ISA FIRE SUIT RULES

[rappy60guy]

i cant seem to find a specific rating required ? there seem to be many different ratings available. Can anyone chime in on this ?

[Jeff Knoll]

SFI 1 single layer is acceptable but consider what you are investing in when you make a purchase. here is a good article on the subject.

Racing Firesuits - Safety Ratings - Circle Track Magazine (http://www.circletrack.com/featuredvehicles/ctrp_0702_racing_firesuits/viewall.html)

[rappy60guy]

sorry jeff for the silly question but what is the difference in a fire suit and a KART suit besides abrasion resistance ...some of the kart suits have fire rating but would these be combersome in a utv?

[rappy60guy]

like this one

Alpine Stars2012 K-MX 5 Kart Suit-SafeRacer (http://www.saferacer.com/alpine-stars-2012-k-mx-5-kart-suit.html?productid=2452)

[Jeff Knoll]

I want to add a few things in here regarding firesuits since we are on the subject. When I started racing cars I sat down with Joe from DJ safety and he basically scared the crap out of me for a couple hours about fires. When it was all said and done and I still wanted to race he gave me an over all plan for safety.

Some of the things he shared I will share here now. Protect your hands and feet. I wear fire proof socks, and shoes. I started with the socks, and as budget allowed I purchased shoes. I have been through a few pair of gloves. When the get soiled with grease, and they will. I replace them.

Never wear synthetics under your suit. If you can't afford nomex underwear, then wear nothing but cotton. Synthetics will melt under your skin. I have heard of our military wearing that cool new Under Armor stuff and having it melt to their skin in flash fires in combat.
Stick to cotton.

This goes for your pit crew, even the ladies. Leave the fancy underwear at home wear cotton if your working in the pits.

Pit crews that can't afford fire suits should consider thick cotton denim. Stay away from those fancy new impregnated synthetic shirts that look great at a trade show. They don't belong in your pit. I wear Carhart brand jeans with built in knee pads when I pit for a desert race. If I am fueling I wear my firesuit. The Carhart jeans are double layer on most of the front.

Keep plenty of Fire extinguishers in your pits. Don't cheap out. 10lbs or better plus whats on the car.

Mark your fuel storage area

and the most simple suggestion that has been used multiple times in my pits, keep a clean water source handy. It seems like someone always gets a minor burn from a hot part of the car. While a 5 gal bucket might be an issue, I have found a large construction cooler mounted on the chase truck serves double duty. It encourages people to drink water, and its a ready available clean water source for a minor burn.

It took me a couple years, but I have slowly upgraded my personal safety stuff slowly, and have almost two of everything now.

[Jeff Knoll]

like this one

Alpine Stars2012 K-MX 5 Kart Suit-SafeRacer (http://www.saferacer.com/alpine-stars-2012-k-mx-5-kart-suit.html?productid=2452)

It does not look fire rated to me, but I may be missing it. Nice looking suit.

[AZCourt]

I'm pretty sure a kart suit would melt to you. Most are some sort of nylon. Not fire retardant, just abrasion resistant.

[Jeff Knoll]

Sparco USA (http://www.sparcousa.com/racewear_suits.asp)

FireSuits (http://djsafety.com/Firesuits.html)

MasterCraft Safety®: Race Suits (http://www.mastercraftsafety.com/racesuit_double.php)

Simpson Racing - Racing Fire Suits | Custom Drag Suit | Racing Gear (http://simpsonraceproducts.com/products/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=4)

[rappy60guy]

Great info jeff , and by no means am i looking for a cheap suit im just trying to learn what all these ratings are and looks like some Kart suits have fire rating and some dont. So i guess ill keep away from them. Thank you for your time

[FabMan]

Jeff, Great post! Letting everyone from the new guy just getting into racing to reminding the experienced, SAFETY FIRST! We all know that nomex underwear is hot in the summer and the more the layers in the suit the hotter they are and so are gloves, and a neck brace.

I have experienced an intense fuel fire at close range this year that melted and warped the face shield of a full face helmet. I don't believe most people including myself until this year knew or knows what that heat really feels like to skin. Don't compare it to a super hot camp fire, compare a fuel fire to firing up your oxyacetylene torch and torching your skin with it. A wood and fuel fire are 2 different animals. I know a 2 layer suit, Nomex underwear, gloves, shoes, neck brace and full face felmet are not as cool as a new set of beadlocks or engine upgrades but you CANNOT put these things before your safety. NO, YOU WILL NOT BE OK! NO, THAT DOESN'T JUST HAPPEN TO OTHER RACERS! Don't be the fool that had the cool race car but is scared over most of his body or dead because he put cool before safety! live to race another day! Thanks again for the great post!

[AZCourt]

A single layer suit only offers 3 seconds of protection. I couldn't get out of my race rhino that fast.

http://img.tapatalk.com/9776b23f-9696-d332.jpg

[SXSPerformance.com]

Someone once told me to time yourself getting out of your car and have a suit that will exceed that requirement. Other things to consider are if you are upside down or on your side and start to panic. Those eat up very valuable seconds when trying to get out of a car.

[FabMan]

That's more great information guy's. Thanks for posting!

[crdesigns]

I was in the Jagged X 1919 car with Brandon when it burnt down at the Silver State 300 never say never and like Lasher said you definetly need to figure panic time, Because it happens no matter how much you practice getting out of the car. When you have a neck brace on and your helmet with smoke in the mix it becomes hard to find your seat belt release. Get the bests suit you can we had DJ. Safety two layers at the time and they did there job.

[Oc1]

I raced KOH this year and couldn't belive that out of the 3 of us switching off in the car I was the only one with a multi layer suit. Taking a short cut on your suit, helmet, or belts is just not worth it.

[VBosch02]

WOW! I'm planning on beginning my racing carrier this year and until I read this thread I was set on a single layer suit. No race gloves and no race shoes. Ignorance up until this point has played into a lot of my thinking. But lately I’ve been reading and listening to you guys that have been around the block and my mind is changing drastically. Before any more mods have been made to my car I will be buying safety gear. I have Suit, gloves and shoes at the top of the list along with a full face helmet. Awesome thread and thanks to the guys who know what is going on and share their knowledge with those of us that don’t.

[FabMan]

Ryan, your a smart man! Practice different scenarios in the car with full gear and your eyes closed many times. Exit drivers door and passenger door. Even though everything will happen in seconds, and will not happen exactly as you practiced, you will still learn what you need to do and what not to do. The only thing you will not be able to practice is roll over and upside down exit. And that is the toughest, but that's what the gear is for. Install a main power cut off switch on the dash at easy reach while your still belted in. Good luck with your racing endeavors. Be safe and have fun. Later....

[waytay]

Great thread!!!!

[VBosch02]

Ryan, your a smart man! Practice different scenarios in the car with full gear and your eyes closed many times. Exit drivers door and passenger door. Even though everything will happen in seconds, and will not happen exactly as you practiced, you will still learn what you need to do and what not to do. The only thing you will not be able to practice is roll over and upside down exit. And that is the toughest, but that's what the gear is for. Install a main power cut off switch on the dash at easy reach while your still belted in. Good luck with your racing endeavors. Be safe and have fun. Later....


Thanks FabMan! I'm going to practice that for sure. I've had a main cut off switch in my tool box for a while. It's going in this weekend.

[Jeff Knoll]

Don't forget a seatbelt cutter. You just never know.