ASTM E3192/E3192M-20

Standard Practice for Soft Armor Conditioning by Tumbling

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 U.S. Department of Justice standards for assessing the performance of ballistic-resistant torso body armor require conditioning of soft armor test items prior to ballistic testing.  
4.2 This practice method may be applicable for certification testing or for research and development testing.  
4.3 This practice has only been evaluated for ballistic-resistant body armor and has not been assessed for applicability to any other type of protective system.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice applies only to the conditioning of soft body armor via temperature, humidity, and tumbling exposure prior to ballistic resistance testing.  
1.2 This practice is intended for soft armor for law enforcement applications, and its purpose is to subject test items to conditions intended to provide some indication of the test item ability to withstand conditions of heat, moisture, and mechanical wear (folding and abrasion) that might be encountered during wear.  
1.2.1 This practice is not intended for soft armor to be used in military applications.  
1.3 In this practice, “other standards and specifications” and “unless specified elsewhere” refer to documents that require the use of this practice. Purchasers and other users are responsible for the “other standards and specifications” and for specifying any requirements that supersede those of this practice.  
1.4 Units—The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system are not necessarily exact equivalents; therefore, to ensure conformance with the standard, each system shall be used independently of the other, and values from the two systems shall not be combined.  
1.5 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.  
1.6 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: 31-Mar-2020
• 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: E3192/E3192M − 20
Standard Practice for
1
Soft Armor Conditioning by Tumbling
ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationE3192/E3192M;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyear
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.
1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents
2
1.1 This practice applies only to the conditioning of soft 2.1 ASTM Standards:
E3005 Terminology for Body Armor
body armor via temperature, humidity, and tumbling exposure
prior to ballistic resistance testing.
3. Terminology
1.2 This practice is intended for soft armor for law enforce-
3.1 The following terms from Terminology E3005 are
ment applications, and its purpose is to subject test items to
applicable: body armor, conditioning, controlled ambient, soft
conditions intended to provide some indication of the test item
armor, and test item.
ability to withstand conditions of heat, moisture, and mechani-
3.1.1 Within this standard, the definition for controlled
cal wear (folding and abrasion) that might be encountered
ambient from Terminology E3005 applies to any direct or
during wear.
indirect reference to controlled ambient, superseding refer-
1.2.1 This practice is not intended for soft armor to be used
enced standards that may have a different definition.
in military applications.
4. Significance and Use
1.3 In this practice, “other standards and specifications” and
“unless specified elsewhere” refer to documents that require
4.1 U.S. Department of Justice standards for assessing the
the use of this practice. Purchasers and other users are
performance of ballistic-resistant torso body armor require
responsible for the “other standards and specifications” and for
conditioning of soft armor test items prior to ballistic testing.
specifying any requirements that supersede those of this
4.2 This practice method may be applicable for certification
practice.
testing or for research and development testing.
1.4 Units—The values stated in either SI units or inch-
4.3 This practice has only been evaluated for ballistic-
pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The
resistantbodyarmorandhasnotbeenassessedforapplicability
values stated in each system are not necessarily exact equiva-
to any other type of protective system.
lents; therefore, to ensure conformance with the standard, each
system shall be used independently of the other, and values
5. Test Item Preparation
from the two systems shall not be combined.
5.1 The number of test items to be conditioned at one time
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
shall be specified in other standards and specifications.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
5.2 Test items shall be conditioned at controlled ambient for
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
at least 24 h prior to this procedure. This may be achieved in
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
a controlled laboratory environment, or if conditions in the
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
laboratory deviate from those specified, a chamber may be
1.6 This international standard was developed in accor-
used to create these conditions.
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the 5.3 The test items shall be stored flat prior to and following
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom- this procedure.
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
NOTE 1—Stacking of test items is permitted.
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
6. Laboratory Configuration and Equipment
6.1 Environmental Chamber:
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E54 on Homeland
Security Applications and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E54.04 on
2
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved April 1, 2020. Published April 2020. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 2019. Last previous edition approved in 2019 as E3192/E3192M – 19. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
DOI: 10.1520/E3192_E3192M-20. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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E3192/E3192M − 20
6.1.1 The environme
...

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: E3192/E3192M − 19 E3192/E3192M − 20
Standard Practice for
1
Soft Armor Conditioning by Tumbling
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E3192/E3192M; 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.
1. Scope
1.1 This practice applies only to the conditioning of soft body armor via temperature, humidity, and tumbling exposure prior
to ballistic resistance testing.
1.2 This practice is intended for soft armor for law enforcement applications, and its purpose is to subject test items to
conditions intended to provide some indication of the test item ability to withstand conditions of heat, moisture, and mechanical
wear (folding and abrasion) that might be encountered during wear.
1.2.1 This practice is not intended for soft armor to be used in military applications.
1.3 In this practice, “other standards and specifications” and “unless specified elsewhere” refer to documents that require the
use of this practice. Purchasers and other users are responsible for the “other standards and specifications” and for specifying any
requirements that supersede those of this practice.
1.4 Units—The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated
in each system are not necessarily exact equivalents; therefore, to ensure conformance with the standard, each system shall be used
independently of the other, and values from the two systems shall not be combined.
1.5 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.
1.6 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.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E3005 Terminology for Body Armor
E3078 Practice for Conditioning of Hard Armor Test Items
3. Terminology
3.1 The following terms from Terminology E3005 are applicable: body armor,conditioning,controlled ambient,soft armor, and
test item.
3.1.1 Within this standard, the definition for controlled ambient from Terminology E3005 applies to any direct or indirect
reference to controlled ambient, superseding referenced standards that may have a different definition.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 controlled ambient, n—conditions with temperature of 20.0 °C 6 5.6 °C [68 °F 6 10 °F] and 50 % 6 20 % relative
humidity (RH). Within this standard, this definition applies to any direct or indirect reference to controlled ambient. E3078
4. Significance and Use
4.1 U.S. Department of Justice standards for assessing the performance of ballistic-resistant torso body armor require
conditioning of soft armor test items prior to ballistic testing.
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E54 on Homeland Security Applications and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E54.04 on Personal
Protective Equipment (PPE).
Current edition approved May 1, 2019April 1, 2020. Published May 2019April 2020. Originally approved in 2019. Last previous edition approved in 2019 as
E3192/E3192M – 19. DOI: 10.1520/E3192_E3192M-19.10.1520/E3192_E3192M-20.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E3192/E3192M − 20
4.2 This practice method may be applicable for certification testing or for research and development testing.
4.3 This practice has only been evaluated for ballistic-resistant body armor and has not been assessed for applicability to any
other type of protective system.
5. Test Item Preparation
5.1 The number of test items to be conditioned at one time shall
...