Standards and Testing

VestGuard supplies ballistic, stab, spike and fragmentation products, manufactured and tested to a variety of British and international standards, or abbreviated versions as detailed below. We use independent accredited test facilities to regularly test our products to ensure they continue to meet our customers requirements. Some of the products we supply are Certified to the standards, others are tested to specific ammunition. Our products are designed to protect our customers and have been developed and verified through in-house, independent and customer testing for over 15 years.


Models tested and Certified to National Institute of Justice (NIJ) 0101.06

Considered the most widely used internationally recognised standard. The standard is broken down into different levels and covers protection against small handguns up to armour piercing rifles. The standard is used for body armour, helmets and other armour solutions on the market, such as vehicle armour and shields.

This standard is split into levels of protection designated by roman numerals.

NIJ Level II (2) Small handgun protection
NIJ Level IIIA (3a)  High velocity handguns
NIJ Level III (3)      Rifles
NIJ Level IV (4)     Armour piercing rifles
 
Threat Calibre   Max.
BFS
Bullet
weight
Velocity
(m/s)
Velocity
(ft/s)
NIJ Level II (2)

9mm FMJ RN

44mm

8.0g (124 gr)

398±9

1305 ±30

.357 Mag JSP

44mm

10.2g (158gr)

436 ± 9

1430 ±30

NIJ Level IIIA (3a)

.357 SIG FMJ FN

44mm

8.1g (125gr)

448 ±9

1470 ±30

.44 Mag SJHP

44mm

15.6g (240gr)

436 ±9

1430 ±30

NIJ Level III (3)

7.62 mm NATO FMJ

44mm

9.6 g (147gr)

847 ±9

2780 ±30

NIJ Level IV 4)

30.06 M2 AP FMJ

44mm

10.8g (166gr)

878 ±9

2880 ±30

Link to National Institute of Justice Ballistic Resistance of Body Armour NIJ Standard-0101.06 document 

 

Models tested to an Abbreviated version of the National Institute of Justice 0101.06 

For some of our products we regularly test to an abbreviated test method using the same accredited laboratory, ammunition, distances and velocities in the international standards. 

This abbreviated standard is split into the following levels of protection .

Level II (2) Small handgun protection
Level IIIA (3a)  High velocity handguns
Level III (3)      Rifles
Level IV (4)     Armour piercing rifles
 
Threat Calibre   Max.
BFS
Bullet
weight
Velocity
(m/s)
Velocity
(ft/s)
Level II (2)

9mm FMJ RN

44mm

8.0g (124 gr)

398±9

1305 ±30

.357 Mag JSP

44mm

10.2g (158gr)

436 ± 9

1430 ±30

Level IIIA (3a)

.357 SIG FMJ FN

44mm

8.1g (125gr)

448 ±9

1470 ±30

.44 Mag SJHP

44mm

15.6g (240gr)

436 ±9

1430 ±30

Level III (3)

7.62 mm NATO FMJ

44mm

9.6 g (147gr)

847 ±9

2780 ±30

Level IV 4)

30.06 M2 AP FMJ

44mm

10.8g (166gr)

878 ±9

2880 ±30

 

Models tested and Certified to Home Office (CAST) 2017

The UK standards are set by the Home Office for the protection of police and government bodies. The protection covers a full range of threats including ballistic (HO), edged weapons like knives (KR), and spikes like needles (SP). The higher the threat the higher the number, i.e. HO1, HO2.

Ballistic

Protection level Classification
and calibre
Test round Bullet mass Range 
(m)
Max.
mean
BFS (mm)
Single
shot
BFS
 (mm)
Velocity
(m.s-1 )

Ballistic Level 1

9 mm FMJ MEN 9 mm FMJ
DM11A1B2
8.0g (124g) 5   44 365 ± 10 
9 mm JHP Federal Premium
9 mm 
JHP P9HST1
8.0g (124g) 5   44 365 ± 10

Ballistic Level 2

9mm FMJ MEN 9 mm FMJ
DM11A1B2
8.0g (124g) 5   44 430 ± 10
9 mm JHP Federal Premium 
9 mm JHP P9HST1
8.0g (124g) 5   44 430 ± 10

Ballistic Level 3

Rifle 7.62 calibre Radway Green 7.62 mm NATO Ball
L44A1 or L2A2
9.3g (144g) 10 25 30 830 ± 15
Rifle 7.62 calibre 7.62 × 39 mm
surrogate
7.9g (122g) 10 25 30 705 ± 15
Ballistic Level 4 Rifle 7.62 calibre SAKO .308 Win 480A Powerhead 
or Barnes .308 TSX BT
10.7g (165g) 10 25 30 820 ± 15
Shotgun Level 1 Shotgun 12 gauge
True Cylinder
Winchester 1 oz. Rifled 12RSE 28.4 g 10 25 30 435 ± 25 

