UL 752—What is it, and Why Does it Matter?

UL 752 is the industry standard for ballistic protection. Specifically, it defines how well a material will reliably defend against ballistic threats based on the type of firearm, caliber and casing of bullet, number of shots, and many other factors.

For anyone who is looking for an armored defense solution, this is the spec that tells you what type of threats you'll be able to withstand. And at the end of the day, a laboratory-tested UL 752 certification is what separates marketing claims from real-world protection.

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11th Edition vs. 12th Edition—What's the Difference?

Until 2023, ballistic defense products were tested under UL 752 11th Edition, which used a hierarchical threat model. If a material stopped a Level 10 threat (.50 cal BMG), it was assumed to stop all lower threats too. While that seems logical, real-world testing proves otherwise. That’s why UL revised the standard in the 12th Edition, removing the hierarchy entirely.

The 12th Ed. also adds threats the 11th never addressed, such as the.243 Win PSP (RF‑C), .270 Win PSP (RF‑D), 5.56×45 M855 FMJ BT (RF‑F), and 7.62×39 mm MSC FMJ (RF‑G). These rounds behave differently on impact and are now tested directly, not just implied.

The 12th Ed. also raises the bar on test rigor. Total shot counts are higher, and testing requires multiple shot patterns across multiple samples. For example, under the 11th Edition, Level  1 only required six shots from a 9 mm Luger. In the 12th Ed., the HG‑A spec calls for 18 shots across three separate samples, using a mix of 3‑shot, 2‑shot, and edge‑shot patterns. This full sequence repeats for each sample.

While the exact procedure varies by threat, every material tested under the 12th Ed. faces more rounds, more patterns, and tougher conditions to pass.

The Bottom Line

The fact is, all armored defense solutions in the market are still referencing UL 752 11th Edition rather than putting their products through the proper testing. Any company still advertising compliance under Edition 11 may be overselling their true level of protection, putting lives at risk in the process. At Armorbloks, we’ve built our products from the ground up within the vigorous 12th Ed. testing standards. We believe ballistic defense providers have a responsibility to be fully transparent about what their products are truly capable of stopping—no guesswork, no assumptions.

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