The German Schutzklasse standard is unknown to the most, as we in a country like Denmark we make great use of the American NIJ standard and British HOSDB standard. There are major and significant differences between NIJ and the German Schutz class standard edition 2008, as the German standard is designed for the European (German market) and the US NIJ standard has focus on the United States. This gives very good meaning, as we have different gun types and therefore the threat level is different.
The German SK1 standard focuses on 9 mm shots, where various types of the 9 mm tests are tested, including DM41 SR, QD-PEP and Action 4 RUAG, where the NIJ standard only tests against 1 type 9 mm.
In addition, the German SK standard also requires wet testing at a distance of 0 meters. This applies to the protection levels SK L and SK1. This is not part of the American NIJ standard, which, on the other hand, is part of the FBI body armor test, which is a test with even more severe requirements than the NIJ standard and the Schutzklasse standard edition 2008.
Protection levels for German Schutzklasse standard edition 2008
- The depth of the shot cannot exceed 42 mm for all protection levels
Bullet proof vests tested and designed for the German standard must at least have a 10-year guarantee. They need to be sealed with a cover that is moisture and water repellent. Note that you do not perform a water test according to the German standard, but it is a requirement that the body armor is water proof.
When using or developing a new ballistic material, you can get "dispensation" and offer only a 5-year warranty.
Many manufacturers say that the German SK1 and NIJ IIIA standards are the same. However, according to our experience, it is easier to pass the SK1 test than a full NIJ IIIA test, as the .44 magnum is much stronger than the 9mm bullets, and therefore SK1 vests are often thinner and lighter than a NIJ IIIA bullet proof vest.
You can read more about our bullet proof vest by clicking here.
We will publicly show your name and comment on this website. Your email is to ensure that the author of this post can get back to you. We promise to keep your data safe and secure.