Back concave depth: The depth of the concave back of the body armor after being deformed by a bullet impact. The greater the depth, the more likely the user is to "break a rib."
FMJ/FMSJ bullet: full metal jacket bullet, a common bullet.
JSP/SJSP bullet: Semi-armored soft-point bullet, the so-called "Dum bullet", a type of ammunition that sacrifices armor-piercing performance in exchange for lethality against soft targets (human bodies).
JHP/SJHP bullets: semi-armored hollow point bullets, similar to DUM bullets but with stronger soft target killing capabilities than DUM bullets.
FMS bullet: full metal pointed bullet, a German pistol bullet with a cone-shaped bullet, which has stronger armor-piercing ability.
United States:
1.NIJ 0101.06 Standard:
The NIJ 0101.06 standard, established by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) in the United States, is tailored to the needs of law enforcement agencies for body armor. The latest 6th edition standard was developed in 2008 and will be replaced by the NIJ 0101.07 standard in 2021.
For various reasons, this national standard has become the most well-known international standard, truly living up to the motto "Home of the brave, Land of the free." Although highly renowned, this standard is primarily intended for use by American law enforcement officers and may not be as suitable for military applications.
The NIJ standard has the deepest backface deformation (BFD) depth among all standards.
- The BFD depth must not exceed 1.73 inches (44mm).
- Type IIA: Capable of stopping 9x19mm round nose FMJ bullets and .40 S&W FMJ bullets.
- Type II: Capable of stopping 9x19mm round nose FMJ bullets and .357 Magnum JSP bullets.
- Type IIIA: Capable of stopping .357 SIG flat nose FMJ bullets and .44 Magnum SJHP bullets.
- Type III: Capable of stopping 7.62x51mm FMJ (US military designation M80) bullets.
- Type IV: Capable of stopping .30-06 M2 armor-piercing bullets.
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2.NIJ 0106.01 (modified) Standard:
The NIJ 0106.01 standard measures the ballistic performance of helmets and was established by the NIJ in 1981.
At some point, modifications were made to this standard, including the addition of the IIIA level.
- Type I: Capable of stopping .22 LR high velocity lead bullets and .38 Special round nose lead bullets.
- Type II: Capable of stopping 9x19mm round nose FMJ bullets and .357 Magnum JSP bullets fired from handguns with 6 to 6.75-inch barrels.
- Type IIA: Capable of stopping 9x19mm round nose FMJ bullets and .357 Magnum JSP bullets fired from handguns with 4 to 4.75-inch barrels.
- Type IIIA: Capable of stopping .357 SIG flat nose FMJ bullets and .44 Magnum SJHP bullets.
3.US Military Body Armor Standards:
Although the US military still uses NIJ ratings for body armor, there are additional requirements for different batches of body armor and ballistic plates. These requirements are more scientific and involve refinement and further enhancement of performance indicators compared to the basic NIJ standards.
China GA 141-2010 Standard:
On October 17, 2010, the Ministry of Public Security of the People's Republic of China issued the GA 141-2010 standard for police body armor, replacing GA 141-2001. This standard specifies the types of ammunition used in testing and modifies requirements for protective area, among other details. The specifics are not elaborated here.
- The BFD depth must not exceed 25mm.
- Level 1: Capable of stopping 7.62x17mm lead core pistol bullets.
- Level 2: Capable of stopping 7.62x25mm lead core pistol bullets.
- Level 3: Capable of stopping 7.62x25mm lead core pistol bullets fired from Type 79 submachine guns with longer barrels.
- Level 4: Capable of stopping 7.62x25mm steel core pistol bullets fired from Type 79 submachine guns with longer barrels.
- Level 5: Capable of stopping 7.62x39mm Type 56 standard bullets.
- Level 6: Capable of stopping 7.62x54mm Type 53 standard bullets.
Russia:
1.GOST R 50744-95 Old Standard:
A relatively detailed measurement system, used for various ballistic equipment in Tula. I have Russian documents, but I can't read Russian, so I've gathered information from English websites and English Wikipedia. If anyone is proficient in Russian and willing to contribute some time to help me expand this section, please leave a comment below.
- The BFD depth must not exceed 16mm.
- Class 1: Capable of stopping 9x18mm Makarov (57-N-181S) bullets and 7.62x38mm Nagant revolver bullets.
- Class 2: Capable of stopping 5.45x18mm MPTs 7N7 bullets and 7.62x25mm Tokarev bullets. Class 2A: Capable of stopping 12-gauge shotgun slugs.
- Class 3: Capable of stopping 5.45x39mm 7N6 steel core bullets and 7.62x39mm 57-N-231 steel core bullets.
- Class 4: Capable of stopping 5.45x39mm 7N10 armor-piercing steel core bullets.
- Class 5: Capable of stopping 7.62x54mmR 57-N-323S steel core bullets and 7.62x39mm 57-N-231 steel core bullets.
- Class 5A: Capable of stopping 7.62x39mm 57-BZ-231 (BZ API) armor-piercing incendiary bullets.
- Class 6: Capable of stopping 7.62x54mmR 7N13 armor-piercing steel core bullets.
- Class 6A: Capable of stopping 7.62x54mmR 7-BZ-3 (B32 API) armor-piercing incendiary bullets.
2.GOST R 50744-95 New Standard:
Introduced in 2017, this new standard integrates and removes some overly cumbersome aspects of the old standard and adds two new ballistic levels. The BR6 standard is somewhat outrageous; I never imagined Russians would develop body armor capable of withstanding 12.7x108mm rounds without making the wearer collapse after a few steps.
- The BFD depth must not exceed 16mm.
- BR1: Capable of stopping 9x18mm Makarov (57-N-181S) bullets.
- BR2: Capable of stopping 9x21mm SP-10 armor-piercing bullets.
- BR3: Capable of stopping 9x19mm SP-6 armor-piercing bullets.
- BR4: Capable of stopping 5.45x39mm 7N10 armor-piercing steel core bullets and 7.62x39mm 57-N-231 steel core bullets.
- BR5: Capable of stopping 7.62x54mmR 7N13 armor-piercing steel core bullets and 7.62x54mmR 7-BZ-3 (B32 API) armor-piercing incendiary bullets.
- BR6: Capable of stopping 12.7x108mm 57-BZ-542 armor-piercing incendiary bullets.
United Kingdom:
1.UK HOSDB Standard (2007 Edition):
The HOSDB standard was originally established by the Home Office Scientific Development Branch (HOSDB) in the United Kingdom in 1993. Similar to the NIJ standard, its purpose is to provide protection for the police forces in England. However, unlike the NIJ 0101.06 standard, the HOSDB standard also covers stab resistance standards for weapons such as knives and spears.
Only the ballistic standard portion of the HOSDB is excerpted here.
In 2003, the Home Office Scientific Development Branch added the HG1/A ballistic level, which, apart from the maximum backface deformation (BFD) depth being raised to 44mm, is identical to the HG1 level.
- Apart from the maximum BFD depth of 44mm for HG1/A, the remaining BFD depths must not exceed 25mm.
- HG1: Capable of stopping 9x19mm FMJ bullets and .357 Magnum JSP bullets. HG1/A: Capable of stopping 9x19mm FMJ bullets and .357 Magnum JSP bullets.
- HG2: Capable of stopping 9x19mm FMJ bullets and .357 Magnum JSP bullets (requiring higher bullet velocity, can be understood as handgun bullets fired from submachine guns/PCC with longer barrels).
- HG3: Capable of stopping 5.56x45mm NATO (LE223T3) bullets.
- RF1: Capable of stopping 7.62x51mm NATO (L2 A2) bullets.
- RF2: Capable of stopping 7.62x51mm high-powered (L40 A1) bullets.
- SG1: Capable of stopping 12-gauge shotgun slugs.
2.UK HOSDB Standard (2017 Edition):
In 2017, the United Kingdom updated its HOSDB standard, reportedly based on user requirements.
- HO1: Capable of stopping 9x19mm FMJ bullets and 9x19mm JHP bullets. There is no average BFD depth requirement, but the maximum BFD depth must not exceed 44mm.
