Uses of Riot Shields & Ballistic Shields

In this guide, we discuss the protection capabilities of riot shields and ballistic shields as well as some of their most common uses.

Riot shields and ballistic shields are both used by various security and law enforcement units. While both types of shields share similarities, such as protection against projectiles, they’re designed for very different purposes. For example, riot shields provide excellent mobility for crowd control but can’t stop bullets, while their ballistic counterparts offer protection against gunfire but usually at the trade-off of being heavier.

This guide discusses all. If you need more information, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

What Are Riot Shields?

Usually made from strong materials like metal or polycarbonate (reinforced plastic), riot shields are designed to provide effective protection against attacks from knives, thrown projectiles, and kicks and punches. They’re commonly used by security and law enforcement personnel for purposes such as crowd control and self-protection. While there are a variety of different types of riot shields, most are clear and allow the operator to look in every direction without obstruction.

What Protection Do Riot Shields Offer?

Riot shields are available in thicknesses ranging from two to eight millimetres, though they’re typically made from polycarbonate with a thickness of four to six millimetres. This offers the user protection against a variety of blunt-force trauma threats, such as thrown chairs, bricks, batons, crowbars and baseball bats. They also protect you against punches, kicks and spitting while allowing you to push individuals and crowds back.

On top of those defensive capabilities, some riot shields are flame and heat-resistant to protect the user from blazes and high temperatures. Some shields also provide you with protection against toxic chemicals and substances such as urine, blood and faeces.

We should note that riot shields can sustain damage and eventually break due to repeated excessive strikes. Also, riot shields do not protect you against bullets.

Common Riot Shield Uses

Riot shields are typically used by law enforcement and security units as body armour, to defend and protect themselves and the public in unstable situations (such as riots). Most shields can be held with one hand, leaving your other hand free to handle equipment and respond to threats. Some shields are designed to manage brief disturbances, such as a gathering of rowdy sports fans throwing occasional projectiles, while others are built to endure repetitive abuse during prolonged and intense confrontations.

Riot shields are often used to control riots and relocate prisoners in prison systems. They may also be used to prevent crowds from entering active crime scenes or for security control purposes at public events and gatherings.

Besides security, riot shields can be used by zookeepers and animal control officers for protection against defensive or aggressive animals. Other less common uses for riot shields include protecting individuals from natural hazards such as falling debris in emergency situations and providing cover for workers in hazardous environments such as construction sites.

What Are Ballistic Shields?

Also known as ballistic blankets and bunker shields, ballistic shields are specifically designed for situations where armed resistance is anticipated. Capable of stopping bullets and other dangerous projectiles, ballistic or bulletproof shields are commonly used by heavily armed law enforcement units, such as SWAT, in situations such as drug raids, high-risk search warrants, and dealing with active shooters.

While there are many types of ballistic shield, most are rectangle with a black exterior, and many have a viewing port. Thanks to significant technological innovations over the past two decades, some ballistic shields boast features such as built-in communication systems, lighting, and enhanced mobility and protection capabilities.

What Protection Do Ballistic Shields Offer?

You can determine the protection capabilities of a ballistic shield based on its National Institute of Justice (NIJ) ballistic level. Here’s a brief overview of the four most common NIJ ballistic levels:

•         Level II: Withstands rounds from common handguns such as 9mm, 45 ACP, .357 and 40 S&W.
•         Level IIIA: Protects against almost all handgun rounds up to .44 magnum. Can also defend against 12-gauge shotgun slugs and 9mm submachine gun rounds.
•         Level III: Made from hard armour to defend rifle bullets such as 7.62 mm FMJ rounds.
•         Level IV: Protection against armour-piercing bullets.

Depending on your intended use, you’ll need to find a shield that offers the right balance of mobility and protection.

Common Uses for Ballistic Shields

Ballistic shields are mostly used by armed law enforcement units in patrol, offensive and defensive situations where armed resistance is a significant threat or possibility. They can be used to execute strategies such as takedowns, perimeter setups, breach and holds, and deliberate entries.

Different types of ballistic shield are available for different environments, such as close quarter confrontations, dense urban areas, and remote properties. You’ll need to consider factors like weight and protective capabilities to choose the most suitable shield for your needs.

Order Premium Shields from The Survival Island

Need premium riot and ballistic shields to protect yourself or your unit in unstable and potentially dangerous situations? At The Survival Island, we’re a team of survival experts that takes great pride in scouring the globe for the most advanced protective equipment on the market. Browse our range of shields today or contact us for more advice and information based on your unique needs.

