Jonas Olesen October 31, 2024 14 min read

HOSDB and NIJ: The 2 most used ballistic standards for body armor

 

A bulletproof vest is designed to protect against various threats such as ballistic, edged or spike protection or a combination of these 3 threats.

Bulletproof vests are not only used by police and military, but also by civilians to protect themselves from the rising threat of terror, gun attacks and the like, where civilians can be exposed by being in the wrong place, at the wrong time.

What level of protection do you need?

Protection levels vary globally, but the two most widely recognized standards for bulletproof vests are the US National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and the UK Home Office Scientific Development Branch (HOSDB). These standards are the most commonly referenced for both bulletproof and stab-proof vests and are likely familiar to many.

In addition to NIJ and HOSDB, other standards include the German VPAM Personal Body Armor Standard, the German Schutzklasse (October 2008), the Russian GOST R Standard, among others.

This article will focus on the NIJ and HOSDB standards, as they are the most commonly used worldwide.

The NIJ and HOSDB frequently collaborate on testing methods for bulletproof and stab-proof vests. Their standards cover 2-3 primary protection categories:

  • Ballistic
  • Stab (edged blades)
  • Spike (pointed instruments)

It is crucial to understand that a bulletproof vest will only stop the specific threats it is designed for. For example, a bulletproof vest does not provide protection against knives, and similarly, a stab-proof vest will not stop bullets from firearms.

The NIJ is widely regarded as the leader in testing bulletproof vests, while the HOSDB is considered the authority in testing stab and spike-resistant vests.

Both standards clearly specify the level of resistance a vest provides. A bulletproof vest does not automatically protect against all firearms; its effectiveness depends on the protection level it is rated for. Higher protection levels offer resistance against more advanced threats, enhancing the vest’s ability to stop a wider range of ammunition.

Protection levels for NIJ standard 0101.06

When selecting a vest, it’s essential to consider your specific protection needs rather than simply opting for the highest protection level. Higher protection levels require additional layers of materials like Kevlar, Dyneema, or Twaron, which increase the vest’s weight. This added protection also reduces flexibility and results in a thicker, less comfortable vest.

NIJ has the following protection levels for bulletproof vests:

A bulletproof vest is tested in 2 conditions according to NIJ standard 0101.06

  1. The bulletproof vest is tested where it is completely new and unused (new and unworn)
  2. The bulletproof vest is tested under specific conditions, tumbled, water test, different temperatures to simulate moisture (conditioned)

NIJ IIA (9mm, .40 S&W)

  1. A bullet proof vest that are new and unused are to be tested with a 9 mm Full Metal Jacketed Round Nose (FMJ RN) bullet with a mass of 8.0 g (124 gr) and at a speed of 373 m / s +/- 9.1 m / s (1470 ft / s + – 30 ft / s) and .40 S & W full metal jacketed (FMJ) bullet with a mass of 11.7 (180 gr) and at a speed of 325 m / s +/- 9.1 m / s (1430 ft / s + – 30 ft / s).
  2. This will be tested during specific conditions with a .357 SIG FMJ UN bullet with a mass of 8.1 g (125 gr) and at a speed of 430 m / s +/- 9.1 m / s (1410 ft / s +/- 30 ft / s) and with a .44 Magnum SJHP bullet with a mass of 15.6 g (240 gr) and a speed of 408 m / s +/- 9.1 m / s (1340 ft / s +/- 30 ft / sec).

NIJ II (9mm, .357 Magnum)

  1. A bullet proof vest in NIJ II that are new and unused are to be tested with a 9 mm FMJ RN bullet with a mass of 8.0 g (124 gr) and at speeds up 398 m / s +/- 9.1 m / s (1305 ft / s +/- 30 ft / s) and a .357 Magnum Jacketed Soft Point (JSP) bullet with a mass of 10.2 g (158 gr) and a speed of 436 m / s +/- 9.1 m / s (1430 ft / s +/- 30 ft / sec).
  2. A bulletproof vest tested under specific conditions (conditioned) is to be tested with a 9 mm FMJ RN bullet with a mass of 8.0 g (124 gr) and a speed of 379 m / s +/- 9.1 m / s (1245 ft / s +/- 30 ft / sec) and with a .357 Magnum JSP bullet with a mass of 10.2 g (158 gr) and a speed of 408 m / s +/- 9.1 m / s (1340 ft / s +/- 30 ft / sec).

NIJ IIIA (.357 SIG, .44 Magnum)

  1. A bullet proof vest in NIJ IIIA, that are new and unused are to be tested with a .357 SIG FMJ Flat Nose (FN) bullet with a mass of 8.1 g (125 gr) and at a speed of 448 m / s +/- 9.1 m / s (1470 ft / s +/- 30ft / s) and with a .44 Magnum Semi Jacketed Hollow Point (SJHP) bullet with a mass of 15.6 g (240 gr) and at a speed of 436 m / s +/- 9.1 m / s (1430 ft / s +/- 30 ft / sec).
  2. Type IIIA bullet proof vests that are “conditioned” are to be tested with a .357 SIG FMJ FN shot with a mass of 8.1 g (125 gr) and at a speed of 430 m / s +/- 9.1 m / s ( 1410 ft / s +/- 30 ft / s) and with a .44 Magnum SJHP bullet with a mass of 15.6 g (240 gr) and a speed of 408 m / s +/- 9.1 m / s ( 1340 ft / sec +/- 30 ft / sec).
  • The depth (Back face deformation) cannot exceed 44 mm and all above is not permitted as the internal damage to the organs will be too destructive.
  • NIJ level IIA, II and IIIA are designed to stop small arms up to a .44 Magnum.
  • For NIJ level III and IV, 7.62×51 FMJ NATO is used for level 3 and 7.62×63 AP to level 4. These are hard armor plates designed to stop bullets at a much higher velocity than soft armor in level 2a-3a.

