Motorsport Fire Safety Information
FIA GENERAL SAFETY
87) Official instructions will be given to drivers by means of the signals laid out in the Code. Competitors must not use flags similar in any way whatsoever to these.
88) Drivers are strictly forbidden to drive their car in the opposite direction to the race unless this is absolutely necessary in order to move the car from a dangerous position.
89) Any driver intending to leave the track should signal his intention to do so in good time making sure that he can do this without danger.
90) (a) During practice and the race, drivers may use only the track and must at all times observe the provisions of the Code relating to driving behaviour on circuits.
(b) Other than by driving on the track, Competitors are not permitted to attempt to alter the grip of any part of the track surface.
91) A driver who abandons a car must leave it in neutral or with the clutch disengaged and with the steering wheel in place.
92) The organiser must make at least two fire extinguishers of 5kg capacity available to each competitor and ensure that they work properly.
93) a) Refuelling is allowed only in the pit lane at the teams designated garage area.
b) With the exception of cars forced to abort their qualifying run due to red flags being displayed on the circuit which may then be refuelled before a new qualifying attempt, or any adjustment to the fuel level when a spare car is needed during the second part of the qualifying practice session, fuel may not be added to nor removed from a car between the start of the second part of the qualifying practice session and the start of the race.
c) Other than a fuel breather and an external fuel pressurising device for starting the engine (in which case only fuel on board the car may be used for running the engine), no connection may be made to the fuel system of the car between the start of the second part of the qualifying practice sessions and the start of the race.
94) The driver may remain in his car throughout refuelling but, unless an FIA approved race refuelling system is used, the engine must be stopped.
With the exception of the first part of the qualifying practice session and until the start of the second part, race refuelling systems may not be used during, or immediately after, any practice session. Whilst being used during the qualifying practice session and the race, any refuelling carried out with the race system must take place in the pit lane and all team personnel working on the car must wear clothing which will protect all parts of their body from fire. Each competitor must ensure that an assistant equipped with a suitable fire extinguisher of adequate capacity is beside the car throughout all refuelling operations.
95) Save as specifically authorised by the Code or these Sporting Regulations, no one except the driver may touch a stopped car unless it is in the paddock, the teams designated garage area, the pit lane or on the starting grid.
96) At no time may a car be reversed in the pit lane under its own power.
97) During the period commencing 15 minutes prior to and ending 5 minutes after every practice session and the period between the commencement of the formation lap which immediately precedes the race and the time when the last car enters the parc ferme no one is allowed on the track, the pit entry or the pit exit with the exception of :
a) marshals or other authorised personnel in the execution of their duty ;
b) drivers when driving or on foot, having first received permission to do so from a marshal ;
c) team personnel clearing equipment from the grid after all cars have left the grid on the formation lap;
d) mechanics under Article 150 only.
98) During a race, the engine may only be started with the starter except :
a) in the pit lane or the teams designated garage area where the use of an external starting device is allowed, or ;
b) under Article 155c) or d).
99) Drivers taking part in practice and the race must always wear the clothes, helmets and head and neck supports specified in the Code.
100) A speed limit of 60km/h will be imposed in the pit lane during all free practice sessions, this will be raised to 100km/h for the remainder of the Event. Under exceptional circumstances the Permanent Bureau of the Formula One Commission may amend these limits.
Except in the race, any driver who exceeds the limit will be fined US$250 for each km/h above the limit (this may be increased in the case of a second offence in the same Championship season). During the race, the stewards may impose either of the penalties under Article 54a) or b) on any driver who exceeds the limit.
101) If a driver has serious mechanical difficulties during practice or the race he must leave the track as soon as it is safe to do so.
102) The car’s rear light must be illuminated at all times when it is running on wet-weather tyres. It shall be at the discretion of the race director to decide if a driver should be stopped because his rear light is not working. Should a car be stopped in this way it may re-join when the fault has been remedied.
103) Only six team members per participating car (all of whom shall have been issued with and wearing special identification) are allowed in the signalling area during practice and the race.
People under 16 years of age are not allowed in the pit lane.
