Standards and Testing Program

Debra StoePhysical Scientist

Body Armor and Standards and Testing Program

October 21, 2009

National Institute of Justice

Agenda

• Introduction to the National Institute of Justice (NIJ)

• NIJ Standard Development Process

• Summary of Standards Under Development or

Revision

NIJ’s Mission

• Research, development and evaluation arm of the Department of

Justice

• Advances scientific research, development, and evaluation

– to enhance the criminal justice (CJ) system

– to increase public safety

• Emphasis on State and local practitioner needs

• Committed to scientific process of open competition, peer-

review, publication of reports and archiving data

NIJ’s OrganizationNIJ Director

Dr. John Laub(nominated)

Office of Research & EvaluationAngela Parmley-Moore, Acting Deputy

Director

Office of Science& TechnologyChris Tillery, Associate Deputy Director

International Center

Crime Control & Prevention Research

Division

Justice Systems Research Division

Operational Technologies

Division

Information & Sensor Technologies Division

Investigative & Forensic Sciences

Division

Violence & Victimization Research Division

NIJ Deputy DirectorKristina Rose

NIJ Deputy DirectorDr. Ellen Scrivner

NIJ Standards for Law Enforcementand Corrections Equipment

Purpose:

• Establish minimum design (weight / size) and performance requirements for

equipment and define tests methods to measure performance

Benefits:

• Provides the end user with performance information on key equipment

characteristics

• Allows comparison of products based on common testing and minimum

requirements

• Provides a level of confidence in a product’s fitness for use

Why are NIJ Standards Used?

• Manufacturers: Develop products that meet NIJ standards because of

grant funding tied to standards and law enforcement procurement

requirements specifying certified products

• Purchasers: Specify and buy products that meet NIJ standards because of

grant funding requirements and the need for confidence in performance

Notes:

• NIJ Standards are voluntary

• No regulatory authority to compel conformity

NIJ Standard Development ProcessPrevious Process:

• NIJ funded technical partners to develop standard; practitioner involvement was

limited.

• Sometimes conformity assessment requirements were established. (Example:

Body Armor Compliance Testing Program)

• Sometimes users’ guides were developed.

New Process:

• Practitioners, technical experts, and stakeholder organizations collaborate.

• Conformity assessment requirements always established.

• Selection and Application Guides always developed.

• Basic flow chart on next 2 slides.

NIJ Standards Development Process

1. Need identified

through Technology

Working Groups,

stakeholder groups, or

practitioners.

2. NIJ evaluates

need and

determines path

forward.

4. NIJ establishes a

Special

Technical

Committee.

5. Committee

works to develop

draft documents

over ~ 6 months.

6. Draft documents

posted for public

review and

comment on

www.justnet.org.

3. NIJ convenes

practitioner group

to develop

operational needs

and requirements.

NIJ Standards Development Process(continued)

8. NIJ has any

necessary

validation testing

performed.

9. NIJ reviews and

publishes

documents.

10.Conformity

assessment

begins.

Standards Technology Working Group: Assists NIJ in

managing standards and revision cycles.

7. Committee

addresses

comments and

refines

documents.

Committees Involved

Special Technical Committee (STC)

Advisory Working Group (AWG)

Steering Committee (SC)

Special Technical CommitteeMembership:

• Law enforcement and corrections practitioners with relevant experience and

expertise

• Stakeholder organizations represented may include: FBOP, DEA, FOP,

IACP, NSA, NTOA, LAPD, NYPD.

• Technical experts (engineers, scientists, test labs, conformity assessment

bodies, standards development organizations)

• No manufacturers allowed on the STC

NIJ and other support:

• Facilitator, NIJ PM and technical support, editors/note takers

Timeframe:

• ~ 12 months meeting once per month for 2 days

Advisory Working Group (AWG)

• Provides oversight/guidance to the STCs during standard development effort

• Senior-level personnel representing major stakeholder organizations, such as:

National Institute of Justice

National Institute of Standards and Technology/Office of Law Enforcement Standards

Department of Homeland Security

Fraternal Order of Police

National Tactical Officers Association

International Association of Chiefs of Police

National Sheriffs’ Association

American Correctional Association

Steering Committee

• Purpose is to provide overall direction of the effort and approve the

completed standard and related documents

• Consists of the following senior advisors:

