Adept Armor designed and developed the NovaSteel Breastplate and shoulder armor plates to provide an advanced solution to non-bulletproof riot armor.
Currently, there is reportedly no NIJ standard for riot armor. The NIJ standard for riot helmets, 0104.02, only requires helmets to undergo low-velocity impact testing, similar to how cycling helmets and bump helmets are evaluated.
ASTM provides a comparable specification for riot helmets, ASTM E3342, which is more comprehensive and more recently updated than the NIJ standard. However, like the NIJ specification, it does not mandate protection against ballistic or bladed threats.
In practice, riot gear is generally designed to protect against blunt force impacts rather than projectiles or sharp objects, and no universal standards exist for riot armor.
This limitation is not unique to the United States; it applies globally. A few international standards for riot helmets exist, but these are broadly similar to the NIJ and ASTM specifications in that they lack ballistic protection requirements.
Riot armor, in particular, has no standardized specifications worldwide. As a result, most riot armor is lightweight and provides limited protection, often sufficient only for thrown objects or simple blunt weapons like sticks. Despite its bulky appearance, which can contribute to an intimidating presence, riot armor’s actual protective capabilities are limited.
What Materials Are Used in Riot Armor?
The material composition of riot armor is key to its performance. An average riot armor breastplate typically includes a 1.5mm to 2.5mm layer of soft plastic, such as HDPE, ABS, or polycarbonate. Beneath this plastic layer is usually a foam layer, ranging from 6mm to 40mm in thickness.
While these materials are bulky, they offer minimal resistance to bladed weapons. For comparison, the thinnest polycarbonate stab vests rated to ‘Knife 1,’ the lowest level of bladed weapon resistance, use a polycarbonate thickness of 5mm—significantly thicker than the plastic in most riot armor breastplates.
The ballistic resistance of these materials is even lower. Even if the materials were five times thicker, they would still fail to stop a .38 Special round fired from a snub-nose revolver.
As a result, many police officers in the U.S. wear soft ballistic panels beneath their riot gear, while European officers often rely on stab armor or, in rare cases, chainmail. These additions increase the weight and heat retention of riot gear, making it uncomfortable for long durations.
Adept Armor’s NovaSteel Plates
Adept Armor developed the NovaSteel Breastplate and shoulder armor plates to address these challenges.
These plates are versatile, providing top-level protection against handgun threats, bladed weapons, spikes, and blunt impact weapons. They meet and exceed NIJ IIIA and ‘Knife 3’ standards and are compatible with riot armor arm and leg protections. Built-in air channels enhance breathability, and the breastplate can be further upgraded to Level III/RF1 protection using a 1.8-pound rigid armor plate.
This approach eliminates the need for layering or compromise, delivering riot armor that goes beyond intimidation and offers genuine protection and confidence.
