What is an SFI Rating?
SFI (SEMA Foundation Inc) sets safety standards for various types of motorsports equipment, including racing suits. This is measured in a TPP value which is the suit’s Thermal Protection Performance in the event of a fire.
The SFI rating system includes:
- SFI 3.2A/1: Racing suits with a TPP rating of at least 6 percent. Suitable for drivers who are just starting out in racing, or who are participating in low-speed or low-risk events.
- SFI 3.2A/3: Racing suits with a TPP rating of at least 14 percent. Suitable for drivers who are competing in high-speed, high-risk events, such as sprint car racing or standard drag racing.
- SFI 3.2A/5: Racing suits with a TPP rating of at least 19 percent. Suitable for drivers who are competing in high-speed, high-risk events, such as sprint car racing or standard drag racing.
- SFI 3.2A/10: Racing suits with a TPP rating of at least 38 percent. Suitable for drivers who are competing in extremely high-speed, high-risk events, such as sprint car racing or standard drag racing.
- SFI 3.2A/15: Racing suits with a TPP rating of at least 60 percent. Suitable for drivers who are competing in the most extreme high-speed, high-risk events, such as sprint car racing or standard drag racing.
- SFI 3.2A/20: Racing suits with a TPP rating of at least 80 percent. Suitable for drivers who are competing in the most extreme high-speed, high-risk events such as sprint car racing, standard drag racing, funny car drag racing, or top fuel drag racing.
SFI, which stands for SEMA Foundation Inc (Specialty Equipment Market Association), is an organization that plays a pivotal role in ensuring the safety of motorsports equipment, including racing suits. The SFI 3.2A/5 standard is a certification for fire-resistant racing suits that sets specific requirements for fire resistance and protection. Racing suits that meet this standard are tested rigorously to ensure they can withstand high temperatures and provide maximum protection to drivers in case of a fire.
Pyrotect, offers racing suits that meet the SFI 3.2A/5 standard, as well as other safety gear and accessories for racers of all levels. Pyrotect’s racing suits are made of high-quality materials that meet the strict requirements of the SFI certification, ensuring maximum protection for drivers in the event of a fire.
Overall, SFI is an organization that is dedicated to promoting safety in the motorsports industry. Their safety standards are widely recognized and accepted in the industry, and Pyrotect is committed to providing high-quality safety gear that meets these rigorous standards.
SFI (Specialty Equipment Market Association) is an organization that sets safety standards for motorsports equipment, including racing suits. SFI-1 and SFI-5 are two different certification standards for fire-resistant racing suits.
SFI-1 is the entry-level certification for fire-resistant racing suits. Suits that meet the SFI-1 standard are required to have a TPP (Thermal Protective Performance) rating of at least 6, and a maximum heat transfer of 35 percent. These suits are suitable for drivers who are just starting out in racing, or who are participating in low-speed or low-risk events.
SFI-5 is a higher-level certification for fire-resistant racing suits. Suits that meet the SFI-5 standard are required to have a TPP rating of at least 19, and a maximum heat transfer of 60 percent. These suits are suitable for drivers who are competing in high-speed, high-risk events, such as drag racing or sprint car racing.
Pyrotect offers racing suits that meet both the SFI-1 and SFI-5 standards, as well as other safety gear and accessories for racers of all levels.
SFI 3.2A/5 is a safety certification standard that sets the requirements for fire-resistant racing suits. This certification is issued by the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) and is recognized by many racing organizations in North America. The SFI 3.2A/5 standard requires that racing suits meet specific specifications for fire resistance and protection, including a minimum Thermal Protective Performance (TPP) rating of 19 and a maximum heat transfer of 60 percent.
The TPP rating measures the amount of heat that a suit can withstand before the wearer would suffer from second-degree burns. The higher the TPP rating, the more protection the suit provides. In general, SFI 3.2A/5 certified suits have a TPP rating of at least 19, which means they can withstand significant heat and provide a high level of protection to the driver. The maximum heat transfer requirement of 60 percent means that no more than 60 percent of the heat energy from a fire can be transferred through the material of the suit. This helps to ensure that the driver is protected from burns and other injuries that can result from contact with flames or heat.
