When working with body armor, it’s important to know how it works and how it’s rated. While most people equate body armor with heavy metal vests, today’s body armor is quite different. A body armor vest is soft and created from fibers that are flexible enough to be worn under regular clothes.
So how is body armor rated? Nothing is fail-safe, but there are different levels of protection when wearing a bulletproof vest. There are five levels determined by the U.S. National Institute of Justice (NIJ). These levels are IIA, II, IIIA, III, and IV. The higher the level, the stronger the armor.
Tactical body armor
When a tactical armor suit is used, chances are it’s for military or law enforcement-related activities. This is usually hard armor at Level III or IV. These are hard plates, designed to withstand powerful bullets, like those shot from a rifle. When serious threats arise, you’ll see teams in tactical full-body armor protect themselves from the threat. A tactical body armor suit is heavy, so training is necessary to learn how to handle the armor and weapons being carried.
Body armor vest
Body armor vests are very useful, especially for law enforcement. They are consistently in threatened environments on a day-to-day basis. It is expensive to make these vests because of the protective materials. Over time, the body armor vest has evolved, but it is still one of the first lines of defense for law enforcement and tactical teams.
Body armor is always being tested to determine if they can find new alternatives to creating a stronger, but less expensive product. Biosteel is new on the market and is created out of spider silk. The good thing about this is its strength, which is much stronger than normal steel.
3D designs are also being developed, and better solutions for female body armor to provide the best protection. Due to the demand for these vests that offer superior protection, there are many issues in the body armor manufacturing industry. The good news is that as these new developments continue, body armor is lighter and easier to maneuver in. They are cooler and work with or without additional clothing.
This is good news for military, law enforcement, and security personnel who rely on the use of body armor to protect others, as well as themselves.
Contact Kontek Industries
Working with a tactical body armor carrier can assist in outfitting your law enforcement, security, and tactical teams with the best solutions. As a provider of products for security & defense, critical infrastructure, and custom fabrication, our goal is to ensure you have what you need with the highest levels of protection available. Kontek Industries specializes in Armor Express, one of the largest global suppliers when it comes to protection and armor solutions.
We strive to be the best at what we do. For more information on how we can assist your teams in training and protective armor solutions, contact an agent at Kontek Industries today.
