Preventing Body Armor Failure

Steve Russ, a retired police officer from the State of Michigan, has

introduced a new safety innovation into the law enforcement,

corrections and military community (LECM). A major problem

within the LECM community has been the deterioration of body

armors ballistic-resistanct apabilities due to improper care and

maintenance.

According to a National Institute for Justice (NIJ) report on soft body armor, Age

alone doesnot cause body armors ballistic resistanceto deteriorate. The care and

maintenance of a garment or the lack thereof have been shown to have a greater

impact than age on the length of service life of a unit of body annor. Armor that is

10 years old and has never been issued may be perfectly acceptable for use,

provided that the rated level of protection is still appropriate for the typical threats

faced. Conversely, 2- or 3-year-old annor that has been worn regularly and

improperly cared for may not be serviceable. Limited studies of the ballistic resistant capabilities of annor used for extended periods of time were initiated in 1983 by DuPont, at which time some of the annor tested had been in service for more than 8 years.

The conclusions of the NIJ report was already eechoed by one manufacture Second Chance

Body Armor, who in a 1999 literature stated, "Keeping liquids/moisture away from

the Body Armor panels will help the panels maintain their ballistic/stab resistant

properties. The effects of improper storage of body armor have been long known.

As an example, in 1973, researchers at the United States Army's Edgewood

Arsenal, responsible for the body armor determined that "the penetration resistance

of Kevlar was degraded when wet.

Steve Russ' innovation, the "Flak Vest Hanger" enhances body armor care thereby

improving operational safety and helping to reduce injuries and the potential for the

loss of life in the LECM Community. The "Flak Vest Hanger" allows anyone who

wears body armor to properly dry and store it. As has been shown

by previous research, improperly dried or stored body armor can

reduce the ballistic-resistanct apabilities of the armor and place the

wearer at increased risk. Furthermore, improper care may also void

the manufactures warranty.

Further information and photos can by viewed at www.flakvesthangers.com or www.bodyarmorhangers.com