Riot Helmets and Face Shields - NIJ Standard 0104.02

• NCJ Number: 97212
• Date Published: October 1984
• Length: 15 pages
• Agencies: NIJ

Annotation

This equipment standard, developed by the Law Enforcement Standards Laboratory of the National Bureau of Standards as part of the Technology Assessment Program of the National Institute of Justice, establishes requirements and test methods for helmets and face shields to be worn by police officers during civil disturbances, riots, or other situations that threaten injury from blows to the head.

Abstract

The standard revises and supersedes National Institute of Justice Standard-0104.01, dated August 1980. The revision changes the impact attenuation requirement (the extent to which the impact energy delivered to a helmeted head is reduced by the helmet), deletes the requirement for wet testing helmets, modifies the requirement and test method for peripheral vision limits, and clarifies test methods and test equipment requirements. The riot helmet requirements cover test sampling, user information, helmet construction and labeling, peripheral vision, impact attenuation, penetration resistance, and retention system (the complete assembly that retains the helmet in the proper position on the head). Face shield requirements cover test sampling, light transmission, prismatic power, refractive power, resolving power, impact protection, and the fastening system. The testing requirements for the face shield are designed to measure protection as well as the clarity and accuracy of vision through the face shield. Testing methods for the helmets and face shields are described and graphically illustrated. Five references are listed.