ASN Safety Bulletin #18 Karting Helmet

Dear colleagues,

With the purpose of improving Safety in karting competitions, at all the levels, we would like to share with you the below information. We encourage you to follow this guide and take all the necessary measures to ensure that it is respected within your sphere of competence.

1. HELMET CAMERA

In order to ensure that the helmet safety performance is not compromised, drivers must not add any aerodynamic device or other accessories that has not been homologated for use with the helmet concerned.

Non-FIA approved accessories, including non-FIA approved helmet cameras, are not allowed to be used during any of the championships listed in the FIA International Sporting Calendar. The term “accessories” also relates to cameras mounted on helmets in the Article 1.4 of Chapter III “Drivers’ Equipment, Helmet Modifications” of Appendix L to the International Sporting Code. You can view the regulations in place for the use of helmet accessories here.

As with any other accessory, if the camera is not listed as an FIA-approved accessory for a specific helmet, the helmet cannot be considered as complying with the FIA standards, and its use is prohibited in all cases in which compliance with the FIA helmet standard is mandatory.

It is important to note that the Safety Department identified safety concerns in all the non-approved camera examples that it examined. These cameras are likely to significantly reduce the safety performance of the helmet and represent a threat to the wearer.

The list of FIA-approved accessories for FIA Standards 8859-2015 and 8860-2018 is included in the presentation form of each helmet model that can be found in the Technical Lists N° 49 and N° 69 (the latest updated Technical Lists can be found here).

We would like to draw your attention to the fact that the types of cameras shown below are not approved by the FIA and therefore any helmet fitted with these cameras cannot be considered as complying with the FIA standard.

Fig.1 – NOT approved helmet camera installation

2. HELMET-M6-ANCHORAGE

The use of Helmet-M6-anchorages are not necessary during karting events, or in categories, where the driver is not wearing a Frontal Head Restraint (FHR) device e.g. a HANS device.

- For helmets with 8858-2010 Helmet-M6-anchorages, we strongly recommend removing the anchorage by unscrewing the bolts. In case of contact of the Helmet-M6-anchorage with the ground during an accident, the contact may induce undesirable rotational forces to the neck of the driver. Competitors needing to put back the 8858-2010 Helmet-M6-anchorages are authorized to do so only if they follow the instructions supplied by the helmet and 8858-2010 Helmet-M6-anchorages manufacturers.

- For helmets with 8858-2002 Helmet-M6-anchorages, it is forbidden to remove the Helmet-M6-anchorages.

Fig.2a – Helmet-M6-anchorage in place

Fig.2b - Helmet-M6-anchorage removed

3. FAKE OR NON-ORIGINAL VISORS

A considerable number of fake or non-original third-party manufactured visors have been noticed on FIA-approved helmets in FIA karting events. To exchange the visor of a helmet is forbidden and dangerous since the alternative one may not guarantee the same safety level of the helmet manufacturers original visor.

The safety issues most frequently detected on non-original visors are:

- Failure to meet the anti-penetration test; that means that the visor may not provide the same level of protection in the case of an impact with a moving object.

- Visor coating not compliant with the ISO 12312-1:2013 standard; that means that it could be difficult for the driver to see signal lights and specifically may not be able to accurately detect their colour.

- Failure to meet the flammability test requirements; even if flammability requirements are less relevant in karting competitions, it is nonetheless important to use original visors, as fake or non-original third party manufactured visors may melt or burn and thus pose a risk of injury to the wearer in case the visor is exposure to a fire.

Social Media Post

(Please feel free to copy and paste this for use on your social media channels)

The aim of this post is to improve Safety in karting competitions, at all the levels

1. HELMET CAMERA

In order to ensure that the helmet safety performance is not compromised, drivers must not add any aerodynamic device or other accessories that has not been homologated for use with the helmet concerned. You can view the regulations in place for the use of helmet accessories here (see Article 1.4 of Chapter III “Drivers’ Equipment, Helmet Modifications” of Appendix L to the International Sporting Code).

It is important to note that the Safety Department identified safety concerns in all the non-approved camera examples that it examined. These cameras are likely to significantly reduce the safety performance of the helmet and represent a threat to the wearer.

We would like to draw your attention to the fact that the types of cameras shown below are not approved by the FIA and therefore any helmet fitted with these cameras cannot be considered as complying with the FIA standard.

Fig.1 – NOT approved helmet camera installation

2. HELMET-M6-ANCHORAGE

The use of Helmet-M6-anchorages are not necessary during karting events, or in categories, where the driver is not wearing a Frontal Head Restraint (FHR) device e.g. a HANS device.

- For helmets with 8858-2010 Helmet-M6-anchorages, we strongly recommend removing the anchorage by unscrewing the bolts.

- For helmets with 8858-2002 Helmet-M6-anchorages, it is forbidden to remove the Helmet-M6-anchorages.

Fig.2a – Helmet-M6-anchorage in place

Fig.2b - Helmet-M6-anchorage removed

3. FAKE OR NON-ORIGINAL VISORS

A considerable number of fake or non-original third-party manufactured visors have been noticed on FIA-approved helmets in FIA karting events. To exchange the visor of a helmet is forbidden and dangerous since the alternative one may not guarantee the same safety level of the helmet manufacturers original visor.

#FIASafety #FIAVisionZero

Best regards,

FIA Safety Department

If you have any topics you would like us to cover in future bulletins please send your suggestions to the FIA Safety Department.

To read the other articles about the ASN Safety Bulletins, please visit the FIA website. You can also read by clicking here.