How to Tell if Body Armor is NIJ Certified
When shopping for bulletproof vests, you’ll notice that many brands claim their products meet the strict standards set by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) for ballistic body armor. But just because a product has the NIJ logo slapped on it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s truly compliant with those standards. Unfortunately, some less-than-honest companies may use the NIJ logo on their armor labels, hoping customers will take it at face value.
So, how can you be sure that a company’s NIJ certification is the real deal? The good news is that the NIJ makes it easy for the public to verify these claims. The NIJ’s Compliant Product List is your go-to resource for checking if a manufacturer’s bulletproof vest is genuinely accredited.
This list provides detailed information, including threat levels, model designations, armor types, opening styles, size ranges, warranties, and the certification status (active or inactive) for every NIJ-certified vest available worldwide.
The Model Designation is an alphanumeric code that uniquely identifies a specific model. Sometimes, manufacturers will also use a more familiar product or marketing name to sell the vest after testing. The NIJ Model Designation should be listed on the label of whatever body armor you purchase, so you can cross-reference it with the Compliant Product List to confirm its legitimacy.
While there is a “gender” category in the Compliant Product List, the NIJ standard doesn’t directly address male, female, or gender-neutral armor as they relate to the wearer; instead, it focuses on planar vs. nonplanar panels. Typically, male armor panels are planar, while female panels are nonplanar, shaped to fit the female body. Gender-neutral armor panels are usually tested as planar armor, and hard armor plates are generally considered gender-neutral. For female users, the NIJ recommends being fitted for soft body armor specifically designed for women to ensure a proper fit.
Another factor to consider is how the armor is designed to be worn—whether it’s front-opening or attaches at the sides. The NIJ tests these designs separately, and the Compliant Product List will indicate how the armor was tested and how it’s meant to be worn.
The Model Status column on the list shows where the model currently stands:
- Active: The model is currently in production and compliant with the surveillance program.
- Suspended: The model’s compliance has been temporarily suspended, often in connection with an NIJ Advisory Notice.
- Inactive: The model is no longer in production. While existing models are still considered compliant, they aren’t part of the Follow-up Inspection and Testing (FIT) program.
For example, BulletSafe’s certification details, along with the company’s headquarters address and customer service information, can be found in the NIJ database here.