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Revised Compliance Testing Program for Body Armor IACP Conference – San Diego, California

Revised Compliance Testing Program for Body Armor IACP Conference – San Diego, California November 8, 2008. Lance Miller Director National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center–National Rockville, Maryland. NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CORRECTIONS TECHNOLOGY CENTER SYSTEM.

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Revised Compliance Testing Program for Body Armor IACP Conference – San Diego, California

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  1. Revised Compliance Testing Program for Body Armor IACP Conference – San Diego, California November 8, 2008 Lance Miller Director National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center–National Rockville, Maryland NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CORRECTIONS TECHNOLOGY CENTER SYSTEM

  2. National Institute of Justice Voluntary Compliance Testing Program (CTP) National Institute of Justice • Sponsors the CTP • Provides Funding • Legal Expertise/Counsel

  3. National Institute of Justice Voluntary Compliance Testing Program National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center • Administers the CTP • Provides Subject Matter Expertise • Law Enforcement Agency Outreach

  4. National Institute of Justice Voluntary Compliance Testing Program National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) • Provides Scientific and Engineering Support • Conducts Research • Authors standards and user guides

  5. NIJ Standards and Testing Program The Purpose of the National Institute of Justice’s Voluntary Compliance Testing Program is to ensure to the degree possible that body armor used for law enforcement and corrections application is safe, is reliable, and meets performance requirements throughout the declared performance period.

  6. Compliance Testing Program Overview A new approach to compliance testing for body armor. • In response to the Attorney General’s directive “to assess…the processes by which body armor is tested and approved.” • Based on input from the law enforcement community, it is no longer satisfactory to only test armor designs once in “like new” condition: • Must address ongoing performance of subsequent production units (post-compliance), and • Take steps to begin to understand the effects of environmental factors over time on armor performance. • The NIJ/NIST/NLECTC team reviewed current methods used to evaluate product conformance and safety to determine approach.

  7. NIJ Standards and Testing Program Revisions to the NIJ Standard for Ballistic-Resistant Body Armor: NIJ Standard 0101.06

  8. NIJ Standard-0101.06 What Changes? • Redefined Threat Level Classes: • Elimination of Threat Level I: No longer sufficient for LE duty use • Velocities at Level IIA, II, and IIIA increased to reflect current threats • .357 SIG replaces 9mm test round for Type IIIA • Specified projectiles:Manufacturer and model of test rounds clearly identified in standard to reduce potential for variability in testing. • Increased Amount of Testing: • More armor samples tested per model: 12 complete vests (4 previous) • Increased number of P-BFS shots: Previously 48 – Now 144 • Testing of Multiple Armor Sizes:Five standard templates, from Small to Extra Large, are identified in standard. Manufacturers must submit the smallest and largest sizes for testing that they intend to produce for model.

  9. NIJ Standard-0101.06 What Changes? • New Wet Conditioning Protocol: • Previously shower spray: now submersion • Verifies water resistance of ballistic panel covers and seams • Increased Edge Performance: • Minimum shot-to-edge distance reduced from 3 to 2 inches • Manufacturers have option of specifying closer shot-to-edge distances • New Shot Pattern (Type IIA, II, and IIIA): • Remains six shots per panel, but 3 shot group introduced • Grouped shots can be randomly placed on panel (in fair hit zone) • Better evaluates armor’s ability to withstand multiple hits in a localized area

  10. NIJ Standard-0101.06 Previous shot pattern New Shot Pattern (0101.04, 2005 IR’s) (0101.06)

  11. NIJ Standard-0101.06 What Changes? • New Environmental Conditioning Protocol: • Selected samples will be exposed to varying levels of temperature and humidity prior to ballistic testing • Mechanical “wear and tear” (bending & flexing) will be simulated through the use of a tumbling chamber • Intended to help identify armor designs that have inherent weaknesses to environmental conditions encountered in routine field use • This protocol cannot be used to predict length of service life under field use conditions; instead, it provides some indication of the armor’s ability to maintain ballistic performance after exposure to heat, humidity, and simulated mechanical wear

  12. NIJ Standard-0101.06 What Changes? • Expanded Ballistic Limit (V50) Testing: • Introduced in NIJ Standard-0101.04 (2000) as an adjunct (no pass / fail criteria) to determine if ballistic limit testing was an appropriate tool to benchmark and evaluate ongoing armor performance; testing performed on 1 vest, 9mm only • 0101.06: Now part of the pass / fail criteria – no perforation of the armor at or below NIJ P-BFS fair hit velocities. • V50 data now collected on new and environmentally conditioned samples, and with both calibers for the threat level • Enhanced statistical analysis of data, to better characterize armor penetration performance

  13. NIJ Standards and Testing Program Revisions to NIJ’s Compliance Testing Program: A New Beginning

  14. Four Major Elements of the CTP Type Testing Compliance Decision Attestation of Conformity Conformity Assessment Follow-Up NIJ Standards and Testing Program

  15. Compliance Testing Program Overview • New program is a Conformity Assessment process • Ensures products comply with the requirements of the standard during type testing and increases the confidence that subsequent production models continue to meet select requirements of the standard. • Initial Type Testing to determine compliance with the standard • Expanded test sample size • Testing of conditioned samples. • Periodic Follow-Up Testing of production models. • Abbreviated ballistic testing (perforation only, 2 samples) • Comparison of construction to originally tested samples • Comparison of manufacturer documentation (build sheets) to original documentation on file

  16. Compliance Testing Program Administration What stays the same? • Participation in the program is voluntary. • NLECTC provides oversight and coordination of the Conformity Assessment process. • Samples are tested by NIJ-approved, independent, third party laboratories. • For initial Type Testing, applicants select NIJ-approved laboratory, negotiate and pay test costs directly to laboratory. • Models found to comply with the standard will be listed on NIJ’s Body Armor Compliant Products List (www.justnet.org).

  17. Compliance Testing Program Administration What Changes? • New laboratory accreditation process. • New manufacturer application process (on line /Internet forms) • Standardized “build sheet” for documenting construction. • Labeling and Model Designation for test samples: • “Test Article” labeling for samples. • Test Article test identification # assigned by CTP. • Applicant provides listed model designation and NIJ Standard-compliant labels post-test. • Test samples sent directly to test laboratory, not NLECTC. • A “Stop Point” for models that fail PBS prior to conditioning.

  18. Compliance Testing Program Administration What Changes Continued: • Compliance Status: • Applicants must agree to participate in “Follow-up” testing program for subsequent production units. • Compliance Status of models is no longer infinite. Compliance is for a specific period of time (5 years), but is subject to periodic renewal. • New process to address appeals and complaints: • Special Review Committee (SRC): An impartial committee is convened whenever there is a dispute or appeal related to a compliance decision. The SRC reviews the matter and makes recommendations for resolution to NIJ. • SRC members will include technical experts from Law Enforcement, Technical/Testing/Research, and Standards Development Organizations.

  19. Compliance Testing Program Administration • Follow-Up Testing Program: • Working with the ANSI/ASQ National Accreditation Board (ANAB) • Assembled Committee of Experts • Review of Body Armor Sector-specific requirements (BA 9001) • Design scope • Contract with assessors for ISO 9000 / BA 9001 • NLECTC oversees periodic sample collection and testing • Follow-Up testing will require fewer samples • Subjected to Perforation testing, in conjunction with physical comparison of construction and documentation. • Developed a detailed process to ensure appropriate and consistent compliance status decisions based on test results.

  20. A phone call… a mouse click away 800-248-2742 www.justnet.org bactp@nlectc.org THE NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CORRECTIONS TECHNOLOGY CENTER SYSTEM

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