ASTM E3112/E3112M-20

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: E3112/E3112M − 20
Standard Test Method for
Ballistic-resistant Products and Shoot Packs
ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationE3112/E3112M;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyear
of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.
A superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope responsible for the “other standards and specifications” and for
specifying any requirements that supersede those of this test
1.1 This test method assesses resistance to complete pen-
method.
etrationbyprojectilesandappliestoballistic-resistantproducts
1.7.2 Purchasers and other users will specify the ballistic
or shoot packs, either flexible or rigid, that are intended to
test threats, and the associated velocities, to be used.
provide protection against projectiles from small arms. This
1.8 Units—The values stated in either SI units or inch-
test method does not assess blunt impact resistance.
pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The
1.2 This test method does not apply to body armor, armor
values stated in each system are not necessarily exact equiva-
panels, inserts, trauma packs, trauma plates, materials, or other
lents; therefore, to ensure conformance with the standard, each
items intended to be worn or located against the body to limit
system shall be used independently of the other, and values
blunt trauma.
from the two systems shall not be combined.
1.3 This test method applies only to products related to 1.8.1 The user of this standard will identify the system of
homeland security and public safety. units to be used, and it is critical to ensure that any cross-
referenced standards maintain consistency of units between
1.4 This test method is not intended to address architectural
standards.
products covered by Test Method F1233, such as building
1.9 This standard does not purport to address all of the
materials and security glazing.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
1.5 Thistestmethodisapplicabletoproductsorshootpacks
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
that are constructed with identical layups of ballistic materials
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
over the entire product or shoot pack. The product or shoot
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
pack may have stitching, seams, or other joints.
1.10 This international standard was developed in accor-
NOTE 1—For example, this test method is applicable for evaluating a
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
ballistic-resistant blanket constructed from multiple sheets of different
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
materials laminated together; however, this test method is not applicable
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
for evaluating a ballistic-resistant shield that has a discontinuity at the
interface between opaque and transparent component materials. mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
1.6 Thetestmethoddoesnotspecifyperformancecriteriaor
usage of the test results.
2. Referenced Documents
1.7 It is anticipated that this test method will be referenced 3
2.1 ASTM Standards:
by certifiers, purchasers, or other users in order to meet their
B211/B211M Specification for Aluminum and Aluminum-
specific needs.
Alloy Rolled or Cold Finished Bar, Rod, and Wire
1.7.1 In this test method, “other standards and specifica-
B221 Specification forAluminum andAluminum-Alloy Ex-
tions” and “unless specified elsewhere” refer to documents (for
truded Bars, Rods, Wire, Profiles, and Tubes
example, military standards, purchase specifications) that re-
E3005 Terminology for Body Armor
quiretheuseofthistestmethod.Purchasersandotherusersare
E3062/E3062M Specification for Indoor Ballistic Test
Ranges for Small Arms and Fragmentation Testing of
Ballistic-resistant Items
1 E3078/E3078M Practice for Conditioning of Hard Armor
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E54 on
Homeland Security Applications and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
Test Items
E54.04 on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Current edition approved April 1, 2020. Published April 2020. Originally
approved in 2018. Last previous edition approved in 2019 as E3112/E3112M – 19. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
DOI: 10.1520/E3112_E3112M-20. contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Small arms are defined as portable firearms, typically including handguns, Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
shotguns, rifles, and light machine guns (Terminology E3005). the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
E3112/E3112M − 20
F1233 Test Method for Security Glazing Materials And 5. Significance and Use
Systems
5.1 The test method is intended to determine the resistance
2.2 Other Documents:
to penetration of a ballistic-resistant product or shoot pack to
AATCC TM 169 Weather Resistance of Textiles: Xenon
specified projectiles impacting at specified velocities. No other
Lamp Exposure
properties of the ballistic-resistant product or shoot pack are
ISO/IEC 17025 General Requirements for the Competence
evaluated by this test method.
of Testing and Calibration Laboratories
5.2 This test method may be used by private-sector and
MIL-STD-810G Test Method Standard for Environmental
government laboratories, manufacturers, research and develop-
Engineering Considerations and Laboratory Tests
mentorganizations,andothersassessingtheballisticresistance
ANSI/SAAMI Z299.1 Voluntary Industry Performance
of products or shoot packs or performing research and devel-
Standards for Pressure and Velocity of Rimfire Sporting
opment of new products.
