When it comes to protecting you or your team, you need the best body armor available. The most advanced level of protection is level 4 body armor. To be certified as Level 4 body armor, the product must meet a set of standards that ensure it can withstand high-powered rounds and other projectiles. Let’s take a look at what these standards really mean for those who purchase and use Level 4 body armor.

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is the main organization responsible for setting body armor standards in the US. The NIJ sets six different levels of certification for body armor ranging from Level I to Level IV. Of these levels, Level IV is the highest level that provides protection against high-powered rounds and certain penetration weapons such as rifles and shotguns. In order to be certified as a Level IV product, manufacturers must undergo rigorous testing to demonstrate that their product meets or exceeds the NIJ’s performance standards.

In regards to ballistic performance, all Level 4 products must have been tested using either .30 caliber M2 AP or .30 caliber M855 AP rounds at a velocity of 2,880 feet per second (fps). Anybody looking to purchase a certified Level 4 product should make sure that it has been tested with one of those two rounds at that velocity since any other round will not be considered within NIJ’s standards. Additionally, any product claiming to provide “Level 4 protection” without meeting these criteria should be avoided because it does not meet NIJ’s requirements for certification as a Level 4 product.

As far as blunt force trauma protection is concerned, all products must pass an attenuation test which measures how well they absorb shock when subjected to blunt impacts such as punches and kicks.. This test requires that all Certified Level 4 products must reduce the peak acceleration experienced upon impact by no less than 20%. Only then will they receive certification from the NIJ and become approved for use in tactical operations or by law enforcement personnel.

When shopping around for level 4 body armor, make sure you understand the standards set by the NIJ before making your purchase. All certified level four body armors must meet strict requirements when it comes to both ballistic performance and blunt force trauma protection in order to qualify for certification from the NIJ. If you buy level four body armor without this certification, then it doesn’t provide any guarantee of quality or protection – so make sure you always check before purchasing! With this information in mind, you can confidently choose a quality level 4 body armor for yourself or your team knowing that it meets all necessary safety requirements.

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