ASTM E3348/E3348M-22

Standard Guide for Body Armor for Non-Law Enforcement First Responders

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This guide is intended for non-law enforcement first responders facing increased exposure to scenes of violence where firearms or stabbing weapons may be used.  
4.2 The use and wear conditions are different than for law enforcement, requiring specialized guidance on types of body armor and their limitations, levels of protection, threat assessment, use and care, compatibility with other required protective gear, and training.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide provides information to non-law enforcement first responders for the selection and use of body armor.  
1.2 Non-law enforcement first responders, including but not limited to fire fighters, emergency medical service providers, fire investigators, and civilian/community response teams, require specialized guidance on types of body armor and their limitations, levels of protection, threat assessment, use and care, compatibility with other required protective gear, and training.  
1.3 This guide is directed to authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs) and all non-law enforcement first responders and their agency or department leadership.  
1.4 This guide is not intended for law enforcement and corrections personnel.  
Note 1: See NIJ SAG 0101.06.  
1.5 This guide is divided into the following sections:    
Section  
Title  
1  
Scope    
2  
Referenced Documents  
3  
Terminology    
4  
Significance and Use  
5  
Managing a Body Armor Program    
6  
Understanding Protection Levels    
7  
Selecting the Appropriate Body Armor    
8  
Sizing Body Armor to the End User(s)    
9  
Guidance on Purchasing    
10  
Verifying that Your Body Armor is NIJ Certified    
11  
Fit, Coverage, and Wear Guidance    
12  
Fire Fighter Guidance for Body Armor Use with Turnout Gear    
13  
Inspection, Care, and Maintenance    
14  
Keywords    
Annex A1  
Risk Assessment Guidance    
Appendix X1  
Body Armor Program Management Guidance  
Appendix X2  
Comparison of NIJ Ballistic Protection Levels  
Appendix X3  
General Federal Government Grant Programs    
1.6 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.  
1.6.1 The user of this standard will identify the system of units to be used, and it is critical to ensure that any cross-referenced standards maintain consistency of units between standards.  
1.7 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.  
1.8 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-May-2022
• ICS: 13.340.10 - Protective clothing
• 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
• Refers: ASTM E3003-20 - Standard Practice for Body Armor Wearer Measurement and Fitting of Armor
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-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: E3348/E3348M − 22
Standard Guide for
1
Body Armor for Non-Law Enforcement First Responders
ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationE3348/E3348M;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.
INTRODUCTION
Non-law enforcement first responders, such as fire fighters, emergency medical service providers,
and non-law enforcement fire investigators are facing increased exposure to scenes of violence, and,
since the early 2000s, many departments have required that ballistic-resistant body armor be worn on
emergency calls. Since 2018, the wearing and use of body armor has been required for fire and
emergency medical personnel when operating in a warm zone. For the past 40 years, law enforcement
officers have been wearing body armor and guidance has been provided to them by the National
Institute of Justice. The concern for other responders is that the use and wear conditions are different
than for law enforcement: different limitations of body armor, levels of protection, threat assessment,
use and care, compatibility with other required protective gear, and training. This guide provides
necessary information developed by a multi-discipline group of experts within a consensus process.
Those benefiting from this guide include all non-law enforcement responders and their agency/
department leadership.
1. Scope 1.5 This guide is divided into the following sections:
1.1 This guide provides information to non-law enforce-
ment first responders for the selection and use of body armor.
Section Title
1 Scope
1.2 Non-law enforcement first responders, including but not
2 Referenced Documents
limited to fire fighters, emergency medical service providers,
3 Terminology
4 Significance and Use
fire investigators, and civilian/community response teams,
5 Managing a Body Armor Program
require specialized guidance on types of body armor and their
6 Understanding Protection Levels
limitations, levels of protection, threat assessment, use and
7 Selecting the Appropriate Body Armor
8 Sizing Body Armor to the End User(s)
care, compatibility with other required protective gear, and
9 Guidance on Purchasing
training.
10 Verifying that Your Body Armor is NIJ Certified
11 Fit, Coverage, and Wear Guidance
1.3 This guide is directed to authorities having jurisdiction
12 Fire Fighter Guidance for Body Armor Use with Turnout Gear
(AHJs) and all non-law enforcement first responders and their
13 Inspection, Care, and Maintenance
agency or department leadership.
14 Keywords
Annex A1 Risk Assessment Guidance
1.4 This guide is not intended for law enforcement and
Appendix X1 Body Armor Program Management Guidance
Appendix X2 Comparison of NIJ Ballistic Protection Levels
corrections personnel.
Appendix X3 General Federal Government Grant Programs
NOTE 1—See NIJ SAG 0101.06.
1.6 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units
are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E54 on Homeland
each system are not necessarily exact equivalents; therefore, to
Security Applications and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E54.04 on
ensure conformance with the standard, each system shall be
Public Safety Equipment.
used independently of the other, and values from the two
Current edition approved June 1, 2022. Published June 2022. DOI: 10.1520/
E3348_E3348M-22. systems shall not be combined.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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E3348/E3348M − 22
1.6.1 The user of this standard will identify the system of 3.1.3.1 Discussion—Law enforcement and corrections offi-
units to be used, and it is critical to ensure that any cross- cers typically refer to body armor as a vest.
referenced standards maintain consistency of units between
3.1.4 carrier, n—a garment whose primary purpose is to
standards.
retain the armor panel(s) or plate(s) and provide a means of
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the supporting and securing the armor panel(s) or plate(s) to the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the wearer.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3.1.5 hard armor, n—an item of personal protective equip-
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
ment that is constructed of rigid materials and is intended to
m
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