Technology Services – National Institute of Standards and Technology Conformity Assessment Body Armor Technical Workshop October 2005 Gordon Gillerman Conformity Assessment Advisor Homeland Security National Institute of Standards and Technology

Technology Services – National Institute of Standards and Technology Factors in CA System Design? The risks associated with non-compliance should be proportional to the rigor and independence of the CA system. System over-design will add too much cost. System under-design will result in too little confidence of compliance. Penalties associated with non-compliance may reduce the needed rigor and independence of the conformity assessment system. Timely mechanisms that effectively remove non-compliant products from the market may also reduce the needed rigor and independence of the system.

Technology Services – National Institute of Standards and Technology Risk and Conformity Assessment Perceived Risk Independence and Rigor of Conformity Assessment 1 st party conformity assessment 3 rd party conformity assessment Type Testing Surveillance

Technology Services – National Institute of Standards and Technology Conformity Assessment Model for Body Armor Includes: Type testing by accredited laboratory to performance requirements Evaluation of test data from accredited lab and required characteristics of body armor Compliance decision based on the evaluation Attestation of conformity Surveillance to enhance the confidence that fielded armor will meet the same performance requirements Program managed by conformity assessment body

Technology Services – National Institute of Standards and Technology Type Testing Used when the critical characteristics can be evaluated via measurement or performance against technical criteria under specified conditions. Type test is a test carried out on samples that represent production for the purpose of determining conformity.

Technology Services – National Institute of Standards and Technology Elements of Surveillance for Body Armor Used to ensure/enhance ongoing conformity Assessment (paper evaluation) of quality management system focused on maintaining ballistic performance of produced armor Quality management system to include materials benchmarking tests to ensure that materials and components perform at least as well as type test samples Initial factory audit/inspection to ensure mfg. is capable of producing compliant armor and mfg. has implemented QM system Unannounced regular inspection of armor production combined with audits of the implementation of to enhance confidence that certified armor continues to meet requirements

Technology Services – National Institute of Standards and Technology Potential Candidate Component/Material Quality Benchmark Tests Infrared spectroscopy (IR): – detection of chemical degradation – small amount of sample needed – commonly used in forensic analysis laboratories Tensile strength and elongation before break testing: – straightforward methods of assessing physical and mechanical degradation – tensile strength correlates with ballistic performance – can be carried out with small amounts of sample

Technology Services – National Institute of Standards and Technology Laboratory Accreditation Used to assess and ensure/enhance ongoing compliance of laboratory with management, process and technical competence requirements Standard – ISO/IEC plus test specific technical requirements Can cover issues such as independence, calibration, personnel competence, test environment…

Technology Services – National Institute of Standards and Technology Laboratory Accreditation Conformity assessment process very similar to ISO 9000 quality management registration process Desktop review of laboratory quality and procedure manual Findings presented to laboratory Corrective action and resolution if needed On site audit to determine if quality and procedure manual is well implemented and if equipment and facilities are adequate Periodic assessments and audits to demonstrate continued compliance with ISO/IEC and programmatic requirements