Armor and Protection
What Does Level I Armor Mean? Old NIJ Type I vs CE Level 1
Level I armor was the lowest NIJ ballistic rating (.22 LR, .380 ACP), dropped in 2008. CE Level 1 on riding armor is a different, impact rating.
"Level I" armor means the lowest rating in the old US ballistic standard: NIJ Type I, which was tested against .22 LR and .380 ACP handgun bullets. NIJ removed Type I in its 2008 standard, so no current NIJ armor carries it. On motorcycle gear, "Level 1" is a different rating: the basic impact level under the European EN 1621 standard.
Both are covered in our armor and protective gear hub.
NIJ Type I (Level I) body armor
Type I was first issued in an NIJ project in 1975. The 2000 standard called it the minimum protection any officer should have. Its label also had to warn that it would not stop rifle fire.
NIJ dropped it because more powerful handgun threats had become common and police duty weapons had grown more powerful. The lowest NIJ level after that was IIA. NIJ 0101.07 (2023) renamed the levels again, to HG1, HG2, RF1, RF2 and RF3.
So armor sold today as "Level I" is not rated under a current NIJ standard. Ask which standard and edition the seller means.
| Rating | Tested against | Status | Fact |
|---|---|---|---|
| NIJ Type I | .22 LR lead round nose, 2.6 g (40 gr), at up to 320 m/s (1050 ft/s); .380 ACP full metal jacket, 6.2 g (95 gr), at up to 312 m/s (1025 ft/s) | In NIJ Standard 0101.04 (2000) | – |
| Removed | - | Dropped in NIJ Standard 0101.06 (2008) | – |
CE Level 1 motorcycle armor
In riding gear, Level 1 is the lower of two EN 1621 impact levels. Lower transmitted force means more protection.
Level 1 armor is usually thinner and lighter; Level 2 protects more. For a soft protector sold at both CE levels, see what D3O armor is.
In this short clip from Motorcyclist Magazine, a back-protector maker's representative explains the Level 1 (18 kN) and Level 2 (9 kN) back protector limits. He mentions five impacts per test, while our written sources give other counts, so treat the number of strikes as unsettled.
| Protector | Level 1 | Level 2 | Fact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Limb (EN 1621-1) | Average below 35 kN, no strike over 50 kN | Average 20 kN or less, no strike over 30 kN | – |
| Back (EN 1621-2) | Average below 18 kN, no strike over 24 kN | Average below 9 kN, no strike over 12 kN | – |
Which one is meant?
Look at the context. Police and ballistic vests use NIJ ratings. Jackets, pants and protectors for riders use EN 1621 levels. Many Leather Collection motorcycle jackets have shoulder and elbow armor pockets. The armor supplied varies by style, so check each product's specifications.
For other kinds of armor, see types of armor and their uses.
HitKB Editorial Team
HitKB articles are researched from published sources, cited in the text, and reviewed before publication.