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Standards & certifications

This page details the NIJ 0101.07 standard in particular, the worldwide reference for the certification of ballistic protection products, and provides an overview of other ballistic and fire standards.

The standard

The NIJ (National Institute of Justice) is the US agency that publishes the reference standard for the certification of bulletproof vests.

NIJ 0101.07, published on November 30, 2023, replaces NIJ 0101.06 (2008). It introduces more realistic test conditions — varied firing angles, different barrel lengths — and now separates threat levels (new companion standard NIJ 0123.00) from test methods (0101.07).

It also improves test protocols for vests designed for female body shapes.

Body
National Institute of Justice (US)
Replaced standard
NIJ 0101.06 (2008)
Publication date
November 30, 2023
Companion standard
NIJ 0123.00 (threat levels)
Nomenclature
HG1, HG2, RF1, RF2, RF3
0101.06 list validity
Maintained until end of 2027

Timeline

  1. 1972

    Birth of the standard

    First US standard for police bulletproof vests.

  2. 2005

    The wake-up call

    A failing material (Zylon) involved in police officer deaths forces a complete overhaul of testing.

  3. 2008

    NIJ 0101.06

    The reference standard for 15 years, still the most widespread today.

  4. 2023

    NIJ 0101.07

    The current standard, stricter and more realistic.

Summary of revisions

StandardYearDefined levelsMain change
NIJ 0101.001972I, IIA, II, IIIA, III, IVFirst ballistic standard for police vests
NIJ 0101.011978I, IIA, II, IIIA, III, IVFirst formalized test protocol
NIJ 0101.021985I, IIA, II, IIIA, III, IVAddition of 30° incidence shots
NIJ 0101.031987I, IIA, II, IIIA, III, IVDoubled sampling, tightened velocity ranges
NIJ 0101.042000IIA, II, IIIA, III, IVModernized threats; Level I dropped (Rev. A, 2001)
Interim requirements2005—Zylon withdrawn after in-service failure
NIJ 0101.062008IIA, II, IIIA, III, IVFull environmental conditioning, extended testing
NIJ 0101.07 / 0123.002023HG1, HG2, RF1, RF2, RF3New nomenclature, new requirements, female body shapes

Protection scale

HG1formerly Level II
Handguns — standard
9mm FMJ, .357 Magnum
HG2formerly Level IIIA
Handguns — extended
Fast 9mm FMJ, .44 Magnum JHP
RF1formerly Level III
Rifle — standard
7.62×51 M80, 5.56 M193, 7.62×39 steel
RF2new
Rifle — extended
RF1 threats + 5.56 M855 "green tip"
RF3formerly Level IV
Rifle — armor-piercing
.30-06 AP (armor-piercing)

Legend: indicative reference ammunition. Full protocols are defined in NIJ 0123.00.

0101.06 vs 0101.07 comparison

Former levelNew levelThreat typeNote
Level IIA——Removed
Level IIHG19mm FMJ, .357 MagnumTest ammunition unchanged
Level IIIAHG2Fast 9mm FMJ, .44 Magnum JHP.357 SIG removed, replaced by a faster 9mm shot
Level IIIRF17.62×51 M80, 5.56 M193, 7.62×39 steelCovers 3 threats without the M855
—RF2RF1 threats + 5.56 M855 "green tip"Entirely new level
Level IVRF3.30-06 AP (armor-piercing)Maximum protection, equivalent to former Level IV

Vests certified to 0101.06 remain valid: the list is maintained by the NIJ at least until the end of 2027.

Frequently asked questions

+Is my IIIA vest as good as an HG2?
In practice, a IIIA vest certified to 0101.06 remains compliant with its original level. HG2 is close but tests a higher-velocity 9mm and drops the .357 SIG; it represents the new standard for the same class of use.
+Why was RF2 created?
To cover the 5.56 M855 ("green tip") threat, which was not properly addressed by Level III / RF1 without jumping straight to the heavier Level IV / RF3.
+Should I choose a 0101.06 or 0101.07 product?
A 0101.07 product is the current benchmark and benefits from more realistic test protocols. A 0101.06 product still listed by the NIJ remains compliant until the end of 2027: choose it only if budget or logistics constraints require it.

Educational content. Please refer to the technical data sheets.