PSDB Ballistic Standard - Body Armour (1995)

The 1995 PSDB Ballistic body armor test standard defines a revised method of accessing the protection provided by commercial body armor systems against the current firearms threat to the police forces of the united kingdom. This latest revision of the standard now incorperates a test method for armor systems giving protection against high velocity rifle calibre ammunition.

General Requirements:
A body armor system should afford protection against injury from penetration by the bullet and the blunt trauma effects of the impact whilst ensuring that the movement of the wearer is not unduly restricted. The protected area should include the torso to ensure coverage of the vital organs, in particular the heart, liver, spine, kineys and spleen. Each model of ballistic body armor should meet one of four protection classes as shown below. The protection class required by the wearer should be determined from the specific firearms threats they are likely to encounter.

The ballistic insert should be removable to enable the outer jacket to be laundered when necessary. To ensure that the ballistic pack is inserted correctly into the jacket an information panel must be permenantly attached to show the side of the pack that is worn against the body. In addition, the following information should be included: the manufacturers name, date of maunfacture, and batch number, the protection of the armor and set instructions for cleaning and use. Similarily, if a separate truama pack is used, this should also display information to ensure it is inserted correctly. The associated ballistic insert panel should include a warning that the separate trauma pack must be used in conjunction with the ballistic pack to meet the stated protection level.

The armor system should be available in a vairiety of sizes to allow for suitable variation in height and build of the wearers. It should also be adjustable to allow the wearer maximum comfort. It should be possible for the wearer to fire weapons from both shoulders without restriction. Consideration should be given to the jacket design so that protection may be upgraded by the insertion of an additional ballistic panel or hard plate.

Any additional small panels supplied for protection of the neck, groin, shoulders etc should be constructed of the same material as the main ballistic panels.