The NIJ publication Specification for NIJ Ballistic Protection Levels and Associated Test Threats, NIJ Standard 0123.00 specifies the NIJ ballistic protection levels and associated test threats identified by U.S. law enforcement as representative of current prevalent threats in the United States. The standard should be used in conjunction with other standards to test and evaluate specific ballistic-resistant equipment, such as ballistic-resistant body armor, against contemporary ballistic threats that pose a life-threating safety hazard to U.S. law enforcement officers. The standard itself does not include any performance requirements or specify any test methods to evaluate ballistic-resistant equipment.
The standard is the first of its kind published by NIJ. Prior versions of NIJ standards for ballistic-resistant body armor, helmets, and materials all included ballistic protection levels within the respective documents. These standards were published at different times — and the threats associated with the different ballistic protection levels often differed as the threats evolved over time. This document seeks to unify ballistic protection levels across a range of ballistic-resistant products used by U.S. law enforcement.
Separating the ballistic protection levels and test threats specified here in NIJ Standard 0123.00 from particular ballistic equipment performance requirements and test methodology (e.g., as described in Ballistic Resistance of Body Armor, NIJ Standard 0101.07) allows for greater interoperability among standards that are applicable to ballistic-resistant equipment. This modularity gives NIJ the ability to be responsive to new developments regarding threats while simultaneously reducing the administrative burden to update several performance standards that would use identical protection levels and test threat information. Likewise, NIJ can update an individual equipment performance standard or a laboratory test method or practice in response to new research without changing the ballistic protection levels and test threats.
Ballistic Resistance of Body Armor, NIJ Standard 0101.07, is the first NIJ standard to reference NIJ Standard 0123.00. NIJ anticipates that future revisions of its performance standards for ballistic-resistant helmets and shields will also reference this document. The NIJ Compliance Testing Program will use this standard for testing, evaluation, and certification of ballistic-resistant body armor using NIJ Standard 0101.07 and other types of ballistic-resistant equipment that may be added to the scope of the NIJ Conformity Testing Program conformity assessment activities. It will be used by ballistics laboratories that test body armor and by body armor manufacturers participating in the NIJ Conformity Testing Program.
The ballistic protection levels and test threats listed in NIJ Standard 0101.06, Ballistic Resistance of Body Armor, were the points of departure for NIJ Standard 0123.00. NIJ ballistic protection level-nomenclature has been revised, see table 1, from NIJ Standard 0101.06 to be more descriptive of ballistic threats and to reduce confusion among law enforcement who wear body armor and use ballistic-resistant equipment.
| Former Threat Level | New Threat Level | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| NIJ Level II | NIJ HG1 | HG = handgun |
| NIJ Level IIIA | NIJ HG2 | |
| NIJ Level III | NIJ RF1 | RF = rifle |
| NA | NIJ RF2 | NIJ RF2 is a new intermediate rifle protection level that includes all the threats at the NIJ RF1 protection level plus an additional threat |
| NIJ Level IV | NIJ RF3 |
Table 2 specifies the test threats, the specific ammunition to be used, and the reference velocities to be used for HG1 and HG2. Table 3 specifies the test threats, the specific ammunition to be used, and the reference velocities to be used for RF1, RF2, and RF3.
| Protection Level | Test Threat | Ammunition Identifier | Reference Velocity |
|---|---|---|---|
| NIJ HG1 | 9mm Luger FMJ RN 124 grain | Remington #23558 | 1305 ft/s (398 m/s) |
| .357 Mag JSP 158 grain | Remington #22847 | 1430 ft/s (436 m/s) | |
| NIJ HG2 | 9mm Luger FMJ RN 124 grain | Remington #23558 | 1470 ft/s (448 m/s) |
| .44 Mag JHP 240 grain | Speer OEM #744531; #44532 or #47362 2 This ammunition may be purchased from surplus. | 1430 ft/s (436 m/s) |
Note that table 2 on this page corresponds do table 1 in the standard document.
| Protection Level | Test Threat | Ammunition Identifier | Reference Velocity |
|---|---|---|---|
| NIJ RF1 | 7.62x51mm M80 Ball NATO FMJ Steel Jacket 147 +0/-3 grain | U.S. military supply or rounds meeting NATO specifications | 2780 ft/s (847 m/s) |
| 7.62x39mm MSC Ball Ammunition Type 56 from Factory 31 | Factory 31 Ammunition evaluated and meeting the requirements of Appendix A -- NIJ Ammunition Audit Process -- of the standard | 2400 ft/s (732 m/s) | |
| 5.56mm M193 56 +0/-2 grain | U.S. military supply or rounds meeting NATO specifications | 3250 ft/s (990 m/s) | |
| NIJ RF2 | 7.62x51mm M80 Ball NATO FMJ Steel Jacket 147 +0/-3 grain | U.S. military supply or rounds meeting NATO specifications | 2780 ft/s (847 m/s) |
| 7.62x39mm MSC Ball Ammunition Type 56 from Factory 31 | Factory 31 Ammunition evaluated and meeting the requirements of Appendix A -- NIJ Ammunition Audit Process -- of the standard | 2400 ft/s (732 m/s) | |
| 5.56mm M193 56 +0/-2 grain | U.S. military supply or rounds meeting NATO specifications | 3250 ft/s (990 m/s) | |
| 5.56mm M855 61.8 ± 1.5 grain | U.S. military supply or rounds meeting NATO specifications | 3115 ft/s (950 m/s) | |
| NIJ RF3 | 30.06 M2 AP 165.7 +0/-7 grain | U.S. military supply or rounds meeting NATO specifications | 2880 ft/s (878 m/s) |
Note that table 3 on this page corresponds do table 2 in the standard document.
The test projectiles and reference velocities in this standard have been updated from section 2 of NIJ Standard 0101.06 to reflect the evolving threats faced by U.S. law enforcement, including a wider range of rifle threats in addition to the 7.62x51mm M80. These include 5.56mm M193, 5.56mm M855, and 7.62x39mm mild steel core (MSC). Variability in the MSC round has driven the development of surrogate test round designs to ensure consistency in testing; however, NIJ Standard 0123.00 specifies a factory round until surrogate test round development activities are completed and validated, and a surrogate is commercially available.
NIJ Standard 0123.00 specifies a range of acceptable bullet dimensions, bullet mass, core dimensions, core mass, and core hardness for the factory 7.62x39mm MSC projectiles as well as audit procedures found in Appendix A of the standard -- NIJ Ammunition Audit Process -- to assess ammunition lots to determine suitability for use in testing. Physical characteristics of the ammunition as well as other factors, such as availability of supply, were considered in the assessment of the various factory rounds available to determine which one would be the best choice for the test threat.