Armor standards: EN 1063 and NIJ explained

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Armor standards: EN 1063 and NIJ explained

When someone offers "level 5" or "BR5", who verified it, and with what test? Standards exist so that an armor level is a measured result, not an opinion.

EN 1063: glass

The European standard EN 1063 classifies bullet-resistant security glass into levels BR1 to BR7 (handguns and rifles) and SG1 and SG2 (shotgun). The level indicates the caliber, bullet type and number of hits the glass must resist without dangerous fragments getting through. RGM Armor holds the EN 1063 BR5 certification.

NIJ: the US reference

The US National Institute of Justice (NIJ) publishes ballistic resistance standards with their own levels, widely used as an industry reference. Their levels are not one-to-one equivalents of EN 1063: comparing them requires checking caliber, bullet and velocity.

How it is tested

A sample of the material is placed on a test stand and shot with the weapons and ammunition in the standard, at set distances and angles. The hits are counted and the sample is checked to make sure the projectile does not go through or throw fragments inward.

What to ask for before armoring

Ask for the level in writing, the standard it was tested to, the material for each area and the test report. Also ask about the workshop's certifications. RGM Armor's are on About us.

Next step

With the standards clear, the next step is deciding which level you need. We explain it in how to choose an armor level.