Special

Based on threat and risk assessment

Stab and Spike

Protection level

Energy level E1

Energy level E2

Energy (J)

Maximum penetration at E1 (mm)

SPL at E1 (mm)

Energy (J)

Maximum penetration at E2 (mm)

SPL at E2 (mm)

Stab Level 1

24.0

8.0

9.0

36.0

20.0

30.0

Stab and Spike Level 1

24.0

KR1 = 8.0
SP1 = 0

KR1 = 9.0
SP1 = 0

36.0

KR1 = 20.0
SP1 = N/A

KR1 = 20.0
SP1 = N/A

Stab Level 2

33.0

8.0

9.0

50.0

20.0

30.0

Stab and Spike Level 2

33.0

KR2 = 8.0
SP2 = 0

KR1 = 9.0
SP2 = 0

50.0

KR2 = 20.0
SP2 = N/A

KR2 = 30.0
SP2 = N/A

 

Link to Home Office (CAST) Body Armour Standard (2017) document 

 

Models tested to an Abbreviated version of the Home Office (CAST) 2017

For some of our products we regularly test to an abbreviated test method using the same accredited laboratory, ammunition, distances and velocities in the UK standards. 

This abbreviated standard is split into the following levels of protection .

The protection covers a full range of threats including ballistic (HO), edged weapons like knives (KR), and spikes like needles (SP). The higher the threat the higher the number, i.e. HO1, HO2.

Ballistic

Protection level Classification
and calibre
Test round Bullet mass Range 
(m)
Max.
mean
BFS (mm)
Single
shot
BFS
 (mm)
Velocity
(m.s-1 )

HO1

9 mm FMJ MEN 9 mm FMJ
DM11A1B2
8.0g (124g) 5   44 365 ± 10 
9 mm JHP Federal Premium
9 mm 
JHP P9HST1
8.0g (124g) 5   44 365 ± 10

HO2

9mm FMJ MEN 9 mm FMJ
DM11A1B2
8.0g (124g) 5   44 430 ± 10
9 mm JHP Federal Premium 
9 mm JHP P9HST1
8.0g (124g) 5   44 430 ± 10

HO3

Rifle 7.62 calibre Radway Green 7.62 mm NATO Ball
L44A1 or L2A2
9.3g (144g) 10 25 30 830 ± 15
Rifle 7.62 calibre 7.62 × 39 mm
surrogate
7.9g (122g) 10 25 30 705 ± 15
HO4 Rifle 7.62 calibre SAKO .308 Win 480A Powerhead 
or Barnes .308 TSX BT
10.7g (165g) 10 25 30 820 ± 15
SG1 Shotgun 12 gauge
True Cylinder
Winchester 1 oz. Rifled 12RSE 28.4 g 10 25 30 435 ± 25 

Special

Based on threat and risk assessment

Stab and Spike

Protection level

Energy level E1

Energy level E2

Energy (J)

Maximum penetration at E1 (mm)

SPL at E1 (mm)

Energy (J)

Maximum penetration at E2 (mm)

SPL at E2 (mm)

KR1

24.0

8.0

9.0

36.0

20.0

30.0

KR1 + SP1

24.0

KR1 = 8.0
SP1 = 0

KR1 = 9.0
SP1 = 0

36.0

KR1 = 20.0
SP1 = N/A

KR1 = 20.0
SP1 = N/A

KR2

33.0

8.0

9.0

50.0

20.0

30.0

KR2 + SP2

33.0

KR2 = 8.0
SP2 = 0

KR1 = 9.0
SP2 = 0

50.0

KR2 = 20.0
SP2 = N/A

KR2 = 30.0
SP2 = N/A


 

 

 

 

 

 

NATO STANAG 2920 Fragmentation

This is the military standard for ballistic protection & armour solutions for military applications.

STANAG 2920: The adoption of standards for ballistic protection levels and testing relates typically to the levels of fragmentation protection that vests offer. The technical details are complicated but the results are identified as a V50 rating in metres or feet per second. VestGuard armour and helmets all have a V50 rating. 

Quality Standards 

ISO 9001:2015 Standards

ISO is a world renowned quality management system which all companies should follow to ensure exacting quality procedures are met to provide the best product to customers. VestGuard is ISO accredited and we work to this procedure every day to provide consistently high quality products to our customers.

Military Standards

VestGuard supply to many government and military forces across the world. Our vests must conform to military specifications for material quality, manufacturing quality and longevity. The VestGuard outer covers are designed to endure extreme use and weather conditions.