Pyrotect offers racing suits that meet the SFI 3.2A/5 standard, as well as other safety gear and accessories for racers of all levels. Pyrotect’s racing suits are made of high-quality materials that meet the strict requirements of the SFI certification, ensuring maximum protection for drivers in the event of a fire. Overall, the SFI 3.2A/5 certification standard is an important benchmark for fire-resistant racing suits, and Pyrotect is committed to providing high-quality safety gear that meets these rigorous standards. Let me know if you have any other questions about Pyrotect or their products.
Technology has always been a hot topic in racing. No doubt, what our favorite drivers wear from race to race certainly consumes us as well. Fire suits are the norm in modern racing, just as a basketball player would wear a jersey or a professional skier would wear a race suit. But fire suits haven’t always been around in NASCAR.
Denim blue jeans, a ubiquitous American classic and the original miners’ wear, were the durable uniform choice in NASCAR’s early days. According to NASCAR.com, drivers and crew alike often paired jeans with T-shirts affiliated with an automotive manufacturer or brand, and eventually started using rudimentary cooling liners made of netting.
With time, the science of racing apparel naturally progressed, too, and fire suits have been just one of the drastic improvements on the circuit designed to combat flames. With the copious amounts of gasoline at any race, fires can erupt not only during crashes, but virtually anywhere on a NASCAR track, including pit road.
Fire suits today are uniforms, but safety is their priority and function. Here are 14 facts about fire suits:
1. Glenn “Fireball” Roberts, a beloved racing legend who won 33 races, was in a fiery crash in the 1964 World 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway that left him with severe burns. He survived the crash but died of complications six weeks after the accident. Fireball Roberts’ death was one of the major catalysts that led to the development of more fire-resistant uniforms in racing.
2. In the 1960s, some drivers dipped their clothing into baking soda to make it more fire resistant.
3. Modern fire suits are made of Nomex® or Proban® fire-retardant materials. According to Nomex’s website, Nomex fiber protects auto racing teams through its inherent heat- and flame-resistant properties and durability.
What’s the difference?
Nomex: Nomex, developed by DuPont, is a permanently fire-retardant fiber that’s woven or knitted into fabric. It remains fire-retardant over time.
Proban: Proban is used mostly in single-layer economy uniforms. It’s a cotton-based material which has been chemically treated so that it is fire retardant. However, washing it decreases the fire protection.
4. Helmet lining, gloves, socks, and shoes are also made of Nomex materials.
5. Fire suits not only protect from fire, heat and burns, but allow cooler air to enter the suit and expel air heated by the body, also known as air transfer.
6. Pit crew members also wear fire suits. Each individual’s fire suit is custom-tailored, often has his or her name on the back and is professionally cleaned after each use.
7. Special undergarments are worn underneath fire suits.
8. In the United States, the SFI Foundation issues and administers standards for the quality assurance of specialty performance and racing equipment, including NASCAR fire suits. Its racing suit specification 3.2A tests a material’s fire retardant capabilities and ability to provide thermal protective performance (known as TPP) against flame and heat. The test and a mathematical calculation determine a number value which determines the suit’s TPP value. Logically, the higher the TPP value, the better the rating of the fire suit and its properties.
9. NASCAR mandates that drivers and any crew member handling fuel to wear a one-piece fire suit at a minimum of SFI 3.2A/5. Pit crew members who go over the wall must wear a suit with an SFI rating of 3.2A/1 or better.
10. A gasoline fire can burn between 1,800 and 2,100 degrees Fahrenheit.
11. Beginning in the 1980s, fire suits also became a place to put sponsor logos. Like the colorful stock car paint schemes, fire suits today come in a vivid array of colors and are carefully designed to incorporate a number of logos.
12. Fire suits can be heavy. Nomex averages about 14 to 16 ounces per square yard. Depending on the size of the driver it takes around three yards of material to make a Sprint Cup fire suit. Sponsor logo and embroidery adds weight as well.
13. Some NASCAR media members wear fire suits, and there are reasons why.
14. A custom-made fire protection suit that meets all NASCAR specifications can cost between $900-$2,000, depending on style, logos and other embroidery. Remember when we said NASCAR is expensive?
| SFI Rating |
TPP Value |
Time to 2nd Degree Burn |
| 3.2A/1 |
6 |
3 Seconds |
| 3.2A/3 |
14 |
7 Seconds |
| 3.2A/5 |
19 |
10 Seconds |
| 3.2A/10 |
38 |
19 Seconds |
| 3.2A/15 |
60 |
30 Seconds |
| 3.2A/20 |
80 |
40 Seconds |