104) Animals, except those which may have been expressly authorised by the FIA for use by security services, are forbidden on the track, in the pit lane, in the paddock or in any spectator area.
105) The race director, the clerk of the course or the FIA medical delegate can require a driver to have a medical examination at any time during an Event.
106) Failure to comply with the general safety requirements of the Code or these Sporting Regulations may result in the exclusion of the car and driver concerned from the Event.
FIA SAFETY EQUIPMENT
14.1 Fire extinguishers :
14.1.1 All cars must be fitted with a fire extinguishing system which will discharge into the cockpit and into the engine compartment.
14.1.2 Any AFFF which has been specifically approved by the FIA is permitted.
14.1.3 The quantity of extinguishant may vary according to the type of AFFF used, a list is available from the FIA.
14.1.4 When operated, the fire extinguishing system must discharge 95% of its contents at a constant pressure in no less than 10 seconds and no more than 30 seconds.
If more than one container with extinguishant is fitted, they must be released simultaneously.
14.1.5 Each pressure vessel must be equipped with a means of checking its pressure which may vary according to the type of AFFF used. A list is available from the FIA.
14.1.6 The following information must be visible on each container with extinguishant :
a) Type of extinguishant
b) Weight or volume of the extinguishant
c) Date the container must be checked which must be no more than two years after the date of filling.
14.1.7 All parts of the extinguishing system must be situated within the survival cell and all extinguishing equipment must withstand fire.
14.1.8 Any triggering system having its own source of energy is permitted, provided it is possible to operate all extinguishers should the main electrical circuits of the car fail.
The driver must be able to trigger the extinguishing system manually when seated normally with his safety belts fastened and the steering wheel in place.
Furthermore, a means of triggering from the outside must be combined with the circuit breaker switch described in Article 14.2.2. It must be marked with a letter “E” in red inside a white circle of at least 100mm diameter with a red edge.
14.1.9 The system must work in any position, even when the car is inverted.
14.1.10 All extinguisher nozzles must be suitable for the extinguishant and be installed in such a way that they are not directly pointed at the driver.
14.2 Master switch :
14.2.1 The driver, when seated normally with the safety belts fastened and the steering wheel in place, must be able to cut off the electrical circuits to the ignition, all fuel pumps and the rear light by means of a spark proof circuit breaker switch.
This switch must be located on the dashboard and must be clearly marked by a symbol showing a red spark in a white edged blue triangle.
14.2.2 There must also be an exterior switch, with a horizontal handle, which is capable of being operated from a distance by a hook. This switch must be situated at the base of the main roll over structure on the right hand side.
14.3 Rear view mirrors :
14.3.1 All cars must have at least two mirrors mounted so that the driver has visibility to the rear and both sides of the car.
14.3.2 The reflective surface of each mirror must be at least 150mm wide, this being maintained over a height of at least 50mm. Additionally, each corner may have a radius no greater than 10mm.
14.3.3 No part of the reflective surface may be less than 250mm from the car centre line or more than 750mm from the rear of the cockpit entry template.
14.3.4 The FIA technical delegate must be satisfied by a practical demonstration that the driver, when seated normally, can clearly define following vehicles.
For this purpose, the driver shall be required to identify any letter or number, 150mm high and 100mm wide, placed anywhere on boards behind the car, the positions of which are detailed below :
Height : From 400mm to 1000mm from the ground.
Width : 2000mm either side of the centre line of the car.
Position : 10m behind the rear axle line of the car.
14.4 Safety belts
It is mandatory to wear two shoulder straps, one abdominal strap and two straps between the legs. These straps must be securely fixed to the car and must comply with FIA standard 8853/98.
14.5 Rear light :
All cars must have a red light in working order throughout the Event which :
– has been manufactured as specified by the FIA ;
– faces rearwards at 90° to the car centre line and the reference plane ;
– is clearly visible from the rear ;
– is not mounted more than 100mm from the car centre line ;
– is mounted between 325mm and 400mm above the reference plane ;
– is no less than 450mm behind the rear wheel centre line measured parallel to the reference plane ;
– can be switched on by the driver when seated normally in the car.
