Robert Kaiser of PPSS Group shows off one of his company's body armor panels. Kaiser literally stands behind his products, having demonstrated their effectiveness by being shot while wearing one on video.
The National Institute of Justice sets voluntary standards for ballistic body armor (aka bullet resistant vests). Currently, the standard is referred to as 0101.06.
As part of the current standard, a committee meets in July 2012 to evaluate the current standard and make recommendations for changes, if any, they deem appropriate for the standard. It is not likely the committee will suggest major revisions to the current standard, but anything is possible. Especially in light of several vests that failed to stop bullets in follow-up testing.
Unlike under prior standards, the .06 standard requires manufacturers to allow NIJ inspectors to conduct spot inspections in the manufacturing process of armor that previously met the standard. This means that members of the FIT (Follow-Up Inspection and Testing) program will go to a factory and randomly pull vests as they are made. These vests are then re-tested to the .06 standard to ensure that the production models of armor are still meeting standard.
According to the NIJ, 191 body armor models were tested between September 2010 and December 2011 under this program. Of those, three models failed to stop bullets they were rated to stop. Obviously, follow up inspections are valuable!
While major revisions to the standard are not likely, fine tuning aspects of the testing and/or follow up process would not be surprising in light of the results from the FIT program.
If changes are proposed, we’ll keep you informed.
About Richard
Richard is the publisher of BlueSheepdog.com. In addition to writing here, he publishes GunsHolstersAndGear.com and is a regular contributor to places like Human Events, Police & Security News and The Firearm Blog.
So which companies failed?!?!
Not sure. That information was left out of the NIJ docs I was reading. If I find it, I will share.
Richard
Scary to think I might be wearing armor that failed!
The NIJ claims that all failing armor was recalled and replaced. If yours wasn’t recalled, then you should be good.
Of course, this all applies to NIJ .06 standards. If you are wearing .04 standard armor it isn’t ever inspected as a follow up.
I have one of both.
My Tac-vest is 05, my concealable is 06.
I know I need to replace my Tac-vest, but unfortunately, I have to pay out of pocket for it.
Just found this from March of 2012…
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bvpbasi/docs/CAT_FINALBODYARMORSTATEMENT-March72012.pdf