Significance and Use
5.1 U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Department of Justice standards require ballistic limit determination for assessing the performance of ballistic-resistant body armor.
5.2 This test method may be used by private-sector and government laboratories, manufacturers, research and development organizations, and others assessing the ballistic resistance of body armor or performing research and development of new materials.
5.3 It is intended that this test method be referenced by other standards, specifications, and test methods.
Scope
1.1 This test method addresses the collection of ballistic limit data for ballistic-resistant torso body armor and shoot packs.
1.2 This test method is intended for testing of soft body armor, hard armor plates, and shoot packs. This test method does not apply to ballistic helmets.
1.3 This test method describes procedures for collecting data and does not specify computation or performance criteria for the ballistic limit. Instructions for computation and performance criteria are specified in other standards and specifications.
1.4 Several commonly used test item mounting procedures and ballistic limit procedures are included in this test method; certifiers, purchasers, and other users will specify the procedures to be used.
1.5 This test method does not address conditioning of test items.
1.6 It is anticipated that this test method will be referenced by certifiers, purchasers, or other users to meet their specific needs.
1.6.1 Certifier, purchasers, and other users will specify and describe the ballistic test threats to be used. Within this test method, the reference will be called the “test threats document.”
1.6.2 Certifiers, purchasers, and other users will provide specific instructions for the determination of complete penetrations or partial penetrations.
1.6.3 In this test method, “other standards and specifications” and “unless specified elsewhere” refer to documents (for example, military standards, purchase specifications) that require the use of this test method. Certifiers, purchasers, and other users are responsible for the “other standards and specifications” and for specifying any requirements that supersede those of this test method.
1.7 Units—The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system are not necessarily exact equivalents; therefore, to ensure conformance with the standard, each system shall be used independently of the other, and values from the two systems shall not be combined.
1.7.1 The user of this standard will identify the system of units to be used, and it is critical to ensure that any cross-referenced standards maintain consistency of units between standards.
1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.9 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