Ammunition for the Use of Commercial Manufacturers
ANSI/SAAMI Z299.2 Voluntary Industry Performance
5.3 Itisintendedthatthistestmethodbereferencedbyother
Standards for Pressure and Velocity of Shotshell Ammu-
standards, specifications, or test methods.
nition for the Use of Commercial Manufacturers
ANSI/SAAMI Z299.3 Voluntary Industry Performance
6. Test Equipment and Apparatus
Standards for Pressure and Velocity of Centerfire Pistol
6.1 Test threats, and the associated velocities, shall be
and Revolver Ammunition for the Use of Commercial
specified in other standards and specifications.
Manufacturers
ANSI/SAAMI Z299.4 Voluntary Industry Performance
6.2 The ballistic test range shall meet the requirements of
Standards for Pressure and Velocity of Rifle Sporting
Specification E3062/E3062M.
Ammunition for the Use of Commercial Manufacturers
6.3 The test item fixture, including position and attitude
adjustments, shall be specified in other standards and specifi-
3. Terminology
cations.
3.1 For terms not defined in this test method, the following
6.3.1 When not specified elsewhere, the test item mounting
definitions of Terminology E3005 apply: armor panel, blunt
system shall be a frame as described below:
impact resistance, body armor, cartridge, complete
6.3.1.1 The frame shall consist of two layers of metal
penetration, controlled ambient,fair hit, insert, obliquity, par-
between which the test item is secured.
tial penetration, projectile, shot-to-edge distance, shot-to-shot
6.3.1.2 The frame shall be of sufficient size to restrain the
distance, shoot pack, small arms, stop, strike face, test item,
test item during ballistic impact.
test item mounting system, test stand, test threat, trauma pack,
trauma plate, unfair hit, witness panel, universal receiver, 6.3.1.3 The frame, supports, clamps, and mounting fixtures
warmer rounds, and yaw. shall be capable of securely retaining the test item and
withstanding shock resulting from ballistic impact by the test
4. Summary of Test Method
projectiles. At a minimum, the clamps holding the test item in
the frame shall be positioned in the center of each side of the
4.1 The ballistic resistance of a product or shoot pack is
frame or at the four corners of the frame.
determined by firing a series of test threats at each of a set of
test items and assessing the number of partial penetrations and
6.4 The method for measuring projectile yaw may be with
complete penetrations.
yawcards,flashradiography,highspeedvideo,orphotography
and shall be capable of determining, at the point of
4.2 The performance requirements and test threats shall be
specified in other standards and specifications. measurement, whether the angle of yaw is greater or less than
5°.
NOTE 2—The performance requirements may be defined in terms of
either: (1) The number of required fair hit impacts and the allowable
6.5 A witness panel shall be used to determine whether a
number of complete penetrations, (2) The minimal acceptable calculated
complete penetration has occurred.
probability of a single impact being stopped and a corresponding
6.5.1 The witness panel outer dimensions shall be at least
confidencelevel.Inthiscase,aminimumnumberofrequiredfairhitsmay
also be set, or (3) A combination of the above. 305 mm by 305 mm [12 in. by 12 in.].The height and width of
thewitnesspanelmaybeincreasedinordertoallowforimpact
by all fragments resulting from projectile penetration.
Available from American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists
6.5.2 For opaque test items, the witness panel shall be a
(AATCC), P.O. Box 12215, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2215, http://
sheet of 2024-T3, 2024-T4, or 5052 aluminum alloy and shall
www.aatcc.org.
Available from International Organization for Standardization (ISO), ISO be nominally 0.50 mm [0.020 in.] thick.
Central Secretariat, BIBC II, Chemin de Blandonnet 8, CP 401, 1214 Vernier,
6.5.3 For transparent test items, the witness panel shall be a
Geneva, Switzerland, http://www.iso.org.
6 0.0254 mm [0.001 in.] thick sheet of aluminum foil.
