Protection classes of bulletproof vests
- SK 1 and Level IIIA Protection against handgun ammunition with soft core and round nose or partial jacket or hollow point
- SK 2 Protection against handgun ammunition with armor core
- SK3 and Level III Protection against long gun ammunition with full metal jacket and soft core or partial jacket or hollow point
- SK4 and Level IV Protection against long gun ammunition with full metal jacket and armor core
Protection against bladed weapons such as knives or needles, also known as stab protection, is not mandatory in the first two protection classes and must be provided separately. In contrast, body armor in protection classes 3 and 4 inherently includes stab protection through ballistic plates. However, body armor in these classes can be penetrated by special projectiles with a penetrator or by ammunition with a higher muzzle velocity.
