ASTM E3004-22

Standard Specification for Preparation and Verification of Clay Blocks Used in Ballistic-Resistance Testing of Torso Body Armor

ABSTRACT
This specification describes a standardized method for preparation and verification of backing assemblies used in ballistic-resistant torso body armor testing and for reducing variability within and between laboratories. Included in this specification are the equipment used for preparation and verification of clay blocks, namely: backing fixture, backing fixture liner, bridge gauge, conditioning chamber, impactor, striking device, template, test setup, and velocity measurement equipment.
This specification also covers procedures for characterization of clay block verification test setup, clay block preparation, clay block verification procedure prior to ballistic testing, clay block repair, clay block verification between test items, and clay block verification after final shot on clay block.
SCOPE
1.1 The purpose of this specification is to provide standardized methods for preparation and verification of backing assemblies used in ballistic-resistant torso body armor testing and to reduce variability within and between laboratories.  
1.2 The backing assembly is a clay block that contains ROMA Plastilina No. 1®2 clay as the backing material. The clay serves as a witness material and provides a measurable indication of test item performance.  
1.3 This specification identifies two clay-verification impactors that may be used: (1) cylindrical and (2) spherical. Purchasers and other users will specify the clay-verification impactor to be used.  
1.4 This specification is primarily directed toward test laboratories but may be applicable to body armor manufacturers, researchers, and end users performing ballistic-resistance testing of body armor.  
1.5 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to non-SI units that are provided for information only.  
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.7 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 30-Sep-2022
• ICS: 13.310 - Protection against crime
• ICS: 13.340.01 - Protective equipment in general
• Technical Committee: E54 - Homeland Security Applications
• Drafting Committee: E54.04 - Public Safety Equipment

Relations

• Refers: ASTM E3005-20 - Standard Terminology for Body Armor
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2020

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation:E3004 −22
Standard Specification for
Preparation and Verification of Clay Blocks Used in
1
Ballistic-Resistance Testing of Torso Body Armor
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E3004; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
At the time when work on this specification was undertaken, different ballistic-resistant body armor
test protocols required different impactors for verification of the clay blocks placed behind the test
items, and the lack of detailed guidance about the clay blocks resulted in different practices for
preparation and verification. To improve laboratory-to-laboratory consistency, major stakeholders
sought to harmonize practices related to the preparation and verification of the clay blocks used for
testing of ballistic-resistant body armor.
1. Scope 1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
1.1 The purpose of this specification is to provide standard-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
ized methods for preparation and verification of backing
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
assemblies used in ballistic-resistant torso body armor testing
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
and to reduce variability within and between laboratories.
1.7 This international standard was developed in accor-
1.2 The backing assembly is a clay block that contains
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
2
ROMA Plastilina No. 1® clay as the backing material. The
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
clay serves as a witness material and provides a measurable
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
indication of test item performance.
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
1.3 Thisspecificationidentifiestwoclay-verificationimpac- Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
tors that may be used: (1) cylindrical and (2) spherical.
Purchasers and other users will specify the clay-verification 2. Referenced Documents
impactor to be used.
3
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.4 This specification is primarily directed toward test
E3005 Terminology for Body Armor
laboratories but may be applicable to body armor
4
2.2 NIST Standard:
manufacturers, researchers, and end users performing ballistic-
NIST Special Publication 330 The International System of
resistance testing of body armor.
Units (SI), 2008 Edition, Barry N. Taylor and Ambler
1.5 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded
Thompson, Editors
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
conversions to non-SI units that are provided for information
3. Terminology
only.
3.1 The terms and definitions of Terminology E3005 apply
for the following terms: backing assembly, backing fixture,
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E54 on
Homeland Security Applications and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
3
E54.04 on Public Safety Equipment. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2022. Published October 2022. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 2015. Last previous edition approved in 2020 as E3004 – 20a. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/E3004-22. the ASTM website.
2 4
U.S. Government standards require ROMA Plastilina No. 1®, from Sculpture Available from National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), 100
House, Inc., as the backing material for ballistic-resistance testing. Bureau Dr., Stop 1070, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-1070, http://www.nist.gov.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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E3004−22
backing material, bridge gauge, clay block, clay package, coming into contact with the plywood. The liner shall be
clay-verification impactor, depth gauge, striking device, and placed against the plywood bottom of the backing fixture and
test item. shall not extend up the inside surfaces of the metal frame.
NOTE 1—The backing fixture liner is intended to be a barrier between
4. Significance and Use
the clay and the plywood and may be sheeting, a coating (for example,
4.1 U.S. Department of D
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: E3004 − 20a E3004 − 22
Standard Specification for
Preparation and Verification of Clay Blocks Used in
1
Ballistic-Resistance Testing of Torso Body Armor
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E3004; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
At the time when work on this specification was undertaken, different ballistic-resistant body armor
test protocols required different impactors for verification of the clay blocks placed behind the test
items, and the lack of detailed guidance about the clay blocks resulted in different practices for
preparation and verification. To improve laboratory-to-laboratory consistency, major stakeholders
sought to harmonize practices related to the preparation and verification of the clay blocks used for
testing of ballistic-resistant body armor.
1. Scope
1.1 The purpose of this specification is to provide standardized methods for preparation and verification of backing assemblies
used in ballistic-resistant torso body armor testing and to reduce variability within and between laboratories.
2
1.2 The backing assembly is a clay block that contains ROMA Plastilina No. 1® clay as the backing material. The clay serves
as a witness material and provides a measurable indication of test item performance.
1.3 This specification identifies two clay-verification impactors that may be used: (1) cylindrical and (2) spherical. Purchasers and
other users will specify the clay-verification impactor to be used.
1.4 This specification is primarily directed toward test laboratories but may be applicable to body armor manufacturers,
researchers, and end users performing ballistic-resistance testing of body armor.
1.5 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
conversions to non-SI units that are provided for information only.
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of
regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.7 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E54 on Homeland Security Applications and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E54.04 on
Personal ProtectivePublic Safety Equipment (PPE).
Current edition approved July 1, 2020Oct. 1, 2022. Published July 2020October 2022. Originally approved in 2015. Last previous edition approved in 2020 as
E3004 – 20.E3004 – 20a. DOI: 10.1520/E3004-20A.10.1520/E3004-22.
2
U.S. Government standards require ROMA Plastilina No. 1®, from Sculpture House, Inc., as the backing material for ballistic-resistance testing.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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E3004 − 22
2. Referenced Documents
3
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E3005 Terminology for Body Armor
4
2.2 NIST Standard:
NIST Special Publication 330 The International System of Units (SI), 2008 Edition, Barry N. Taylor and Ambler Thompson,
Editors
3. Terminology
3.1 The terms and definitions of Terminology E3005 apply for the following terms: backing assembly, backing fixture, backing
material, bridge gauge, clay block, clay package, clay-verification impactor, depth gauge, striking device, and test item.
4. Significance and Use
4.1 U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Department of Justice standards for assessing the performance of ballistic-resistant torso
body armor require the use of backing assemblies made with Roma Plastilina No. 1®. It can be demonstrated that the way the clay
block is handled prior to and during ballistic testing can have a significant influence on deformation of the clay when a test item
is struck by a projectile during testing.
4.2 At the time when work on this specification was undertaken, different ballistic-resistant body ar
...