The Danger Of Buying Used Body Armour

You cannot imagine how much it genuinely upsets me when I hear again and again that yet another security professional has purchased a used body armour.

But please be honest with me, would you buy a used parachute that you didn’t know the history of, strap it onto your back, jump out of a plane and hope for the best?

The fact of the matter is that a used body armour could have been stored inappropriately, it could have been ill-treated, or it could have simply passed its shelf life – meaning the raw materials being used have started to degrade. Never mind the fact that the previous owner might have suffered from an assault wearing the very same body armour, leaving the body armour structural damaged (often invisible to the human eye).

Any of these issues could potentially lead to a major performance loss and can subsequently lead to the defeat of such body armour, which could subsequently lead to the loss of your life.

The English saying ‘better safe than sorry’ makes more sense within personal safety than in any other field. Professionals whose responsibilities include dealing with hostile members of the public simply should not gamble with their own lives.

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) made it very clear when saying:

“Age is not the only factor that affects degradation of body armour. Wear and tear from normal use can also contribute to deterioration. Some substances, such as dry-cleaning solvents, harsh detergents, bleach and accumulated soap residue, can damage body armour and reduce its effectiveness. Improper storage also can degrade performance. For example, storing body armour on a hanger, rather than letting the vest lie flat, can reduce the armour’s effectiveness.”

In 2009, NIJ funded the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) to conduct a national survey of police officers. Among other things, the survey examined what officers knew about caring for and maintaining their body armour. The survey revealed that while most officers are reasonably knowledgeable about body armour care and maintenance practices, a substantial number did not adhere to the practices they do understand.

Well, you might say, money is a major issue in today’s financial climate and body armour are not the cheapest of all products.  Yes, you are certainly right with such statement, but gambling with your life cannot be the solution.  Go to a reputable body armour manufacturer, explain your situation, make a case, and give it your best shot.  Sometimes they will listen, and sometimes they will want to help as much as they can to see you be safe.

There is another saying, which makes quite a bit of sense: “You pay peanuts you get monkeys’, meaning if you expect from a product to save your life and if your life might well depend on it, you will have to pay a certain price for it.  If you are a true professional and really want to be the best you can be, then you really should understand that being ill-equipped or purchasing low quality equipment can have a colossal impact on the outcome of certain situations you may well have to face one day.

Of course, many people have recognised the potential financial gain used body armour can make and try to flog them via eBay or via army surplus stores. What can I say?  These are not the places a true security professional should be looking for when in need of a body armour.

But let us forget the financial gain for a second and think of the morals behind it.  Are these individuals selling used body armour not somewhat gambling with our friends, associates, colleagues, or family members’ lives?

Whatever they state and whatever they claim they have apparently done to ensure the quality of their used body armour, as someone who knows a thing or two (or more) about this subject matter I must say that I don’t believe a word.  Not because I believe they are all bad guys, but simply because in my professional opinion it is absolutely impossible to guarantee the protection level of a used body armour without extensive and costly re-testing.

A used body armour, especially when older than four or five years old should be returned to the original manufacturer for a professional re-evaluation using the latest technology, and if the subsequent test reports make it crystal clear that body armour is still performing to the level expected then the manufacturer could look at re-issuing a manufacturer’s warranty.

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Author:

My name is Robert Kaiser, I am the CEO and Founder of UK headquartered PPSS Group and I am a well-respected expert on body armour.  My written word has been featured in several industry leading, international homeland and private security publications. A great video demonstration of me being subjected to knives, machetes, axes, shanks, other types of edged weapons, as well as blunt objects can be found and viewed on YouTube.