Protection classes
Body Armor Protection Classes: From S to Br6
· 5 min read · Andrey Sokolov
A protection class shows what body armor protects against. In Russia the classes are set by the GOST 34286-2017 standard: each class is a test with a knife, a fragment or a shot from a specific weapon. A soft vest under clothing stops knives, fragments and handguns, while assault rifles and rifles need a hard plate.
Body armor protection classes: the GOST 34286-2017 table
| Class | Protects against | How it is tested |
|---|---|---|
| S | knife | a bayonet strike |
| S1 | hunting shotgun | a shot from a 12-gauge shotgun at 5 m |
| S2 | fragments | a shot with a steel ball that acts like a fragment |
| Br1 | 9×18 handgun | Stechkin pistol, 5 m |
| Br2 | more powerful 9×21 handgun | SR-1 pistol, 5 m |
| Br3 | handgun with an armor-piercing bullet | Yarygin pistol, 5 m |
| Br4 | assault rifle | AK-74 and AKM, 10 m |
| Br5 | sniper rifle | SVD rifle, 10 m |
| Br6 | large-caliber rifle | 12.7 mm rifle, 50 m |
The rule: the higher the number after «Br», the more powerful the weapon. Classes S, S1 and S2 are a knife, a shotgun and fragments.
Knife, shotgun and fragments: classes S, S1 and S2
- S - knife. The vest is struck with a bayonet, and they check how far the blade went through: no more than 5 mm is allowed.
- S1 - shotgun. The vest is shot with a slug from a 12-gauge hunting shotgun.
- S2 - fragments. The vest is shot with a small steel ball. It behaves like a shell fragment.
Every one of our models stops a knife strike and a fragment. The logic is simple: a class S pack is the thinnest soft pack, and Br1 and Br2 packs have more layers. If the thin one holds, the thick one holds too. More about blades in our article.
Br1, Br2, Br3: handguns
Class Br1 is made for the 9×18 cartridge, used by the Makarov and Stechkin pistols. Br2 uses the 9×21 cartridge: the bullet is heavier and faster. To stop it, the vest gets more layers, so it comes out thicker.
Br3 is made for an armor-piercing handgun bullet. There are no such vests in our catalog: our soft vests come in Br1 and Br2. Which of the two to take, we explained in detail.
Br4, Br5, Br6: assault rifle and rifle
An assault rifle or rifle bullet is many times stronger than a handgun bullet. Fabric will not stop it. You need a hard plate of ceramic, steel or pressed polyethylene. The plate goes into a pocket on the vest.
Br4 is an assault rifle, Br5 a sniper rifle, Br6 a large-caliber rifle. Our plates are Br5; we do not make Br6 plates. How to choose a plate and how much it weighs is in our armor plate guide.
Why one vest has several classes
Different parts of one vest can protect differently. Take our OBSIDIAN MAX. The vest itself and the arm and leg modules are Br2. The side straps and collar are Br1. The area under the plates is Br5.
So a «Br5» label does not mean Br5 everywhere. Most often it is the area under the plate. Ask what class each part of the vest has and how much the plate covers: our plates are 25×29.5 cm on the front and the same on the back.
Old classes and NIJ: how not to get confused
Until March 1, 2019, an old GOST was in force. Its classes were just numbers: 1, 2, 3 and so on. Today's tests use other cartridges, and «class 2» is not equal to Br2. If you see «class 5» without the letters «Br», ask which GOST it refers to.
Imported vests carry American NIJ levels, such as IIIA. They are tested with other weapons and by other rules. So «IIIA = Br2» is not true. When buying in Russia, the only reference is the Russian class.
Where to find the class: label and documents
The class is written on the vest's label. Under GOST the label must show:
- the manufacturer;
- the model;
- the protection class;
- the size;
- the batch number and item number;
- the month and year of manufacture.
Compare the label with the certificate: the model name and classes must be the same in both. Labels like «Br2+» or «reinforced» do not exist in the standard: that is advertising, not a class. Our certificate РОСС RU.32623.ОС10.04969 is valid until March 10, 2027; the scan is on the home page in Documents.
Which protection class to choose for the task
| Task | Class | Our models |
|---|---|---|
| City, under clothing, all day | Br1 | COYOTE, 1.4 kg |
| Security, sides need covering | Br1 or Br2 | DARK ARMOR M-3, 2.6 kg |
| Risk of assault rifle fire | Br2 plus Br4 or Br5 plates | vests with plate pockets |
| Assault, full-body protection | Br2 plus Br5 plates | OBSIDIAN MAX, 15 kg with plates |
All the models in the table stop both blades and fragments. Not sure which class you need - call free: 8 800 101-76-37. Tell us where and why you will wear the vest, and we will name the class and model.
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest body armor protection class? Br6. It stops a large-caliber rifle bullet. Only a hard plate can do that.
What does «Br1 S2» in a vest description mean? The vest stops a 9×18 handgun bullet (Br1) and fragments (S2).
What class does concealable body armor have? Usually Br1 or Br2. A plate cannot be hidden under clothing, so a concealable vest does not protect against an assault rifle.
Are «class 5 body armor» and Br5 the same thing? Not always. «Class 5» comes from the old GOST, Br5 from the new one, tested with an SVD rifle. Ask which GOST the certificate was issued under.
Does Br1 protect against fragments? Ours do: all our vests from Br1 up stop fragments.
Does Br1 body armor protect against a knife? Ours do. Every IRON TACTICA vest stops a knife strike, including Br1.
What class is needed for security work? Usually Br1 or Br2 with covered sides. If assault rifle fire is possible, Br5 plates are added to the vest.
