Determining the Right Body Armour for Your Threat Environment

Choosing the right body armour is a critical decision that should be based on information and a clear understanding of your specific needs.

In a world with a wide array of options, this guide provides a professional and factual approach to help you determine the appropriate ballistic protection for your threat environment, ensuring you make an informed and confident choice.

The Foundation of Ballistic Protection

Ballistic body armour is designed and tested to resist the penetration of specific types of bullets under controlled conditions. Its effectiveness is measured against established international standards, such as those from the National Institute of Justice (NIJ). For products sold in South Africa, compliance with local standards from the South African National Standards (SANS) is a key factor. Understanding these standards is the first step in selecting the right gear for your needs.

Determining the Right Body Armour for Your Threat Environment

Key Factors in Selecting Body Armour

Making an informed decision about body armour requires careful consideration of several key factors:

1. Threat Assessment:

The first and most important step is to assess the threats you are likely

to face accurately. This determines the type of armour you need. Threats are generally categorised into two main groups: 

• Handgun Threats: These involve lower-velocity rounds, such as 9mm, .40 S& W, or .44 Magnum.

• Rifle Threats: These involve higher-velocity rounds, such as 5.56mm, 7.62mm, or .30-06.

Your operational environment dictates the most probable threats.

2. Armour Type:

Body armour is primarily classified into two types based on its construction and intended use:

• Soft Armour: This type is typically made from woven materials like aramid or polyethene fibres. It is lightweight, flexible, and designed to defeat handgun threats. Soft armour can wrap around the body and may be worn for concealment.

• Hard Armour: This type consists of rigid plates made from materials such as ceramic, steel, or polyethylene. Hard armour is designed to defeat rifle threats and is typically worn in plate carriers at the front and the back of the torso.

3. Area of Protection:

The level of coverage required is another critical factor. Body armour is available in various configurations to protect different parts of the body. Your operational role and threat assessment will determine the necessary coverage, which can range from:

• Basic protection for vital organs (front and back).

• Extended coverage includes the front, back, and sides.

• Full tactical coverage, which can include the front, back, sides, neck, and groin.

4. Distance to Threat:

The distance at which the armour is tested to defeat a threat is a crucial

consideration. NIJ-certified hard armour is tested to stop projectiles from 15 metres, while soft armour is tested at 5 metres. SANS-tested hard armour plates, such as those we offer, are tested to 10 metres. Understanding these distances helps you match the armour’s performance to the likely engagement ranges in your environment.

5. Certification and Standards:

To ensure a product’s reliability, it’s critical to verify that it has been tested and certified by an accredited body. These standards define a series of protection levels, each corresponding to a specific set of ballistic threats.

NIJ-Tested Levels & their Capabilities:

• NIJ Level II and NIJ Level IIIA: Both levels are for soft armour and are designed to protect against various handgun threats.

• NIJ Level III: This level is for hard armour and is designed to protect against a range of rifle threats.

• NIJ Level IV: This is the highest standard level of body armour and is designed to protect against armour-piercing rifle rounds. 

• In addition to the official NIJ Levels, you may see products designated as NIJ Level III+. This hard armour product is typically tested to stop a wider range of ballistic threats than the standard NIJ Level III, often including higher-velocity rounds or ammunition types not covered by the official NIJ standard.

Additional Levels (Imperial Armour): In addition to the official NIJ and SANS standards, we offer products with enhanced capabilities to address specific threat profiles. These are designated with manufacturer-specific levels.

• NIJ Level III+: This hard armour is designed to stop a wider range of ballistic threats than the standard NIJ Level III, including higher-velocity rounds or ammunition types not covered by the official NIJ standard.

• Level IIIA+ (SANS): This hard armour product is designed to protect against handgun rounds and specific rifle threats like the AK-47. It is tested to stop a wider range of ballistic threats than the official SANS Level IIIA, including higher-velocity rounds.

• Level III+++ (SANS): This hard armour is designed to protect against an extensive range of rifle threats. This product is tested to defeat a broader spectrum of ballistic threats than the standard NIJ Level III, including multiple higher-velocity rounds not covered by the official SANS standard.

It is essential to match the certified rating of the armour to the specific threats identified in your assessment. All products offered by Imperial Armour hold their own tested certification, and we encourage clients to always ask for the specific documentation to confirm the product’s capabilities.

Once you know your threat, ask the right questions:

Before purchasing body armour, engage with your supplier to gain a complete understanding of the product that has been recommended according to your threat determination. Ask these crucial questions:

What specific NIJ or SANS level is the product certified to?

Always ask for the exact level and verify that it corresponds to your threat assessment.

Is it soft armour or hard armour?

Ensure you are purchasing the correct type for the threats you face.

What specific ammunition types has it been tested against?

A reputable supplier should provide a clear list of calibres and projectile types.

Does it have third-party certification and documentation?

Request to see the official test reports from an accredited ballistic laboratory.

Is the armour within its service life?

All body armour has an expiry date, after which its protective capabilities may degrade.

What is the warranty and return policy?

A reputable company stands behind its products with clear policies.

Ultimately, choosing the right body armour is not about buying the most expensive product. It is about selecting gear that is certified to protect against the specific threats you face, backed by third-party testing and a supplier you can trust.

Did you know?

While the term “bulletproof” is commonly used, the industry standard is bullet-resistant. This is because armour is designed to resist specific threats rather than providing an absolute guarantee against every possible projectile.