- HO2: Capable of stopping 9x19mm FMJ bullets and 9x19mm JHP bullets (requiring higher bullet velocity, can be understood as handgun bullets fired from submachine guns/PCC with longer barrels).The average BFD depth must not exceed 25mm, and the maximum BFD depth must not exceed 44mm.
- HO3: Capable of stopping 7.26x51mm NATO (L44A1 or L2A2) bullets and 7.62x39mm bullets. The average BFD depth must not exceed 25mm, and the maximum BFD depth must not exceed 30mm.
- HO4: Capable of stopping bullets produced by Sarko Company .308 Win (head number 480A), or bullets produced by Barnes Company .308 TSX BT. The average BFD depth must not exceed 25mm, and the maximum BFD depth must not exceed 30mm.
- SG1: Capable of stopping 12-gauge shotgun slugs. The average BFD depth must not exceed 25mm, and the maximum BFD depth must not exceed 30mm.
Three optional special grades for testing:
- Capable of stopping .357 Magnum flathead SP bullets.There is no average BFD depth requirement, but the maximum BFD depth must not exceed 44mm.
- Capable of stopping 5.56x45mm SS109 (L17A1h or L15A1) bullets. The average BFD depth must not exceed 25mm, and the maximum BFD depth must not exceed 30mm.
- Capable of stopping 5.56x45mm (LE223T3) bullets. The average BFD depth must not exceed 25mm, and the maximum BFD depth must not exceed 30mm.
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German TR Standard:
The German TR (Technische Richtlinie) was proposed in 2008 and is based on VPAM standards. In Europe, this is possibly the most widely used testing standard. The major difference between the TR standard and the NIJ standard is that the TR standard tests handgun armor-piercing bullets, whereas NIJ does not.
Since I cannot understand German materials, I have gathered information from several English websites and the English Wikipedia. If anyone proficient in German is willing to contribute some time to help expand this section, please leave a comment below.
- The maximum backface deformation (BFD) depth must not exceed 42mm.
- SK L: Capable of stopping 9x19mm DM 41 round-nose lead core FMJ bullets.
- SK 1: Capable of stopping 9x19mm DM 41 round-nose lead core FMJ bullets, 9x19mm QD-PEP II/S special police bullets, and 9x19mm Action 4 special police bullets.
- SK2: Capable of stopping .357 Magnum FMS bullets.
- SK3: Capable of stopping 5.56x45mm SS109 bullets and 7.62x51mm DM111 steel core bullets.
- SK4: Capable of stopping 7.62x51mm P80 armor-piercing bullets.
Australia and New Zealand AS/NZS 2343:
1997 Standard: This standard was established by Australia and New Zealand in 1997. There's not much to say about it; the only notable feature is the addition of a protection standard specifically for shotgun single-headed bullets.
I couldn't even find the backface deformation depth requirement for this thing.
- G0: Capable of stopping 9x19mm Mk 2Z bullets.
- G1: Capable of stopping .357 Magnum SJSP flathead bullets.
- G2: Capable of stopping .44 Magnum SJSP flathead bullets.
- R1: Capable of stopping 5.56x45mm M193 bullets. R2: Capable of stopping 7.62x51mm 9.3g NATO bullets.
- S1: Capable of stopping 12-gauge shotgun slugs. S2: Capable of stopping 12-gauge single-headed bullets.
ISO 14876-2 Standard
Released by the Netherlands in 2000. The relevant information on this thing costs a lot, so I don't know the specific background.
- The maximum backface deformation (BFD) depth must not exceed 44mm.
- 1: Capable of stopping 9x19mm FMSJ bullets.
- 2: Capable of stopping 9x19mm FMSJ bullets (requiring higher bullet velocity, can be understood as handgun bullets fired from submachine guns/PCC with longer barrels).
- 3: Capable of stopping 9x19mm FMSJ bullets and .357 Magnum FMJ bullets (requiring higher bullet velocity, can be understood as handgun bullets fired from submachine guns/PCC with longer barrels).
- 4: Capable of stopping 5.56x45mm M193 bullets and 7.62x51mm 9.3g NATO bullets.
- 5: Capable of stopping 7.62x51mm 9.7g hardened steel core armor-piercing bullets.
- 6: Capable of stopping 12-gauge shotgun slugs.
