BODY ARMOUR
A quick run down of the standards, armour types and materials
NIJ STANDARDS
The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is the research, development and evaluation agency of the U.S. Department of Justice and has been setting voluntary body armour standards since 1972. NIJ standards are widely used for determining the ballistic performance of body armour.
NIJ Standard 0101.06 establishes minimum performance requirements and test methods for the ballistic resistance of personal body armour intended to protect against gunfire. Body armour must be submitted through the official NIJ Compliance Testing Program (CTP) in order to be certified by the NIJ as compliant. Most body armour on the market is not run through the official NIJ CTP, but is instead tested by independent laboratories to comply with NIJ Standard 0101.06. The armour can be listed as being tested/rated to NIJ Standard 0101.06, but it will not be NIJ certified. DML ballistic panels are independently tested to comply with or exceed the ballistic threat performance of NIJ Standard 0101.06.
NIJ 0101.06 Ballistic Performance Requirements
| Armour Type | Test Round | Shots Per Panel |
| IIIA | .357 SIG FMJ FN | 6 |
| .44 Magnum SJHP | 6 | |
| III | 7.62mm NATO FMJ | 6 |
| IV | .30-06 M2 AP | 1 to 6 |
Level III+ isn’t an official NIJ armour type, but is often used to designate armor that complies with level III standards plus has protection against threats that would usually defeat Level III armour, such as M855 and 7.62×36 Mild Steel Core.
SOFT ARMOUR
A soft armor panel works much like a baseball catcher’s mitt. When a handgun bullet strikes the panel, it is caught in a “web” of strong fibers. These fibers absorb and disperse the impact energy that is transmitted to the panel from the bullet. This process causes the bullet to deform or “mushroom.” Soft panels are only available in level IIIA or lower.
HARD ARMOUR
Generally speaking, hard armor plates work in one of two ways: They can capture and deform the bullet, or they can break up the bullet. In both instances, the armor then absorbs and distributes the force of the impact.
DML Hard Armour Plates are offered in three materials; alumina (Al2O3) ceramic, silicon carbide (SiC) ceramic and Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE). All materials offer the protection levels stated on the plate. i.e. An alumina level IV plate doesn’t offer any more or less protection than a level IV silicon carbide plate.
Alumina ceramic plates (DML600 series) offer the best protection per dollar, but are heavier than other materials.
Silicon carbide plates (DML800 series) offer the best protection per kg, but are more expensive than Al2O3 plates..
UHMWPE plates (DML703) are the lightest on the market, but will not protect against steel core rifle rounds