HANS Devices & The MSA Guide 2015-2016
The MSA Announcement
On June the 9th the MSA Council voted to male FIA approved Frontal Head Restraints (FHR) mandatory for Stage Rallying, Hill Climb and Sprint (with certain exceptions in each) from 1st January 2016 onward.
Summary from the MSA;
“Motor Sports Council, the MSA’s rule-making body, has voted to mandate the use of Frontal Head Restraints in Stage Rallying, Hill Climb and Sprint – with certain exceptions in each – from 2016 onward.
The decisions were taken yesterday (9 June) at the second of Council’s three meetings in 2015, held at Motor Sports House.
After a very lengthy debate, it was decided that from 1 January 2016 an FIA-approved FHR will be mandatory for all Stage Rally competitors, except for those in Historic Category One vehicles, for whom it will be a recommendation in 2016 and mandatory from 2017.
It was also decided that from 1 January 2016 an FIA-approved FHR will be mandatory for all Hill Climb and Sprint competitors, except for those in Period Defined Vehicles, Road-going Series Production Cars and Road-going Specialist Production Cars. Nonetheless, it will be recommended for those excepted competitors.
The relevant new regulations – along with all others approved by Motor Sports Council yesterday – will be published in due course.”
Early Development of the HANS Device
The device was designed in the early 1980s by Dr. Robert Hubbard and Jim Downing, following the death of one of their mutual friends, Patrick Jacquemart who was killed in an IMSA testing accident at Mid-Ohio. The first prototype was developed in 1985, and in crash tests in 1989 (the first to use crash sleds and crash dummies using race car seat belt harnesses) the energy exerted on the head and neck was lowered by some 80%.
The HANS Device became mandatory for Champ Car in 2001, Forumla 1 in 2003 and the World Rally CHamp WRC for the 2005 season. The FIA then made the HANS device compulsory for all international event from 2009.
HANS Device Guidelines
Overview
- The HANS Device is worn UNDER your safety harness.
- Belt adjusters should rest on or below the lower portion on the HANS Device.
- Change or remove padding for best fit, pads are for comfort only.
- Never modify the body of the HANS Device.
Head Rest Clearance
- The HANS Device may lightly contact the helmet or head rest.
- If your HANS pushes your head forward uncomfortably, a more upright device may be required.
- The HANS Device may move back and forth a little during racing.
Belt Mounting
Quote from the MSA;
“The shoulder strap mounting points should be lower than the point at which the straps bear down on the HANS, such that the straps make an angle of 10 Degrees to the horizontal. The mounting points must be equally disposed about the user’s centre line so that straps spread outward slightly from the mountings and around the HANS. This helps to keep the straps firmly engaged with the HANS.”
- If the mounting points for the belts are far behind the seat, the belt mounts should be very close together. (Belts may touch or even be crossed over each other if necessary)
- 75-100mm distance between inner edges (shown above) is typical.
- If the mounting points are close to the seat, the width between the inner edges of the belts should be equal to or 25mm (1 inch) less than the width of the HANS Device.
- HANS works with any 2″ or 3″ shoulder harness.
- Mount should belts of harness 25-50mm below the horizontal. ( MSA quote “10 Degrees to the horizontal“ )
HANS Device Tethers
- Standard 450mm length tethers fit most applications
- DO NOT over tighten tether carrier screws.
- Tethers are dated. Replace every 5 years. Also replace after major impacts or sooner if wear is observed.
Helmet Anchor Points – Helmet Posts
We have conflicting advise on if a non HANS helmet can be fitted with HANS anchor points. So we will refer you to the below quotes from the governing bodies.
Quote from the MSA;
“The helmet must be equipped by the helmet manufacturer or agent with FIA homologated fixation points and the helmet must be manufactured in accordance with one of the required Standards. Some helmets are specifically manufactured and homologated for use with HANS”
Quote from the FIA;
“5. Helmets with HANS®
5.1 An FIA approved helmet conforming to FIA 8858-2002 or FIA 8860-2004 (or latest revisions) fitted with helmet-tether-anchorages shall be used. Please refer to FIA Technical List 29 for further details.
5.2 The position of the helmet-tether-anchorages shall comply with FIA 8858-2002. It is strongly
recommended to use helmets with helmet-tether-anchorage inserts fitted by the manufacturer
as original equipment: these are identified by a glossy silver holographic FIA label.
5.3 Original Equipment helmet-anchorages should not be removed for painting the helmet.
However, if it is apparent that the helmet-anchorages have been removed, they shall be correctly
refitted with thread locking compound.”
USEFUL LINKS – We highly recommend your read these in preparation for using a HANS Device.
FIA HANS Device PDF Guidelines (Issued: 01/07/2007)
MSA HANS Device PDF Guidelines
HANS Performance Products USA – HANS Device Quick Start Guide PDF (Dated: August 2014)
The HANS Performance Products USA Range
HANS Device Sport 2 II FIA 20 Degree Large
HANS Device Sport 2 II FIA 20 Degree Medium
- SFI and FIA approved
- Entry Level Pricing with the Same Safety Performance as Professional Series HANS Device
- Equipped with Sport anchors
- Sliding Tethers
- Injection molded super structural thermoplastics
- 20 degree size Large
- Weighs 918gms
HANS Device Sport III 3 FIA 20 Degree Medium
HANS Device Sport III 3 FIA 20 Degree Large
The HANS III represents the third generation of injection molded HANS devices and features a contemporary approach to reducing weight. Using an all new design and polymer, the device features a hollow collar that substantially minimizes weight. Engineered reinforcements ensure an exceptionally strong structure that provides the same level of safety as every HANS device. The reduced mass guarantees the lightest and most comfortable injection molded HANS ever.
- SFI and FIA approved
- Entry Level Pricing with the Same Safety Performance as Professional Series HANS Device
- Sliding Tethers
- Injection molded super structural thermoplastics
- 20 degree
- Weighs 600gms (Medium) / 650g (Large)
HANS Device Adjustable FIA Medium
HANS Device Adjustable FIA Large
- SFI and FIA approved
- Device adjusts in 5 degree increments, from 10 to 40 degrees
- Sliding Tethers
- Injection molded super structural thermoplastics
- Weighs 1085gms
HANS Device Pro Ultra Carbon Fibre FIA 20 Degree Medium
HANS Device Pro Ultra Carbon Fibre FIA 20 Degree Large
The Pro Ultra device applies lightweight construction of the Carbon Fiber Pro series to the modern new shape of the Sport II. The Ultra saves on weight and allows for easy entry and exit from the race car, even smaller tighter vehicles. The 100% carbon fiber construction features a hollow core for increased weight reduction without sacrificing strength.
- SFI and FIA approved
- 100% Carbon Fiber Construction
- Sliding Tethers
- Light Weight 644gms (medium)/ 734gms (large)