Body armor
A body armor consists of a protective vest and additional protectors. It protects the police officer from mechanical violence such as blows, knife wounds or stone throwing as well as from chemical substances and flammable liquids.
Germany
The requirements for use by the German police are specified in the Technical Guideline (TR) body protection equipment of the Police Technical Institute. This prescribes the protection of the upper body, arms and legs (including the joints) as well as the abdomen. The protective helmet is not part of the body protection equipment according to TR.
Protective effect
According to TR, the "light version" must protect against an attack with an energy of up to 35 Nm and the "standard version" up to 100 Nm. Depending on the design, the protective effect or wearing comfort has priority.
35 Nm correspond to the kinetic energy of a mass of 1 kg which hits at a speed of approx. 30 km / h. However, since the (kinetic) energy alone does not allow any statement about the penetration behavior of the moving mass, the protective equipment is u. A. checked as follows:
- A falling body weighing 5 kg hits with a metal spike in front in free fall from a height of 0.7 m. (Energy 34 Nm)
- A falling body weighing 5 kg hits a metal spike in front in free fall from a height of 2.0 m. (Energy 98 Nm)