Body Armor User Guide

This user guide is your information tool. It lists the many benefits of wearing armor, along with the few limitations of which you should be aware. It provides detailed safety information and lists specific instructions on the care and maintenance of body armour that will extend its effective usefulness.

Benefits of NFM Body Armor
Body armor saves lives and prevents serious injury from assaults and accidents as well as from ballistic threats. NFM’s body armor offers flexibility to the wearer in a number of ways:

• It is available in various levels of protection to accommodate the range of ballistic threats facing wearers up to armour piercing rifle rounds (including user’s own weapons and ammunition) as well as stab and stroke weapons
• It can be worn as a concealable undergarment; incorporated into a uniform shirt, vest, coat, or other type of outer garment; or worn over the uniform and easily recognizable.
• Many NFM models are available in a variety of coverage’s
• Protective panels can be removed from the carrier so the carrier can be thrown into the washing machine.
• Many different types of carrier materials are available.
• Purchasers can choose from several different types of protective materials (for example, Twaron®, Kevlar®, Artec®, Dyneema®, Spectra®)

No Armor Protects From All Threats
Although some restrictions apply, the advantages of wearing NFM body armor far outweigh any limitations.
Note the following restrictions:

• Soft body armor is not designed to protect against rifle bullets or edged or pointed weapons.
• Armor that incorporates ballistic plates designed to defeat rifle bullets offers protection only from rifle bullets that impact the limited areas covered by the plates. However, the soft armor supporting the plates will provide ballistic protection against handgun ammunition that the soft armor is labeled to defeat.
• Armor cannot be expected to provide adequate protection from ballistic threats that strike too close to the edge of an armor, or too close to another impact.
• To achieve protection against edged or pointed weapons the Special Protection inserts are available

Although raw materials manufacturers have recently come out with new fabrics that claim to be more comfortable, there generally is a tradeoff between comfort and protection. The higher the level of protection worn, the more layers of protective material and stitching are required, adding to armor’s weight and bulk.

Safety Instructions
Remember: NO BODY ARMOR IS BULLETPROOF. NFM rates armor in accordance to standard threat levels designated on armor’s label. Although body armor will generally protect against bullets identified by those specific threat levels, the armor could be penetrated if impacted by a bullet of a higher threat level. Remember, bullets may also penetrate armor when the impact is too close to the edge of the armor or too close to another impact.

Secondary projectiles
Hard objects of any kind should never be worn behind the ballistic panels of the body armour. Jewellery, crucifixes, pens, underwire bras or styles with metal or hard plastic fasteners in the front can become secondary projectiles when struck by a bullet, causing serious damage. There is not much point in the body armour stopping a bullet, only to have the crucifix or other object behind the impact area puncture a lung or embed itself in your chest cavity.

Follow these guidelines for safe use of your armor:

• Be sure to read the label on your armor. Familiarize yourself with its level of protection. Labels must identify designated levels of protection and warn if the armor does not protect against rifle fire or sharp-edged or pointed instruments.
• Read and retain for future reference any safety literature accompanying your armor.
• Follow care and maintenance instructions to ensure your armor’s intended performance (see “Care and Maintenance Manual”).
• Seek medical attention if you are shot while wearing your armor – even if the bullet does not penetrate. Although armor protects against blunt trauma from non-penetrating bullets, internal injuries requiring medical attention may still result.
• Replace your armor immediately if it has been impacted by a bullet or damaged in any way.
• Make sure your vest’s level of protection corresponds to the types of threats you face in the environment and that your vest protects against your service weapon and ammunition.
• Remember that proper fit aids in your armor’s effectiveness and comfort.
• Conduct visual inspections of your armor frequently.
• Become educated about proper cleaning methods (see “Care and Maintenance Manual”).
• Follow the inspection / replacement procedures recommended by NFM and your department.
• WEAR YOUR ARMOR.

It is hoped that in providing you with this guide, you can use the information to help extend the life of the armor that may one day save your life.