Available from U.S. Government Printing Office, Superintendent of
Documents, 732 N. Capitol St., NW, Washington, DC 20401-0001, http://
www.access.gpo.gov.
Available from Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute,
Flintlock Ridge Office Center, 11 Mile Hill Rd., Newtown, CT 06470-2359, SpecificationsB211/B211MandB221containinformationrelatedtoaluminum
www.saami.org. alloys.
E3112/E3112M − 20
NOTE 5—Exposure time includes the stabilization time.
7. Hazards
9.3.3 Upon completion of the exposure protocol in Table 1,
7.1 The ballistic tests described in this test method have
return the test items in the chamber to the initial conditions of
inherent hazards.Adequate safeguards for personnel and prop-
Step 1 in Table 1.
erty shall be employed when conducting these tests.
9.3.4 Remove the test items from the environmental cham-
8. Sampling and Test Items
ber.
9.3.5 Perform a thorough visual examination of each test
8.1 Test item details (including quantity, size, and required
item and document any change in physical appearance result-
conditioning) shall be specified in other standards and specifi-
ing from exposure.
cations.
9.4 Temperature Extremes Conditioning:
NOTE 3—Asufficient number of test items is required for testing, based
9.4.1 Tests shall be performed in accordance with constant
on the conditioning requirements, anticipated total number of projectile
impacts, and the number of projectile impacts that may be placed on each
temperature exposure procedures of MIL-STD-810G, Method
test item.
501.5, Procedure I (high temperature) and Method 502.5,
Procedure I (low temperature).
8.2 The supplier is responsible for providing the number of
test items to accomplish the required testing. It is recom- 9.4.2 One set of test items shall be subjected to high
temperature, and another set shall be subjected to low tempera-
mended that spare test items be provided.
8.2.1 When the use of a spare test item is required, details ture. Ramping of temperature is prohibited.
9.4.2.1 The starting temperature shall be controlled ambi-
aboutselectingtheappropriatesparetestitemshallbespecified
in other standards and specifications. ent.
9.4.2.2 One set of test items shall be heated in a chamber
8.2.2 When not specified elsewhere and when the test item
is either a shoot pack or a coupon representing a portion of the operating at 71.1°C 6 3°C [155°F 6 5°F] for a minimum of 6
h, not to exceed 7 h.
finished product, the size of each test item shall be at least 305
mm by 305 mm [12 in. by 12 in.]. 9.4.2.3 One set of test items shall be cooled in a chamber
operating at –51.1°C 6 3°C [–60°F 6 5°F] for a minimum of
NOTE4—Itisrecommendedthateachtestitemthatrepresentsaproduct
6 h, not to exceed 7 h.
be the typical size and shape of that product.
9.5 Weathering Conditioning:
9. Conditioning Procedures
9.5.1 Weathering of test items shall be performed in accor-
9.1 This section describes conditioning procedures that may
dance with AATCC Test Method 169 with the modifications
be applicable for ballistic-resistant products or shoot packs.
listed below:
(1) The test apparatus shall be equipped with an automatic
9.2 Athorough visual examination of each test item prior to
light monitor and shall be capable of automatically controlling
and after the exposures shall be done to document any change
irradiance, temperature, and humidity.
in physical appearance resulting from the exposure.
(2) The test items shall be positioned strike face toward the
9.3 Temperature Conditioning:
light source.
9.3.1 Place the test items into an environmental chamber
(3) The weathering cycle shall be a total of 180 minutes,
preset to the initial conditions of Step 1 in Table 1.
consisting of the following in order: 40 minutes of light, 20
9.3.1.1 For some products, not all steps in Table 1 are
minutes of light with water spray on the test item, 60 minutes
required. In those cases, other specifications will state the
of light, and 60 minutes of darkness. The cycle shall be
required steps. 2
repeated until the total energy exposure is equal to 100 kJ/m ,
9.3.2 Subject the test items to the conditions in Table 1.
and the weathering cycle shall be terminated at that point.
Each step transition shall take place and stabilize in less than
(4) The spectral irradiance level shall be 0.55 6 0.01
30 minutes.
W/m /nm bandpass at 340 nm.
(5) The temperatures and RH shall be as specified in Table
TABLE 1 Exposure Conditions
2.
Steps Time
...