Consistent testing in body armor density

Areal density is used throughout the body armor industry to make pound-for-pound performance comparisons of armor systems, and is frequently listed among required attributes of procurement contracts—despite the lack of a standardized test method. H.P. White Laboratory Inc., near Baltimore, Md., is an independent ballistics testing lab and has developed a new Standard Method for Areal Density of Body Armor (HPW-AD01-11) that uses laser scanning technology to capture a digital three-dimensional image of an armor panel for precise measurement. Because the entire panel is weighed, all stitching, reinforcements, overlapping plies and other non-homogenous zones are represented in the reported weight. The testing process became available to clients in March 2012.