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| Introduction |
| Armored systems for personnel
use are becoming more common throughout society as violent crime
increases. Specifically, law enforcement agencies, as well as
private security firms, are finding that greater protection
of their exposed personnel is becoming the norm. And with the
greater danger of terrorism, hostage-taking and other violent
acts, executives face the challenge of how to protect themselves
and their employees from such dangers. Concurrent with this
new reality, greater armor-protection choices are coming on
line and promoted to a public that is neither well versed nor
capable of sifting through the barrage of claims and advertising
to make the right decision when choosing the appropriate armor
equipment. Case in point is body armor, otherwise know as “bullet-proof
vests” (there is no such thing as bullet-proof vest; rather,
a vest is bullet-resistant to a specific or rated type of gun
and bullet). The choice of body armor is virtually endless,
as it is the list of claims made by various manufacturers for
their products. It is body armor, which this article seeks to
define in its simplest terms in order to allow our customers
the opportunity to make clearheaded decisions when making such
a purchase for performance-effective, and cost-effective, ballistic
protection suited to the mission or purpose for its use. Because
body armor is just a part of a total personnel armor package
we will also touch on other armor systems suited to the protection
of vehicles, buildings and structures. |
| Body Armor |
Body armor, as its name implies,
is a bullet-resistant system designed to protect vital parts
of the body against ballistic and to a lesser extent, knife
threats. The common body armor system comprises the following:
Bullet-Resistant Vests protect the body’s torso (the most vital
part of the body). Optional protection may include upper shoulder,
neck and groin protection. There are two types of vest, Concealable
and Tactical vests. The former is used underneath the shirts
for inconspicuous use and provides torso protection ( front,
back and either full or partial side protection). Lightweight
comfort for long-term use is a key feature of the concealable
vest; this is why patrolmen, security guards and executives
are its common users. Tactical vests on the other hand, are
worn over the uniform since they must provide greater coverage.
This type of vest also carries specially pockets, webbing and
other support items needed for tactical work. Tactical vests
are therefore, bulkier , heavier and must be able to carry additional
weight such as ballistic plates to protect against higher caliber
threats(high velocity and armor-piercing rounds).
Bullet- Resistant Helmets protect cranium and temple area of
the head
Bullet- resistant face shields protect facial areas of the
head.
Bullet- Resistant Shields are for use in tactical, high- risk
such as room searches, ”Point Man “ protection in tactical teams,
or to enhance the individual’s armor protection at any given
time. The use of ballistic shields give the use tremendous advantages
in body protection and a greater ability to deploy quickly in
, therefore, exposed circumstances. Shields comes in various
sixes and weights from light models able to be carried by any
individual, to heavier models designed to stop higher-caliber
bullets, or to serve as bunkers or command posts.
Bullet-Resistant Shin Straps are use to partially protect
the legs.
All of the above items are available today, but their use is
determined but the user’s mission. For instance, tactical teams
such as SWAT police, special forces or special security personnel
would be expected to wear all or most of the above equipment
when the danger and volume of gunfire becomes a certainty as
defined by their mission, On other hand, it would make sense
for policeman on a beat, security guard, or an executive to
wear the entire range of personal armor protection, for in addition
to being ludicrous, the added weight and bulk of such equipment
would render them useless in accomplishing their daily task.
Thus, the mission determines the level of personnel protection.
What, then is the level of protection?
Clearly and executive has a different “mission” in wearing body
armor from a policeman or security guard. The executive wants
protection to be inconspicuous; it must be easy to wear; it
must be lightweight ; it must be soft and cool to wear . Likewise
a policeman on the beat as well as security guard requires body
armor that provides protection for long periods of time without
affecting his normal duties of patrolling, apprehending or subduing
suspects, driving a vehicles, handling a weapon etc. In short
body armor should not affect of diminish the user’s ability
to conduct business as his or her duties demand. As the danger
increase greater levels of protection may be required, but as
stated earlier, the higher the protection the more cumbersome,
heavier and less comfortable the equipment becomes. Thus tactical
personnel can handle greater protection become the use of such
equipment is worn at shorter time intervals and their training
takes it use into account. Nevertheless, greater strides have
been made in ballistic materials technology that not only can
provide even greater protection, but also offer less bulk and
weight. In addition, new independent strides in perspiration-absorbing
materials have combined to make the use of bullet-resistant
vests a more pleasant experience than was true even a year ago.
But, because the major concern should be the level of protection
for the purpose a body armor was chosen, it is not possible
to uniformly claim that all body armor can be made light and
comfortable. For instance there are two types of armor materials
today, soft Armor and Hard Armor materials. As their names imply
each has unique characteristics with unique benefits to the
user, but also offsetting costs, as explained below.
Soft Armor is a pliable, soft ballistic material that can be
sewn and shaped to just about any configuration. Indeed soft
Armor is the material used in bullet-resistant vest, ballistic
blankets and other products that requires lightness, comfort
and pliability. Today, the standard soft ballistic materials
are a made from two types of man-made fibers; Aramid, best knows
as Kevlar and Twaron, and polyethylene know as Spectra and Dyneema.
