Discussion
As I have been shopping for new racewear I have noticed something which may be of interest to competitors.
The FIA are superseding standard 8856-2000 which regulates protective clothing except helmet and HANS. The new standard is 8856-2018. Equipment manufacturers started to release kit which is certified to the new standard in 2019.
So what is the difference, and how will this affect drivers who will invariably be using kit which is certified to the old standard?
According to the FIA, 8856-2018 is ‘considerably stricter’ than the standard it supersedes.
Unless you are competing in the top levels of motorsport, 8856-2018 will be not be obligatory until 01.01.2029.
This implies that 8856-2000 will be valid until that date (n.b. I have not found any source which explicitly states that 8856-2000 will be accepted until 31.12.2028 and presumably the FIA are at liberty to withdraw or amend at any time).
From 01.01.2022, all garments will be manufactured to the new standard.
8856-2018 garments will be ‘lifed’ in a similar way to the way in which harnesses have been ‘lifed’. A garment approved to 8856-2018 will be supplied with 10 years’ validity. If for instance it was manufactured in 2019 it will be marked “not valid after: 2029”.
The upshot of all this is that competitors currently have a choice between a wide range of garments approved to 8856-2000 and a growing number of garments approved to the 8856-2018 standard.
If we are to compare a garment manufactured to the old standard and a garment manufactured to the new standard, the old standard would be valid for 9 more seasons and the new standard would be valid for 10 if we are to assume that it was manufactured in 2019. However going forward we will obviously have a point where it is no longer worthwhile buying garments manufactured to the old standard, at least not at full price.
The FIA are superseding standard 8856-2000 which regulates protective clothing except helmet and HANS. The new standard is 8856-2018. Equipment manufacturers started to release kit which is certified to the new standard in 2019.
So what is the difference, and how will this affect drivers who will invariably be using kit which is certified to the old standard?
According to the FIA, 8856-2018 is ‘considerably stricter’ than the standard it supersedes.
Unless you are competing in the top levels of motorsport, 8856-2018 will be not be obligatory until 01.01.2029.
This implies that 8856-2000 will be valid until that date (n.b. I have not found any source which explicitly states that 8856-2000 will be accepted until 31.12.2028 and presumably the FIA are at liberty to withdraw or amend at any time).
From 01.01.2022, all garments will be manufactured to the new standard.
8856-2018 garments will be ‘lifed’ in a similar way to the way in which harnesses have been ‘lifed’. A garment approved to 8856-2018 will be supplied with 10 years’ validity. If for instance it was manufactured in 2019 it will be marked “not valid after: 2029”.
The upshot of all this is that competitors currently have a choice between a wide range of garments approved to 8856-2000 and a growing number of garments approved to the 8856-2018 standard.
If we are to compare a garment manufactured to the old standard and a garment manufactured to the new standard, the old standard would be valid for 9 more seasons and the new standard would be valid for 10 if we are to assume that it was manufactured in 2019. However going forward we will obviously have a point where it is no longer worthwhile buying garments manufactured to the old standard, at least not at full price.
At Motorsport UK level, I wouldn't expect the FIA 8856-2000 standard to become mandatory for a long time. For example, FIA 1986 overalls can still be used in sprints / hillclimbs (with road going classes only needing Proban from 2020).
Also, with the 8856-2018 standard the expiry date could well be extended by Motorsport UK (like harnesses and seats).
Some good advice here. https://www.merlinmotorsport.co.uk/knowledge_base_...
Also, with the 8856-2018 standard the expiry date could well be extended by Motorsport UK (like harnesses and seats).
Some good advice here. https://www.merlinmotorsport.co.uk/knowledge_base_...
Gassing Station | General Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff