Understanding Armor Levels in Vehicles: NIJ, CEN, and VPAM Standards Explained

The term ‘armor levels’ is closely related to armored vehicles and it refers to the specific degrees of protection a vehicle offers against various types of threats, such as bullets and explosives.

These levels are defined standards established by government bodies that refer to the thickness of steel armor and ballistic glass, and their ability to protect against various projectiles, guiding manufacturers and buyers when selecting the armor for their needs. Understanding these armor levels is crucial for buyers and those seeking personal security, as selecting the right level of protection is paramount and can save lives.

In this article, we’ll go through the most common standards in the United States and Europe and a short guide on choosing the correct Alpine armored vehicle for yourself.

Breakdown of Vehicle Armor Levels

Before we answer any further questions, let’s first go through different standards when it comes to body armor and armored vehicles in the United States and Europe.

NIJ Levels (Common Reference in Armored Vehicles)

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is the research, evaluation, and technology agency. It is focused on improving knowledge and understanding of crime and justice issues through science and is the agency of the Department of Justice (DOJ) in the United States.

NIJ sets standards for the different protection and communications equipment used by law enforcement agencies, including ballistic armor for vehicles and personal protection. This agency also created standards for body armor.

Here are the levels of protection in ballistic-resistant equipment according to NIJ standards:

• HG1 - This level of armor can stop 9mm Luger FMJ/RN and .357 Mag JSP bullets. It doesn’t offer protection from a rifle.
• HG2- The armor level can stop 9mm Luger FMJ/RN and .44 Magnum JHP bullets. Same as level HG1, it doesn’t offer rifle protection.
• RF1 - The level of armor can stop 7.62x51mm M80 Ball NATO, 5.56mm M193, and 7.62x39mm MSC Ball Ammunition. This level offers the highest handgun-only protection.
• RF2- Unlike the previous models, this one can stop 7.62x51mm M80 Ball and 7.62x39mm MSC Ball Ammunition. Also, it stops the 5.56mm M193 and M855. Some Level III plates include ceramic/metallic face plates, but not all
• RF3 - This is the highest armor protection level that can stop 30.06 M2 AP.

Notes on 5.56mm/.223 Ammunition:

1. Lead Core Rounds (JHP - Jacketed Hollow Point) - This type of ammunition is used for hunting and target shooting, and it can be stopped by Level III armor.
2. Steel/Partial Steel Core Rounds (Green Tip/M855) - This is military-grade ammunition that requires Level IV armor for reliable protection.

European and International Armoring Standards

In the following sections, we’ll go through the international standards and the ones that are applied in Europe.

CEN (Comité Européen de Normalisation)

EN 1063, also known as CEN 1063, is a security glazing standard developed by the European Committee for Standardization to assess the ballistic strength of bullet-resistant glass. The strength of glazed shielding is rated based on the type of munitions, velocity, or threat levels it can withstand.

There are seven main standard threat levels - BR1 to BR7 (or B1 to B7), each corresponding to a different type of small firearm. The testing procedure involves firing three shots in a 120mm triangular pattern.

• FB/BR4: This level of protection is designed to stop handguns such as the 9mm Luger, .357 Magnum, and .44 Remington Magnum.
• FB/BR4+: This unofficial protection level is used for armored cars and protects against AK-style rifles. It falls between the B4 and B5 levels but is not an official EN standard.
• FB/BR5: This level is intended for armoring cars and provides protection against AR-style rifles.
• FB/BR6: The B6 protection level, commonly used by law enforcement agencies, defends against battle rifles.
• FB/BR7: This highest level of protection, also used by law enforcement agencies, is capable of stopping piercing machine gun fire.

VPAM Armor Standard in Europe (Association of Test Centers for Bullet & Blast Resistant Materials)

VPAM armor standards offer a BRV (Ballistic Resistant Vehicle) & ERV (Explosive Resistant Vehicle) Test in a much more thorough and hardened testing cycle than the NIJ or CEN Material Testing VPAM offers VR (Vehicle Resistant) Levels from a scale from 1 to 14. 14 VPAM standards apply, but only in some countries in Europe (France and Britain):

• VPAM BRV VR1 - It offers protection against .22 long rifle
• VPAM BRV VR2 - It offers protection against a 9mm Luger handgun
• VPAM BRV VR3 - It can withstand the 9mm Luger submachine gun
• VPAM BRV VR4 - Offers protection against .357 Magnum & .44 Rem. Magnum revolvers
• VPAM BRV VR5 - This level of protection can withstand the .357 Magnum
• VPAM BRV VR6 - It offers protection against 7.62x39 rifle
• VPAM BRV VR7 - The minimum required steel thickness for this level of protection is 7.5mm. It offers protection against .223 Rem & .308 Win rifles
• VPAM BRV VR8 - The minimum required steel thickness for this level of protection is 12.5mm. It can withstand weapons of 7.62x39 caliber.
• VPAM BRV VR9 - The minimum required steel thickness for this level of protection is 14.5mm. This level of protection can protect against .308 Win of 7.62x51 caliber.
• VPAM BRV VR10 - The minimum required steel thickness for this level of protection is 18mm. This level of protection is good for weapons of 7.62x54 R caliber.

Why Is Understanding Armor Levels Important?

In order to better understand the importance of armor levels, here are some points to think about:

• Matching the Threat to Protection — First, you have to think about the type of threats you may encounter and what type of weapons may be used.
• Cost vs. Necessity — After you think about what kind of threats you may face, you should start thinking about what materials you need and what exactly you need from the equipment. Most importantly, you should consider the cost of the equipment you really need. For example, if you aren’t facing highly risky situations, you don’t need the largest vehicle with the highest level of protection in an armored vehicle.
• Weight and Mobility Considerations — Another important factor that you should consider is the weight of the equipment and how it affects the overall performance. For example, a lower level armored Sedan provides a better balance between protection and maintaining vehicle mobility and speed, while higher level armored SUVs could be an option if you need more protection and space but are willing to sacrifice some vehicle mobility.

Common Applications of Armor Levels

Here is the list of common applications of armored vehicles in real situations:

1. Law Enforcement Agencies — Police and law enforcement agencies use armored personnel carriers for tactical operations, controlling riots, and transporting units in high-risk situations.
2. Diplomats — Diplomatic missions, government officials including embassies and consulates, often use armored vehicles to transport diplomats and officials in high-risk areas.
3. Cash-in-Transit Services — Armored vehicles are often utilized for transporting cash and other valuables, specifically for armored cash-in-transit services provided by banks, security firms, or government agencies.
4. Celebrities, Public Figures and Company Executives — Some public figures, company executives, and celebrities choose to buy armored vehicles for their personal security, particularly if facing potential security threats.
5. Humanitarian Organizations — Organizations in humanitarian work in conflict zones could use armored vans or armored specialty vehicles to transport people, supplies, and aid.
6. Individuals in High-Risk Situations — Individuals who may be in high-risk situations, conflict zones, or those working in dangerous environments, may decide to get an armored vehicle for personal safeguard.

How to Choose the Right Armor Level for Your Needs

Selecting the right protection level involves considering various factors:

Threat Level When assessing the threat level, several things should be considered, such as individual circumstances and geography. For example, celebrities traveling in urban areas may only need protection against smaller firearms would require a lower level of armoring like Alpine Level A4 (CEN BR4 / NIJ HG2), while government officials in high-risk areas may require protection against machine guns and other military-grade weapons and benefit from higher levels, such as Alpine Level A9 (CEN BR6+ / NIJ RF2) .

Budget After establishing the situations you may encounter, the most crucial aspect is how much you can afford to spend on an armored vehicle. The cost of an armored vehicle is heavily dependent on the specific base vehicle used, level of protection, and additional features, easily doubling or tripling the actual price of the vehicle. . While it is a significant investment, the protection and security it offers can be invaluable.

Vehicle Type Knowing how much you can afford and for what type of situations you need an armored vehicle, you will be presented with some choices. Keep in mind that a higher protection level vehicle weighs more, affecting the vehicle's performance. So, think about what is necessary from the equipment for you regarding the overall performance.

Consulting with Experts In case you aren’t sure what armor level is right for you, our team of experienced experts can assist you with identifying the right protection level and customize the right armored vehicle to meet your specific needs.

Vehicle Armor Levels: Final Words

Understanding the different armor standards and levels is important when selecting the appropriate protection level in armored vehicles.

The crucial aspects to consider when choosing armor for a vehicle include matching the protection to the specific threats you may face, balancing cost with necessity, and factoring in the impact of weight on mobility. Some examples of armored vehicles include those used by law enforcement agencies, diplomats, cash-in-transit services, and high-risk individuals.

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) standards in the U.S. and the CEN standards in Europe offer material certifications, while the VPAM standards provide the highest certified levels of protection for Blast & Ballistic standards. Alpine Armoring is is the only high-quality custom-manufacturer of armored vehicles whose tested vehicles not only passed by VPAM VR7 (BRV & ERV Certified Testing), but also by the US Army (Aberdeen Proving Ground - APG/ATC) Testing requirements for Armored Vehicles (Blast & Ballistic Testing).

Choosing the right armor level requires an assessment of threat levels, budget, and vehicle performance. Contact the experts @ Alpine Armoring about tailoring solutions to your specific needs.