The bulletproof vest, also called a ballistic vest or a bullet-resistant vest is a type of body armor that reduces penetration into the torso from firearm-fired projectiles and fragments of explosions.
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The bulletproof vest is not designed to protect against all types of bullets, and there are different levels of body armor available. These levels are standardized by many different agencies in the US and the UK, including the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and the Centre for Applied Science and Technology (CAST). It's widely regarded as the world's leading bullet and stab test facility, and its methods are regularly shared with the United States. As a result, armor that meets the standards of one institution will also meet the standards of its equivalent.
It is essential to choose the correct type of body armor to ensure you are completely protected. Body armor can protect you from various threats, but it's essential to understand each type to ensure you have the right vest.
Ballistic Levels
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The strength of attack describes each level of body armor it will defend against. The higher levels can protect against attacks outlined for lower levels but will only protect up to and including those threats. Body armor includes a bullet proof vest, stabproof vest, and spike-proof vest, all with different levels of protection and testing methods. Similarly, bulletproof vests are available in soft and hard types; however, the NIJ still regulates them.
Threats
A ballistic threat is one posed by both low and high-velocity bullets. A ballistic protection armor can be classified as Level IIa, Level II, Level IIIa, Level III, or Level IV. These armors offer protection against the majority of the commonly available firearms at Level IIa, Level II, and Level IIIa.
Firearms in these calibers include 9mm, .357 magnum, and .44 magnum. Alternatively, Level IV ballistic armors offer protection against large, high-velocity bullets. Most tactical police forces and the military prefer ballistic-level armor. As far as rifles and submachine guns are concerned, the armor can stop them.
Ballistic armors protect soldiers, bodyguards, and security guards who man sensitive government and private installations like airports.
Protection
Bulletproof vests, which provide ballistic protection, are the most common type of body armor. The armor can withstand bullets, but the type of bullets it can withstand depends on the armor's level. Depending on the ammunition the vest can stop, there are different levels of ballistic protection.
Higher levels can stop more powerful ammunition. In Level I-IIIa vests, soft materials like Kevlar are used, trap bullets and slow them down significantly.
Edged Blade Levels
CAST has standardized the protection levels for stabbing-proof vests. The materials used in bulletproof and stab-proof vests are developed similarly, and most of them will utilize Kevlar. However, stab-proof vests require much tighter weaves and other materials like chainmail or laminate to work effectively.
Threats
Individuals who wield cutting tools such as knives and broken glasses can pose edged blade threats. According to NIJ and CAST guidelines, edged blade attacks can be classified as Level I or Level II.
By cutting the threads between the fabric layers, edged blades penetrate fabrics more easily than spikes. As a result, you could still be injured by spikes even when wearing edged blade protection armor.
In nightclubs, for example, assailants can easily break bottles and use them as weapons; edged blade armor makes sense.
Protection
Typically called stab protection, it can protect you from attacks involving weapons, such as knives. The materials used in these vests are different from those in bullet-resistant vests. Nevertheless, most stab-proof vests will still be made of Kevlar and will come with ballistic protection. Stabbing protection prevents attacks with edged weapons, like knives, axes, and bottles. In stabbing-proof vests, materials like chainmail stop the edge from cutting through the Kevlar below, which helps absorb some of the impacts.
Spiked Weapon Levels
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Both bulletproof and stabproof vests cannot protect against spiked weapons, which are covered by different levels of protection. Prison officers faced an additional threat that spurred the introduction of spike protection into testing and standards. Stabbing and bulletproof vests can be fitted with spike protection in the form of a laminate coating, but proper testing is essential to ensure it maintains its effectiveness.
Threats
In the world of safety, spike threats refer to objects that are sharp or projective. Among these items are nails, needles, safety pins, and ice picks. Spikes easily penetrate nearly all fabrics by passing through the tiny spaces between the threads. To protect against sharp objects, body armor has been developed to obstruct them completely.
Prisons are the most commonplace to find spike threat protection armors. As a safety precaution, correctional officers wear spikeproof armor before entering the cells. Convicts in most prisons hide sharp, improvised weapons, so it is necessary to protect correctional officers.
Protection
Spike protection differs from stab protection, and weapons like needles and screwdrivers, for example, require a spike-proof vest. In addition to the edged blade and ballistic protection, spike protection is usually offered.
With spike protection, spiked weapons cannot pass through chainmail or Kevlar, which are impervious to spikes. Spike-proof vests require layers of plastic laminate to create a surface that can resist these weapons. This plastic laminate is usually layered with Kevlar and maybe chainmail, which help to absorb the impact of an attack.
Conclusion:
Your protection needs will depend on the threats you are most likely to face. As there are different types of body armor, there are also other types of protection. If you are going to be exposed to firearms, you will need a bulletproof vest. A stab-proof vest will protect you from edged weapons. You will need a vest with spike protection if you use spiked weapons, such as ice picks.