Within this category there are many types of grades and "weaves",
as well as, weight per denier(number of fibers per filament)
that can determine the degree of softness, pliability and weight
of soft body armor. But in order to support its principal mission-to-protect
against ballistic threat-such as combination(weight of filament,
denier, type of weave, and mass) should be balanced. The ratio
of such combination is called Aerial Density. It is aerial density
that determines the ability of a specific body armor to stop
those bullets for which it was rated to stop, as well as the
ability of the human body to absorb the kinetic impact of the
bullet, know as Blunt Trauma. Thus a very light soft body armor
may provide ballistic protection but may not provide sufficient
blunt trauma protection to extent that the user may become incapacitated
or even die from the impact . Likewise, too stiff a body armor
may provide adequate ballistic and trauma protection, yet may
be too uncomfortable to wear for any prolonged period of time,
thus negating its effectiveness. The answer then lies in utilizing
the proper combination of the latest practical soft armor materials
that can perform both ballistic and trauma protection functions
effectively. For this reason, purchasing soft body armor may
be a confusing and somewhat agonizing chore in light of all
the claims made by most manufacturers.
Then, how do you make the right decision? Choice of scrupulous
body armor manufacturers is one way; another is to make sure
that you are purchasing from reputable dealers or sales agents
that have your well-being in mind; finally make sure that your
body armor is certified by well known and recognized government
bodies. Although certification is not foolproof, it does offer
measurable guidelines.
In United States, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), a
branch of the U.S Department of Justice certifies soft
armor. NIJ Standard 0101.03 classifies bullet-resistant
vests as Class I, Class IIA, Class II, Class IIIA, the
latter being the highest rating of a soft armor package (up
to 0.44 Magnum Semi Wad Cutter, soft – cored bullet at a
velocity of 1,400 feet or 427 meters, per second) .NIJ
threat levels I through IIIA provide guidance on protection
against handgun bullets of various calibers, weight and
velocities. NIJ standards also classify very high velocity
rounds, usually fired by rifles such as NATO BALL 7.62mm,
5.56mm or 30.06 AP as Class III and Class IV, respectively,
However because to date there is no known soft material able
to defeat Class II and Class IV ballistic threat, this sort
of protection only is provided by the use of hard armor
materials.
Hard Armor, on the other hand is a ballistic material that is
rigid and consequently may only be formed through the use of
presses, autoclaves or dyes. There are two types of hard armor
material, opaque and transparent. Both types are used in all
body armor systems mentioned in this articles, but mostly they
are used as ballistic paneling in vehicle doors, floors or windows
for architectural use in walls or window or any other application
requiring the use of a hard , flat or formed surface. The main
advantage of hard armor material is their ability to defeat
a large number of high-caliber and hard-to-stop rounds. Its
main disadvantages is weight which limits its suitability for
use in personal protection such as in bullet resistant vests.
Hard armor besides being more resistant to higher ballistic
threats, is also available in more substrates such as steel,
ceramics, glass, polycarbonate, acrylics as well as compressed
E-Glass, Aramid and Spectra . Also combination of compressed
fibers with steel or ceramics are formed to create lighter hard
armor systems, while even lighter 110% compressed fibers such
as Spectra, can be augmented up to class III ( the latter offers
the greater weight reduction that is possible in hard armor
systems today).
As already stated, the downside of hard armor systems ( and
the single biggest reason for hard armor’s limited use in
bullet-resistant vests) is weight. Although there are some
manufacturers currently producing “Class III” hard vests
using compressed Armaid or spectra, these have been found so
far not to be practical due to the rigidity of the system
and the added weight. Nevertheless, there is promising new
technology (not yet on line) that may make the dream of a
comfortable 100% Class III vest a reality in the not
–too-distant future.
At the present time, the more practical enhancement of a vest
to Class III or IV standard has been the insertion of a ballistic
plate measuring not more than 10 inches wide by 12 inches long
(254mm x 305mm); yet even at this size the average weight of
a vest may be increased by a minimum of 4.25 lbs(1.9 kgs) for
a 100% Spectra class II plate ( the lightest plate in this class)
to a maximum of 8 lbs. (3.5 kgs.) to 12 lbs. (5.45 kgs.) for
a class IV. It is weight that drives the price of a hard ballistic
system significantly up to down as much as it drives the practically
of the extent of body armor protection against higher caliber
threats.
Because hard armor can be used in many more application other
than vests and, because there are so many more substrates in
this category there is another more definitive, standard that
classifies these material’s ballistic capabilities. This standard
is set by Underwriters Laboratories (UL). UL standards classify
hard armor at the following levels: Levels 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 and
8. The greater number of classifications reflects UL’s approach:
narrower and more definitive guidelines. While NIJ and UL standards
are somewhat compatible (for instance, NIJ Class IIIA and UL
level 3 are compatible) they are not similar reflecting the
different notions that govern their respective standards, as
the enclosed NIJ and UL ballistic charts show. Generally UL
standards are the governing guidance when armoring vehicles
or for architectural use.
Just as in soft armor, choice of hard armor materials does
matter, it being one of the most important reasons why
prices differ so much; Generally, the lighter the material,
the more expensive it is. |
| Conclusions: |
Because armor security should
be comprehensive not discrete, ballistic protection should be
seen in its totally. For instance, if the threat is higher then
simple protection from petty criminals and hijackings and hostage-taking
area distinctly clear and present danger, then ballistic protection
should be viewed at the tactical level including the use of
greater body armor protection. Higher threats may also require
the need to augment protection by adding armor to vehicles at
proper ballistic levels, but the term “proper ballistic level”
is the critical factor in the practically of armoring a given
vehicle, a subject outside the scope of this articles (but one
in which we can provide you with the needed technical support,
as well as products). Once you know what your needs are you
will be in a better position to meet the threat. The rest is
a matter of choosing the proper equipment based on the following
criteria :
• Protection of the primary personnel to be protected (such
as VIP’s or executives).
• Protection to personnel in the “line of fire”.
• Available budget. |
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