The U.S. National Institute of Justice (NIJ) released its NIJ 0117.01 standard for public safety bomb suits in April 2016. While this standard includes a wide array of protection and functionality requirements for bomb suits, it does not include quantitative requirements for blast overpressure attenuation, which is a primary threat from explosive devices that is unique to this application. Only a qualitative blast integrity requirement is currently included. NIJ's decision not to include quantitative blast overpressure requirements is attributed to the fact that scientists do not yet agree on the blast injury mechanisms and associated injury thresholds. Yet, there exist test protocols from the literature that can be used as benchmarks toward a standardized test methodology. To address this critical gap, given the importance of measuring how bomb suits and helmets attenuate this key threat, an ASTM working group was created in early 2017 with the objective to devise a standard for “blast overpressure protection for bomb suits.” The present article investigates three main options to quantify the blast overpressure protection provided by bomb suits, all based on the use of a Hybrid III mannequin as a blast surrogate: (1) protected mannequin only, comparing with set thresholds for head acceleration, ear overpressure, and chest overpressure; (2) protected mannequin only but comparing with reference pressure values for the ear and chest; and (3) conducting both protected and unprotected mannequin tests to compute percentage reductions in all measurements. In line with the current NIJ 0117.01 standard, a single blast configuration (1.25 lb of C4 at a standoff of 2 ft) is proposed. For each of the three options, calculation methods are recommended and a minimum number of tests to be conducted is also proposed toward achieving some statistical significance.
Author Information
Dionne, Jean-Philippe
Research and Development, Med-Eng, A Brand from the Safariland Group, Ottawa, ON, Canada
Levine, Jeff
Research and Development, Med-Eng, A Brand from the Safariland Group, Ottawa, ON, Canada
Makris, Aris
Research and Development, Med-Eng, A Brand from the Safariland Group, Ottawa, ON, Canada
Domestic orders are delivered via United Parcel Service (UPS) or United States Postal Service (USPS). Transit
times average 3 to 5 business days. Please be aware that UPS will not deliver packages to Post Office Boxes.
International orders are delivered via courier post services which can be either a postal service, courier
service, or a combination of both. Standard Service is untraceable. Please allow 4-7 weeks for delivery.
Please be aware that carriers will not deliver packages to Post Office Boxes. Because of the variability of
customs processes and procedures in different countries, ASTM International cannot guarantee transit times to
international destinations. Customs duty and taxes are the responsibility of the consignee.
Shipping & Handling charges follow the rate schedule, below:
Order Total
Shipping & Handling Fee (US Domestic)
Up to $50.00
$18.72
$50.01 to $100.00
$20.80
$100.01 to $150.00
$29.52
$150.01 to $250.00
$39.09
$250.01 to $500.00
$56.25
$500.01 to $750.00
$76.42
$750.01 to $1000.00
$93.15
$1000.01 to $1500.00
$121.27
$1500.01 to $2500.00
$158.38
$2500.01 to $4999.00
$209.04
$5000.00 to higher
FREE
Order Total
Shipping & Handling Fee (International)
Up to $50.00
$68.72
$50.01 to $100.00
$70.80
$100.01 to $150.00
$79.52
$150.01 to $250.00
$89.09
$250.01 to $500.00
$106.25
$500.01 to $750.00
$126.42
$750.01 to $1000.00
$143.15
$1000.01 to $1500.00
$171.27
$1500.01 to $2500.00
$208.38
$2500.01 to $4999.00
$259.04
$5000.00 to higher
FREE
Shipping and Handling charges are approximate. Additional charges may be incurred if your order requires multiple shipments. This does not apply to complete sets and sections.