
Technische Richtlinie (TR) – The German Schutzklasse standard edition 2008

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.
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:
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.
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
NIJ IIA (9mm, .40 S&W)
NIJ II (9mm, .357 Magnum)
NIJ IIIA (.357 SIG, .44 Magnum)
Read more about the NIJ standard 0101.06.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.