Riot shields and ballistic shields are both used by various security and law enforcement units. While both types of shields share similarities, such as protection against projectiles, they’re designed for very different purposes. For example, riot shields provide excellent mobility for crowd control but can’t stop bullets, while their ballistic counterparts offer protection against gunfire but usually at the trade-off of being heavier.

In this guide, we discuss the protection capabilities of riot shields and ballistic shields as well as some of their most common uses. If you need more information, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

 

What Are Riot Shields?

Usually made from strong materials like metal or polycarbonate (reinforced plastic), riot shields are designed to provide effective protection against attacks from knives, thrown projectiles, and kicks and punches. They’re commonly used by security and law enforcement personnel for purposes such as crowd control and self-protection. While there are a variety of different types of riot shields, most are clear and allow the operator to look in every direction without obstruction.

 

What Protection Do Riot Shields Offer?

Riot shields are available in thicknesses ranging from two to eight millimetres, though they’re typically made from polycarbonate with a thickness of four to six millimetres. This offers the user protection against a variety of blunt-force trauma threats, such as thrown chairs, bricks, batons, crowbars and baseball bats. They also protect you against punches, kicks and spitting while allowing you to push individuals and crowds back.

On top of those defensive capabilities, some riot shields are flame and heat-resistant to protect the user from blazes and high temperatures. Some shields also provide you with protection against toxic chemicals and substances such as urine, blood and faeces.

We should note that riot shields can sustain damage and eventually break due to repeated excessive strikes. Also, riot shields do not protect you against bullets.

 

Common Riot Shield Uses

Riot shields are typically used by law enforcement and security units as body armour, to defend and protect themselves and the public in unstable situations (such as riots). Most shields can be held with one hand, leaving your other hand free to handle equipment and respond to threats. Some shields are designed to manage brief disturbances, such as a gathering of rowdy sports fans throwing occasional projectiles, while others are built to endure repetitive abuse during prolonged and intense confrontations.

Riot shields are often used to control riots and relocate prisoners in prison systems. They may also be used to prevent crowds from entering active crime scenes or for security control purposes at public events and gatherings.

Besides security, riot shields can be used by zookeepers and animal control officers for protection against defensive or aggressive animals. Other less common uses for riot shields include protecting individuals from natural hazards such as falling debris in emergency situations and providing cover for workers in hazardous environments such as construction sites.

 

What Are Ballistic Shields?

Also known as ballistic blankets and bunker shields, ballistic shields are specifically designed for situations where armed resistance is anticipated. Capable of stopping bullets and other dangerous projectiles, ballistic or bulletproof shields are commonly used by heavily armed law enforcement units, such as SWAT, in situations such as drug raids, high-risk search warrants, and dealing with active shooters.

While there are many types of ballistic shield, most are rectangle with a black exterior, and many have a viewing port. Thanks to significant technological innovations over the past two decades, some ballistic shields boast features such as built-in communication systems, lighting, and enhanced mobility and protection capabilities.

 

What Protection Do Ballistic Shields Offer?

You can determine the protection capabilities of a ballistic shield based on its National Institute of Justice (NIJ) ballistic level. Here’s a brief overview of the four most common NIJ ballistic levels:

•         Level II: Withstands rounds from common handguns such as 9mm, 45 ACP, .357 and 40 S&W.
•         Level IIIA: Protects against almost all handgun rounds up to .44 magnum. Can also defend against 12-gauge shotgun slugs and 9mm submachine gun rounds.
•         Level III: Made from hard armour to defend rifle bullets such as 7.62 mm FMJ rounds.
•         Level IV: Protection against armour-piercing bullets.

Depending on your intended use, you’ll need to find a shield that offers the right balance of mobility and protection.

 

Common Uses for Ballistic Shields

Ballistic shields are mostly used by armed law enforcement units in patrol, offensive and defensive situations where armed resistance is a significant threat or possibility. They can be used to execute strategies such as takedowns, perimeter setups, breach and holds, and deliberate entries.

Different types of ballistic shield are available for different environments, such as close quarter confrontations, dense urban areas, and remote properties. You’ll need to consider factors like weight and protective capabilities to choose the most suitable shield for your needs.

 

Order Premium Shields from The Survival Island

Need premium riot and ballistic shields to protect yourself or your unit in unstable and potentially dangerous situations? At The Survival Island, we’re a team of survival experts that takes great pride in scouring the globe for the most advanced protective equipment on the market. Browse our range of shields today or contact us for more advice and information based on your unique needs.