Read more about the NIJ standard 0101.06.

Explanation of NIJ standard 0101.06

HOSDB Body Armor Standards for UK Police (2007)

The British HOSDB standard is slightly different from the US NIJ standard, as it sets other requirements for Back Face Deformation. For HOSDB this is not allowed to exceed more than 25 mm, which also is possible as HOSDB body armor is not tested against a .44 magnum.

HOSDB 2007 does not have a wet or temperature test like NIJ 0101.06, where the panel is put into water for 30 minutes before testing and exposed to different types of conditioning such as tumble and different temperatures.

Please note that we wrote this article before July 2017, where the latest Home Office body Armor Standard was revised. Read more about the new 2017 Home Office Body Armour standard.

For soft armor vests, HOSDB has 3 ballistic levels:

HG1/A
This is the lowest bulletproof level for HOSDB, and the BFS is allowed to be up to 44 mm, and cannot exceed this. All other protection levels have a maximum BFS of 25 mm.

HG1/A is tested with a 9mm FMJ with a mass of 8.0 g (124 gr) at a velocity of 365 m / s +/- 10 m / s and with a .357 Magnum soft point flat nose with a mass at 10.2 g (158 gr) at a velocity of 390 m / s +/- 10 m / s.

HG1
HG1 is tested with a 9mm FMJ with a mass of 8.0 g (124 gr) at a velocity of 365 m / s +/- 10 m / s and with a .357 Magnum soft point flat nose with a mass of 10.2 g (158 gr) at a velocity of 390 m / s +/- 10 m / s.

Note that the difference between HG1/A and HG1 is the BFS limit from 44mm for HG1/A to 25mm for HG1.

HG2
HG2 is tested with a 9mm FMJ with a mass of 8.0g (124 gr) at a velocity of 430 m / s +/- 10 m / s and with a .357 Magnum soft point flat nose with a mass of 10.2 g (158 gr) at a velocity of 455 m / s +/- 10 m / s.

The velocity of the 9 mm and .357 Magnum has been increased with 65 m/s.

Read much more about the British HOSDB 2007 standard.

HOSDB 2007 HOSDB Protection levels for soft armor body armor according to HOSDB standard

Protection level for a stab-proof vest according to NIJ standard 0115.00

A stab-proof vest is available in three distinct protection levels. Each successive level provides resistance to higher pressure, enhancing the vest’s ability to withstand more forceful stabs.

Additionally, stab-proof vests differ in their ability to stop various threats, such as knives, needles, and spikes, depending on the materials used.

All stab-proof vests from Protection Group Denmark are crafted from proprietary materials engineered to counter these three specific threats.

NIJ standard 0115.00 has 3 different levels:

Protection level for a Stab Proof Vest according to NIJ standard 0115.00 3 different levels

  • Three different blades are used for testing stab-proof vests: the S1 and P1 knife blades, and a spike.
  • For each level the E1 drop cannot penetrate the body armor with more than 7 mm. This is to protect your organs from a fatal strike.
  • Please note that not all body armor have been tested against all 3 blades, but mostly the S1 blade, as it is easiest to pass as it only got on edged side, where the P1 blade is double edged.
  • At the E2 drop the joules have been increased by 50% and the knife or spike is not allowed to penetrate more than 20 mm. The E2 drop is made to make sure that the stab proof vest won’t fail with a full penetration when increasing the striking force.

HOSDB 2007 Stab Resistant Body Armor Standard

The HOSDB (British Institute) has its own standard for stab-resistant body armor, closely aligning with the NIJ standard. Both organizations share similar principles, having collaborated for many years to enhance and refine their standards.

The same rules apply for the penetration limit (only for the P1/B blade). The E1 pressure cannot exceed more than 7 mm and the E2 pressure is 20mm.

HOSDB use a engineered blade and spike:

  1. Engineered blade (P1 / B)is a knife that can hold its shape after being stabbed into a wooden block multiple times. It is incredibly strong and sharp.
  2. Engineered spike (SP / B)is a pointed instrument (spike). It is 100 mm long and the tip is 4.5 mm long and 2 mm wide. The same applies here for the strength of the blade.

Under HOSDB standards, body armor can be tested specifically for knife resistance (KR) or for both knife and spike resistance (KR+SP). Thus, armor tested to HOSDB standards may be designated as either KR or KR+SP, depending on its protective capabilities.

The knife blade is tested against both E1 and E2 pressure with a 7 and 20 mm penetration limit. The spike is only tested at E1, and is not allowed to penetrate at all.

HOSDB 2007 Stab Resistant Body Armor Standard

  • All spike impacts must be fully stopped and are not permitted to penetrate the body armor

This article provides a brief overview and does not delve deeply into the American NIJ and British HOSDB standards. For more detailed information on additional HOSDB and NIJ standards for bulletproof and stab-proof vests, please refer to the separate articles on each standard.