Library
Manufacturer-neutral reference content for body armor procurement professionals. New briefs published automatically when regulatory monitoring agents detect a material change.
The authoritative hub for ballistic shields — NIJ 0108.01 plus the new ASTM E3347 specification and E3141 test method, handheld vs standoff shields, viewport options, maintenance, and LE procurement. Source-cited across every spec.
Patrol shield selection for typical US LE departments — a practical walkthrough of the decisions an equipment sergeant faces when adding shield capability to patrol vehicles.
NIJ 0108.01 has governed US ballistic shield certification since 1985. This guide covers its six threat levels, panel-only test scope, and how modern LE procurement increasingly pairs it with the newer ASTM E3347 specification for a full-assembly shield qualification.
ASTM E3347 is the first US performance specification purpose-built for LE ballistic shields. It covers shield body, edges, viewports, fasteners, and weak points — going beyond NIJ 0108.01's panel-only scope. This guide covers what E3347 actually tests and why it's rapidly becoming a procurement requirement.
ASTM E3141 defines how to test ballistic LE shields — shot placement, velocity measurement, acceptance criteria — the protocol that makes E3347 compliance a defensible certification. This guide covers the test structure and what distinguishes it from NIJ 0108.01's panel-centric methodology.
Ballistic shields come in the same threat-level taxonomy as body armor — IIIA, III, IV — but the practical tradeoffs are different. This guide walks through what each level resists, typical shield weight, and when to field each.
Ballistic shields come in multiple form factors — hand-held, shoulder-mounted, wheeled standoff, multi-fold — each optimized for a different deployment envelope. This guide covers when to field each form factor and the tradeoffs involved.
Shield viewports are the known weak point — they're often rated lower than the shield body, they fog and glare, and they age faster than the panel. This guide covers material options (laminated glass vs polymer), rating asymmetry, and how modern shield specs address viewport integrity.
Ballistic shields degrade in the field — viewports yellow, laminates delaminate, fasteners loosen. This guide covers inspection intervals, the specific signs that warrant retirement, and how to handle a shield that's taken a hit.