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National Security Standards

Overview

Providing national security professionals with the innovative technical solutions and information they need to prevent and respond to terrorism

We work to improve public safety and security through science-based standards. We do this by promoting innovative technologies, fostering communications, and building enduring partnerships with federal, state, local, private sector, and international partners.

We focus on developing technical standards related to national security, including measurement science and standards for Chemical/Biological/Radiological/Nuclear/Explosive (CBRNE) detection, personal protective equipment (PPE), and physical infrastructure resilience and security.

Our efforts support the 2011 National Strategy for CBRNE Standards through improved interagency collaboration for standards development.

News and Updates

Events

Projects and Programs

Fire Debris and Explosives

Ongoing
The goal of this focus area is to enhance the measurement science capabilities and address measurement science challenges present in the analysis of fire debris

Toxicology

Ongoing
Toxicology represents the newest focus area for our group. The goal of this work is to compliment traditional toxicological research with development of

Publications

Field-Deployable Devices

Author(s)
Thomas P. Forbes, Raychelle Burks
Reductions in instrument size, weight, and power continue to facilitate the development and application of field-deployable devices for investigative purposes

Tools and Instruments

Large Aperture Scanner

The Large Aperture Scanner (LAS) scans a radar transceiver over a 5 meter by 20 meter aperture. Image reconstruction techniques enable a three-dimensional

Cabinet x-ray system

The Smiths Detection 6046si cabinet x-ray system was designed for security screening of bags, parcels and other objects of similar size. The system runs at 160

X-ray Backscatter Systems

X-ray backscatter systems are used for the screening of personnel for hidden weapons and other contraband. Unlike conventional radiographic x-ray systems

Reference Ballistic Chronograph

The NIST-developed reference ballistic chronograph (RBC) provides repeatable measurements of the speed of a bullet that will impact a test article, such as