NIJ Deputy Director for Science and Technology

Standards Executive, Department of Homeland Security Science &

Technology

Director, National Institute of Standards and Technology/Office of Law

Enforcement Standards

NIJ Standards: 3 Related Documents

1. Standard - Defines minimum design and performance requirements and test

methods to assess performance

2. Conformity Assessment Requirements – Details the requirements for

demonstrating that products conform to the standard

3. Selection and Application Guide - Provides information to assist law

enforcement and corrections agency decision-makers, procurement officials,

and end users; directly tied to 1 and 2

Standard

• Primary users: Manufacturers and test labs

• Contents:

• Chapter 1: Purpose, Scope, and Application

• Chapter 2: References

• Chapter 3: Definitions

• Chapter 4: Design Requirements

• Chapter 5: Performance Requirements

• Chapter 6: Test Methods

• Chapter 7: Labeling and Information

Ballistic Resistance of Personal Body ArmorNIJ Standard-0101.06

** This standard developed under previous process

Conformity Assessment RequirementsNIJ Restraints

Conformity Assessment Requirements

2010

• Ensures products are tested and meet the

requirements of the standard

• Requires ‘type testing’ in which samples are

initially tested for conformity to the standard

• Includes additional requirements for ongoing

factory surveillance and periodic follow-up testing

• Manufacturer’s Declaration of Conformity not

typically an NIJ option due to safety issues

Independent, Third-Party Certification or

Compliance Testing Program

Independent Oversight: Trust but

Verify

Conformity Assessment ExampleBody Armor Compliance Testing Program• Administered by NLECTC National the CT Program now follows

requirements of ISO/IEC Guide 65 – General requirements for operating a product compliance system

• Compliance Testing Program Document Series:– Posted on www.justnet.org/CTP– Body Armor CTP Administrative Manual– Ballistic Body Armor Applicant Instructions and Applicant Forms– Ballistics Test Laboratory Instructions, Application and Agreement– BA9000: NIJ Body Armor Quality Management Requirements

• Laboratory Accreditation and NIJ Approval

• Conformity Assessment Follow-up Testing

Laboratory Accreditation and NIJ Approval

• Test Laboratories must be accredited by the National Voluntary

Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP)

– Verifies that laboratories meet minimum quality requirements

and are capable of performing test methods consistently and

accurately

– Reduces inter-laboratory variability

• Laboratories must meet additional requirements to become NIJ-approved

– Ensures independent laboratory testing with no conflicts of interest

– Ensures all approved laboratories meet reporting requirements

Conformity Assessment Follow-up Testing

• Purpose is to ensure continued conformity of subsequent production

compliant armor.

• Involves periodic announced and unannounced sampling and re-testing

of production armor.

• Frequency of sampling and testing depends on the manufacturing

location’s having or not having a registered quality management

system – ISO 9001 and BA 9000 registration.

QMS Options Impacting Frequency

• Option 1: Manufacturing location does not have a registered QMS

based on ISO 9001 in conjunction with BA 9000.

Frequency: Sampling will be conducted 6 times within a 5 year

listing cycle for each manufacturing location on each model.

• Option 2: Manufacturing location have a registered QMS based on ISO

9001 in conjunction BA 9000.

Frequency: Sampling will be conducted 3 times within a 5 year

listing cycle for each manufacturing location on each model.

Follow-up Testing Requirements and Outcomes

• Requirements for passing the test:

2 armor sizes will be tested.

6 shot-testing for perforation.

No perforations allowed.

CTP-filed build sheet, follow-up

build sheet, and sample construction

must all be consistent.

• Numerous possible outcomes.

• NOTE: CTP reserves the right to deviate from the defined conformity assessment follow-

up actions at any time that circumstances warrant such deviation.

Manufacturer

I IA 6

I I 16

I I IA 12

I I I 0IV 0

Male 16Female 3Neutral 15

C1-C5 12C2-C5 22

Threat

Gender

Size

www.justnet.org

Current Numbers

NIJ Compliant Products List

Selection and Application Guide

Contents may include:

• Non-technical description of the NIJ standard and

conformity assessment process

• Types/Categories of equipment

• Example scenarios for use of the equipment

• Guidance on procurement, selection, use,

maintenance, care and disposal of equipment

• Recommended Training

NIJ Restraints Selection and

Application Guide

2010

Purpose:

• Provides information to assist law enforcement and corrections agency

decision-makers, procurement officials, and end users

• Directly linked to the standard and conformity assessment requirements

Other Standards in Progress

Electronic MonitoringStandard

Hand Held and Walk Through Metal Detectors Standards

CBRN Protective Ensemble Standard

Restraints Standard

Bomb Suit Standard

Holster Standard

NIJ Standards and Testing Program ManagerNIJ Body Armor Program Manager

Debra Stoedebra.stoe@usdoj.gov

Questions?