Why do you purchase or use a ballistic helmet? You put on a ballistic helmet for defense. Subsequently, you need to know that your helmet is made to the best NIJ (Nationwide Institute of Justice) rankings and certifications. What requirements and certifications exist to make sure that ballistic helmets are manufactured correctly and can carry out at the perfect ballistic helmet rankings?
On this article, we are going to talk about the totally different certifications and the way the testing is completed. Learn extra to study NIJ licensed helmets and the method to get the certification.
In the case of ballistic certifications for helmets or any physique armor, the NIJ or Nationwide Institute of Justice is the usual to observe. Producers of physique armor and ballistic helmets should observe the NIJ ranking to promote merchandise that qualify as NIJ licensed helmets.
To observe NIJ ballistic requirements, there are 5 totally different ranges of certifications. The totally different certifications break down the totally different ranges of safety from various sizes of ammunition. With these ranges of safety, then helmets might be categorised as ballistic helmets however concentrating on totally different types of ammunition.
Beneath is a chart of the totally different ranges of safety outlines by the Nationwide Institute of Justice.
Chart Supply: https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/nij/nlectc/250144.pdf
The degrees of safety embrace blocking ammunition starting from 9mm all the best way to .30cal metal core armor piercing rifle ammunition. The NIJ rankings usually are not the one certifications a ballistic helmet can get to be a regular piece of physique armor.
Every degree additionally clarifies the kind of gun that the ammunition is coming from. Discover how it’s not till Stage lll {that a} product can defend towards rifle ammunition. Subsequently, helmets can defend towards several types of weapons, not all making totally different ballistic helmet ranges. To study extra about ranges of safety from ballistics, learn this chart right here.
A ballistic helmet additionally goes by means of environmental testing for additional certification. Helmets will probably be rated to face up to totally different environmental components like temperature shocks, altitude, U.V. publicity, water testing, and extra. Furthermore, the helmet will undergo totally different exams to show that the helmet can stand up to circumstances that happen in battle or navy settings.
As an example, ballistic helmets might want to go affect exams (for shock impacts like bombs), peripheral imaginative and prescient testing, and extra. The environmental and affect {qualifications} add as much as MIL-STD requirements. This stands for United States Navy Commonplace.
Subsequently, when looking for the helmets with the best ballistic helmet rankings ensure that they carry NIJ and MIL-STD certifications. However how do the helmets acquire these certifications from authorities organizations?
For producers to verify their ballistic helmets earn totally different authorities certifications, the helmets should undergo a wide range of exams together with blunt affect testing helmets. For NIJ certifications, the helmet endures ballistic testing particularly. MIL-STD certifications contain environmental exams.
NIJ Certification Testing:
NIJ certification consists of a wide range of exams that may be carried out at totally different labs together with the Nationwide Technical Methods. When deeming helmets as ballistic safety, labs will check the fabric the helmet is made from for ballistic and stab resistance.
Laboratories will use totally different expertise like high-speed video, FARO laser scanners, Oehler chronographs, and Dopplar radars to seize, measure, and perceive if a fabric is ballistic proof. Excessive-speed video on the NTS facility features a Phantom 7.2 that may document at 250,000 frames per second and a Phantom V312 that data at speeds as much as 500,000 frames per second.
The video and pictures can present insights that “…develop extra highly effective and efficient merchandise”. The dopplar radar and oehler chronographs measure the velocity of affect. Lastly, the FARO laser scanners make exact measurements at intervals as small as 0.0006”.
They will even conduct affect exams involving resistance to penetration or RTP and helmet backface deformation or BFD. Each of those exams are recorded in clay; nevertheless, some exams together with the V50 testing measures with a metallic headform.
The NTS labs—the damaging materials testing industry-leaders—are primarily based in Wichita, Kansas and Chesapeake, Maryland. The professional engineers who conduct the exams on these life-saving merchandise are preserving American navy members and public security officers secure.
MIL-STD Testing:
In accordance with NTS or the Nationwide Technical Methods, “The MIL-STD-810 check methodology commonplace for environmental engineering concerns and laboratory exams is a publication of the US Division of Protection with contributions from the US Military, Air Pressure, and Navy in addition to the Institute of Environmental Sciences and Know-how (IEST) and the Shock and Vibration Data Evaluation Middle (SAVIAC)”.
MIL-STD certification consists of 14 totally different exams:
- Altitude
- Excessive Temperature/Low Temperature/Humidity
- Temperature Shock
- Photo voltaic Radiation
- Fungus
- Salt Fog Testing
- Sand and Mud Testing
- Explosive Environment
- Immersion
- Acceleration
- Vibration
- Shock
- Icing/Freezing Rain
Every of those exams embrace managed experiments to look at how the product responds to the totally different environmental exposures. Within the temperature resistance exams, the examiners will consider the “…risk of failures attributable to mechanical failures, materials degradation and parameter shifts”. Laboratories will use specialised chamber set ups to recreate these excessive temperature and humidity values.
One other environmental check consists of vibration. That is examined to make sure that a product can stand up to random vibration. It’s examined in labs the place they generate “…70,000 kilos of pressure with tandem shakers and as much as 45,000 kilos of pressure on a single shaker”.
For a ballistic helmet to undergo these rigorous exams, producers can know they’re offering a helmet that may stand up to environmental components even within the harshest climates. Furthermore, patrons might be at peace figuring out that the exams are backed by U.S. Division of Protection and the U.S. navy.
Conclusion:
The testing of ballistic fight helmets is a vital endeavor and step to producing secure gear. With NIJ rankings there’s a set commonplace of high quality—patrons together with the usmilitary and American cops can know that the helmets they’re carrying to guard their lives are every held to excessive testing certifications.
To study extra about ballistic helmets and the choices in the marketplace, learn extra right here.
DEANNA PARENTI is a Advertising and marketing Copywriter at Waveband Communications. Together with her expertise in essential communications, she helped security purchasers improve their group communication by means of the assistance of two-way equipment.
