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Expression of interest: Home Office body armour test facilities

Published 18 January 2018

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/expression-of-interest-home-office-body-armour-test-facilities/expression-of-interest-home-office-body-armour-test-facilities

The Home Office Centre for Applied Science and Technology (CAST) invites expressions of interest from prospective test facilities for the testing of body armour to the Home Office Body Armour Standard (2017).

1. Background

The Home Office Body Armour Standard (2017) provides the minimum performance requirements and test methods for the evaluation of ballistic and/or stab resistant body armour for UK law enforcement. The standard permits several tiers of protection, with associated test methods, to address different user requirements.

The general process for body armour certification to the Home Office Body Armour Standard (2017) is outlined, in brief, below:

  1. Commercial manufacturers develop body armour to meet the specifications for their respective ballistic and/or stab protection levels.
  2. Manufacturer independently contacts an accredited test facility to arrange a test slot.
  3. Manufacturer contacts CAST with a declaration of construction and technical file for a given armour, detailing the construction, technical drawings and associated body armour information.
  4. CAST review the technical file and, if acceptable, inform the independent accredited test facility.
  5. Manufacturer sends samples to accredited test facility, which independently conducts the testing and reports back to CAST for review.
  6. CAST review the test reports and, if acceptable, grant certification to the armour for the given protection levels.

Successful test facilities will also be required to test to the Portable Ballistic Protection Standard (2011).

2. Specifications

An accredited test facility must:

  • be able to test to all of the methods detailed in the test standard using approved equipment
  • have no commercial interest in the items being tested
  • be accredited to a nationally recognised quality standard
  • be subject to an annual audit
  • sign a Home Office Non Disclosure Agreement prior to being approved

3. Market

Accredited test facilities will be responsible for all evaluations to the Home Office Body Armour Standard (2017) and Home Office Portable Ballistic Protection Standard (2011).

4. Submission

Please respond to this with a confirmation of interest via e-mail to declarations@homeoffice.gov.uk.

The deadline for submissions is 16th February 2018.

5. Enquiries

Please direct any enquiries to declarations@homeoffice.gov.uk.

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