Just got off the ITAC call. CRB members are convinced 100% that this is a mistake. Goal was to clean up the wording (remove all specific approved materials for underwear etc).
It was NOT to change the spec in any way.
We are on it.
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Andy, as Kirk and others have pointed out (to me specifically), the "approved materials" were *not* just for underwear. ie, if the "cleanup" was meant to remove the "approved materials", it will still have the affect of disallowing a substantial amount of previously allowed suits. ie, anything that doesn't necessarily have an approved cert, but is made of "Nomex, Kynol, FPT, IWS (wool), Fiberglass, Firewear™, Durette, Fypro, PBI, Kevlar, NASAFIL".
There are really (atleast) two issues:
1. Removal of the old approved materials for suits and underwear.
2. Removal of FIA 8856-1986 certification.
For #1, it is probably a good idea to have a standards organization homologating the suits. Kirk, regardless of an individual's experience in safety suit manufacturing, tech workers need a *systematic* way of evaluating the suitability of each individual suit. And that systematic procedure can NOT involve them attempting to verify each individual suit manufacturers expertise/credentials (be it OMP or Kirk's-Sewing-Sweat-Shop). The suits must be previously homologated by the standards process, the approval of which needs to be easily verifiable by the tech worker, via patches or some variation of them. Note, nothing (other than money) stops you from having the standards org approve your home-brewed suit.
BTW, SFI claims to be both independent and non-profit. Take it for what it is worth.
For #2, as i said earlier, we should look into FIA 8856-1986 Spec, and verify if it is "up to snuff".
Scot Mac - Mac Motorsports
88 ITB Fiero #41, SFR, NWR, ICSCC
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