The extension of the validity of FIA racing harnesses, from five to 10 years, is an important achievement, and it is worth explaining some of the background behind it.
In 1998 the FIA introduced a new requirement (under FIA standard 8853)
for harnesses to be used in International competition, and for the first time incorporated a five-year validity period. In 2002 CAMS enforced this period for all competition in Australia.
However, there has never been a scientific basis for placing any specific limit on the effective life of a competition harness. After seat belts in road cars became fitted as standard and their use became compulsory over 35 years ago, similar questions were raised by road safety authorities. But crash investigations and other studies did not show any increased risk of seat belt failure with increasing vehicle age. Belt performance appears to be as satisfactory in cars aged 15 to 20 years as it was when new, and therefore no authorities have mandated regular belt replacement.
Generally, road car seat belts have a heavier and harder use than race harnesses, and any potentially hazardous wear or misuse is obvious to the eye of an official inspector. AIMSS therefore contracted Autoliv, a major FIA-approved crash and equipment test laboratory based in Melbourne, to examine and test a sample of race harnesses that were
‘out of date’; that is, beyond the five-year expiry date on the labels on the harnesses. It was found that most harnesses over 15 years old are unlikely now to be in full compliance with current FIA requirements. However, these harnesses were built in accordance with the pre-1998 requirements of their periods, which were less stringent. In addition, many in this group were of a rather ‘basic’ nature by modern standards, and some were so badly soiled that they would be rejected by any competent scrutineer.
On the other hand, all the harnesses aged 11 years and under still comfortably complied with the relevant strength requirements of FIA
8853/98. AIMSS therefore came to the opinion that there was no reason on cost-benefit grounds to require competitors to discard FIA standard
race harnesses after only five years. The test data strongly indicated that their validity could be extended from five to 10 years with no measurable decline in safety.
In events run under FIA international rules, the FIA five-year validity will still stand. Through CAMS, AIMSS (as a research partner organisation of the FIA Institute) intends to discuss this matter with the FIA. AIMSS is also conscious that many local competitors are unhappy with the two-year mandatory replacement of webbing in harnesses to the American SFI specification. This issue will require a different test procedure to resolve, but AIMSS will do so if possible.
I found it very interesting that the five year rule was applied arbitrarily with no scientific or engineering basis. How much influence do you reckon the harness manufacturers had on that decision?
This is the first time that CAMS has challenged the FIA's safety integrity on a cost-benefit basis, and I am hoping it won't be the last.
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the world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page
66 Mini Minor sponsored by
http://www.lifeonthehedge.com.au/ The Dog Harness Specialists
It was a pleasure ausmini. I'll miss all you misfits and reprobates
