.6 g (158 gr) and measured velocities of 259 ± 15 m (850 ± 50 ft) per second.

5.2.2 Type II-A Test Weapons and Ammunition

5.2.2.1 Lower Velocity 357 Magnum

The test weapon may be a 357 Magnum handgun or test barrel. The use of a handgun with a 10 to

12 cm (4 to 4.75 in) barrel is suggested. Test bullets shall be 357 Magnum jacketed soft point, with

nominal masses of 10.2 g (158 gr) and measured velocities of 381 ± 15 m (1250 ± 50 ft) per second.

5.2.2.2 Lower Velocity 9 mm

The test weapon may be a 9 mm handgun or test barrel. The use of a handgun with a 10 to 12 cm

(4 to 4.75 in) barrel is suggested. Test bullets shall be 9 mm full metal jacketed, with nominal masses

of 8.0 g (124 gr) and measured velocities of 332 ± 12 m (1090 ± 40 ft) per second.

5.2.3 Type II Test Weapons and Ammunition

5.2.3.1 Higher Velocity 357 Magnum

The test weapon may be a 357 Magnum handgun or test barrel. The use of a handgun with a 15 to

16.5 cm (6 to 6.5 in) barrel is suggested. Test bullets shall be 357 Magnum jacketed soft point, with

nominal masses of 10.2 g (158 gr) and measured velocities of 425 ± 15 m (1395 ± 50 ft) per second.

5.2.3.2 Higher Velocity 9 mm

The test weapon may be a 9 mm handgun or test barrel. The use of a handgun with a 10 to 12 cm

(4 to 4.75 in) barrel is suggested. Test bullets shall be 9 mm full metal jacketed, with nominal masses

of 8.0 g (124 gr) and measured velocities of 358 ± 12 m (1175 ± 40 ft) per second.
7

5.2.4 Type III-A Test Weapons and Ammunition

5.2.4.1 44 Magnum

The test weapon may be a 44 Magnum handgun or test barrel. The use of a handgun with a 14 to

16 cm (5.5 to 6.25 in) barrel is suggested. Test bullets shall be 44 Magnum, lead semiwadcutter with

gas checks, nominal masses of 15.55 g (240 gr), and measured velocities of 426 ± 15 m (1400 ± 50 ft)

per second.

5.2.4.2 Submachine Gun (SMG) 9 mm

The test weapon may be a 9 mm SMG or test barrel. The use of a test barrel with a 24 to 26 cm

(9.5 to 10.25 in) barrel is suggested. Test bullets shall be 9 mm full metal jacketed, with nominal

messes of 8.0 g (124 gr) and measured velocities of 426 ± 15 m (1400 ± 50 ft) per second.

5.2.5 Type III Test Weapon and Ammunition

The test weapon may be a rifle or a test barrel chambered for 7.62-mm (308 Winchester)

ammunition. The use of a rifle with a barrel length of 56 cm (22 in) is suggested. Test bullets shall be

7.62 mm full metal jacketed (U.S. military designation M80) with nominal masses of 9.7 g (150 gr)

and measured velocities of 838 ± 15 m (2850 ± 50 ft) per second.

5.2.6 Type IV Test Weapon and Ammunition

The test weapon may be a rifle or a test barrel chambered for 30–06 ammunition. The use of a rifle

with a barrel length of 56 cm (22 in) is suggested. Test bullets shall be 30 caliber armor piercing (U.S.

military designation APM2), with nominal masses of 10.8 g (166 gr) and measured velocities of 868 ±

15 m (2850 ± 50 ft) per second.

5.2.7 Special Type Test Weapon and Ammunition

The test weapon, cartridge type, bullet construction, bullet caliber, bullet mass, and bullet striking

velocity must all be specified by the user.

5.2.8 Chronograph

The chronograph shall have a precision of 1 μs and an accuracy of 2 μs. Its triggering devices

shall be of either the photoelectric or conductive screen type.

5.2.9 Support Fixture

The test specimen shall be supported by a fixture that permits its position and attitude to be readily

adjusted so that it is perpendicular to the line of flight of the bullet at the point of impact.

5.2.10 Witness Plate

The witness plate shall be a 0.5 mm (0.020 in) thick sheet of 2024-T3 or 2024-T4 aluminum alloy

and shall be placed and rigidly affixed perpendicular to the line of flight of the bullet and 15 cm (6 in)

beyond the armor under test.

5.3 Ballistic Resistance Test

Condition the test specimen at a temperature of 20 to 28°C (68 to 82°F) for at least 24 h prior to

test.
8

Place the triggering devices 2 and 3 m (6.6 and 9.8 ft), respectively from the muzzle of the test

weapon as shown in fig. 2, and arrange them so that they define planes perpendicular to the line of

flight of the bullet. Measure the distance between them with an accuracy of 1.0 mm (0.04 in). Use the

time of flight and distance measurements to calculate the velocity of each test round.

After the specified test weapon has been supported, leveled, and positioned, fire one or more

pretest rounds (as needed) through a witness plate to determine the point of impact.

Place the test specimen in the support fixture and position it 5 m (16 ft) from the muzzle of the test

weapon. Then position an unperforated witness plate 15 cm (6 in) beyond the test specimen. Fire a test

round and record the velocity of the bullet as measured by the chronograph. Examine the witness plate

to determine penetration, and examine the specimen to see if the bullet made a fair hit.

If no penetration occurred, reposition the test specimen and repeat the procedure with additional

test rounds until the test is completed. Space the hits as evenly as possible so that every portion of the

test specimen is subject to test.

FIGURE 2. Ballistic test setup
9

APPENDIX A-REFERENCES

[1] Ballistic resistance of police body armor. NIJ Standard-0101.02. National Institute of Justice,

U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC 20531.

[2] Ballistic helmets. NIJ Standard-0106.01. National Institute of Justice, U.S. Department of

Justice, Washington, DC 20531; 1981 December.