-What does NIJ Level IIIA mean?
Level IIIA, as certified by the National Institute of Justice, provides protection against most handgun threats as well as Level I, Level IIA, and Level II threats (.22, 9mm, .40 S&W, .357 Magnum, .357 SIG and .44 Magnum). Level IIIA body armor provides the highest level of protection currently available from soft, concealable body armor.

-What is the life of each ballistic panel?
The ballistic panels are warranted for five years, and a replacement is recommended at the end of that period. The care you give your panel will assist in expanding it's life to this limit. After a five year period, the panel may perform at the same ballistic level, but this should not be expected. Expired ballistic panels are better than no protection at all, but please consider their potentially limited effectiveness. Do not soak the panel in water or allow for extended exposure to direct sun or a temperature of over 175 degrees. This can cause the material to deteriorate more quickly. Never deploy with a ballistic panel that has previously been shot.
-What is the proper way to install/deploy with the ballistic insert panel?
The ARMR UNLMT'D logo is the "Strike Face" and as such, should always be having away from your body and toward the threat.