The three measurements above will be taken to the centre of the rear face of the light unit.
14.6 Headrests and head protection :
14.6.1 All cars must be equipped with three areas of padding for the drivers head which :
– are so arranged that they can be removed from the car as one part ;
– are located by two horizontal pegs behind the driver’ head and two fixings, which are clearly indicated and easily removable without tools, at the front corners ;
– are made from a material which is suitable for the relevant ambient air temperature, details of approved materials and the temperature bands in which they should be used are available from the FIA Technical Department ;
– are fitted with a cover manufactured from 60-240gsm materials which use suitable thermo-setting resin systems ;
– are positioned so as to be the first point of contact for the driver’s helmet in the event of an impact projecting his head towards them during an accident.
14.6.2 The first area of padding for the drivers head must be positioned behind him and be between 75mm and 90mm thick over an area of at least 40000mm².
14.6.3 The two further areas of padding for the drivers head must be positioned directly alongside each side of his helmet. The upper surfaces of these areas of padding must be at least as high as the survival cell over their entire length.
Each area of padding must be between 75mm and 90mm thick over an area of at least 25000mm and may have a radius of 10mm along it’s upper inboard edge. When calculating their area, any part which is greater than 75mm thick and which lies between the front face of the rear area of padding and the forward most part of the driver’s helmet whilst he is seated normally, will be taken into account (area ‘B’ in Drawing 4). The thickness will be measured perpendicular to the car centre line.
14.6.4 Forward of the side areas of padding further cockpit padding must be provided on each side of the cockpit rim. The purpose of the additional padding is to afford protection to the driver’s head in the event of an oblique frontal impact and must therefore be made from the same material as the other three areas of padding.
These extensions must :
– be symmetrically positioned about the car centre line and a continuation of the side areas of padding ;
– be positioned with their upper surfaces at least as high as the survival cell over their entire length;
– have a radius on their upper inboard edge no greater than 10mm ;
– be positioned in order that the distance between the two is no less than 360mm ;
– be as high as practicable within the constraints of driver comfort.
14.6.5 All of the padding described above must be so installed that if movement of the driver’s head, in any expected trajectory during an accident, were to compress the foam fully at any point, his helmet would not make contact with any structural part of the car.
Furthermore, for the benefit of rescue crews all of the padding described above must be installed using the FIA approved system. The method of removal must also be clearly indicated.
14.6.6 No part of the padding described above may obscure sight of any part of the driver’s helmet when he is seated normally and viewed from directly above the car.
14.6.7 In order to minimise the risk of leg injury during an accident, additional areas of padding must be fitted each side of, and above, the drivers legs.
These areas of padding must :
– be made from a material specified by the FIA ;
– be no less than 25mm thick over their entire area ;
– cover the area situated between points lying 50mm behind the centre of the point at which the second roll structure test is carried out and100mm behind the face of the rearmost pedal when in the inoperative position, as shown in Drawing 4 ;
– cover the area above the line A-A shown in Drawing 3.
14.7 Wheel retention :
All cars, whilst under their own power, must be fitted with devices which will retain any wheel in the event of it coming loose.
After the wheel nut is fastened, these devices must be manually fitted in a separate action to that of securing the wheel nut.
14.8 Seat fixing and removal :
14.8.1 In order that an injured driver may be removed from the car in his seat following an accident, all cars must be fitted with a seat which, if it is secured, must be done so with no more than two bolts. If bolts are used they must :
– be clearly indicated and easily accessible to rescue crews ;
– be fitted vertically ;
– be removable with the same tool for all Teams and which is issued to all rescue crews.
14.8.2 The seat must be equipped with receptacles which permit the fitting of belts to secure the driver and one which will permit the fitting of a neck support.
14.8.3 The seat must be removable without the need to cut or remove any of the seat belts.
14.8.4 Details of the tool referred to above, the belt receptacles and the neck support are available from the FIA Technical Department.
14.9 Head and neck supports :
No head and neck support worn by the driver may be less 25mm from any structural part of the car when he is seated in his normal driving position.