Racing Safety Equipment - Firesuit Safety

Now it is time to buy your suit. While there are numerous fire-retardant materials on the market, three that are often seen in the motorsports industry are fire-retardant cottons, Nomex, and Carbon-X. You may hear about other FR materials, such as Difco/PBI, Basofil, or Proban, but these tend to be used more in items such as firefighter suits and fire-retardant upholstery. But that doesn't mean you can't find them in the racing world.

All of those FR materials perform admirably when tested, and in many cases, you will find that manufacturers offer suits made from several different materials or a combination of materials. For example, you can buy a custom suit made of either Nomex or CarbonX from Simpson Race Products. In addition, some manufacturers have their own proprietary fiber blends such as Safe-Quip's ThermX.

Here's a step-by-step guide to selecting a firesuit.

Step 1: Determine Your Budget.
The price for a quality SFI 3.2A/5 two-layer firesuit starts at just under $300 and can exceed $1,000 if you go the custom route. When figuring out what to spend, remember Bill Simpson's words: "One day in the hospital is five grand, and a good suit will last you three to four years." As a side note, a suit of a really good quality will run you about $450. Divide that over four years and you've got a little over a C-note per year.

Step 2: Contact The Manufacturers Directly.
Don't contact the dealers. Contact the guys who make these things. Tell them your ideal budget, the type of car you race, your height, weight, and so on. They will be happy to talk with you, and their technical people can suggest the suit that best fits your application and price range. While you have them on the phone, do not forget to ask about TPP ratings. By simply asking, you might find a little bonus. For example, in order to receive a rating of 3.2A/5 from SFI, you must achieve at least a TPP rating of 19. The key words there are "at least."

It is not unheard of for a firesuit manufacturer to exceed the minimum rating. "Our SFI-5 firesuit has a TPP of about 27," says Simpson, founder of Impact Racing. That rating is well above the SFI minimum for a No. 5 suit but still below the TPP rating of 38 for a No. 10-rated suit, which is normally used for land speed records. The TPP rating can also explain why one manufacturer's SFI 3.2A/5 suit costs more than another manufacturer's suit with the same rating.

Step 3: Go shopping and look at the suits.
This may seem time-consuming, but it is important to look at different suits. Ideally, you do this at an event or a store front where you can compare different manufacturers side by side. Turn the suits inside out and compare them seam to seam. Look for a three-needle stitch with overlap in the critical areas, such as the crotch. Remember, if the car is on its side or roof, you're moving in unorthodox ways just to get out. Think about the consequences of having the crotch of your cheaply made suit split open while you're trying to wiggle out of a burning car-not a pretty thought, I assure you.

Once you've determined that the stitching is three-needle and high-quality, try it on! While that sounds painfully obvious, I know guys who have bought suits without trying them on only to be disappointed by the fit when they get to the track. Squat down, move your arms and legs in a variety of positions. Who cares if you look stupid? Remember that you're feeling for movement in a worst-case scenario-getting out of a burning car fast!

There is a trade-off between bulkiness, safety, and comfort. Remember, we said the only way to increase the TPP rating is to add layers. You have two choices here: Thin layers of high-tech material add cost but deliver maximum comfort, and thicker layers of low-tech material add protection without more cost, but increase bulk. That's why you need to try it on. What is comfortable on me may not feel good at all to you.

So you followed our instructions, and now you've got a brand-new SFI 3.2A/5-rated double-layer firesuit that fits perfectly. Nice work, but you're not done. Perhaps the most important part of owning a firesuit is its care. We understand that not everybody's budget allows them to spend $400 on a firesuit. But regardless of what you spent on your suit, treat it like it has a $2,000, custom-made, top-of-the-line price tag. Don't crawl under your car while wearing your suit. Check with the manufacturer of your suit for their recommended care instructions and then follow them. Your suit will last far longer and perform much better.

Firesuit technology is at the cutting edge right now. Materials are superb, threads are getting better, and manufacturers continue to make strides in the areas of weaving it all together. So look for the next advance to come in the area of education. Impact Racing is developing a series of traveling safety seminars that will visit various tracks throughout 2007. The point of the program is not so much to sell a product, but rather to educate racers on safety equipment choices and how to make the best one for their situation.