HANS Recertification

[Ralph Z.]

It's time to have my HANS device recertified. There are several outfits out there that do the work. Anyone have good experience with a certifier that you would recommend?

Thanks in advance.

[Keith Carter]

It's time to have my HANS device recertified. There are several outfits out there that do the work. Anyone have good experience with a certifier that you would recommend?

Thanks in advance.

Positively KRJ. Ken Joyce was great to deal with.

https://www.krjraceproducts.com/services/default.aspx

[Garey Guzman]

If you were closer to GA, I'd say you could go to almost any race and hand it to Jim Downing like I did a couple years ago!

Might also check Simpson Products distributers since they bought HANS 7 years ago. There;'s also a link on their webpage:
http://hansdevice.com/Home.html

[Bob L.]

Sent mine to Downing Atlanta a year ago. Good turn around.

https://downingatlanta.com/HANS_Shop.html

Okie

[Rick Kirchner]

Considering there's no science behind it and its nothing more than an unspecified visual inspection, with a tether replacement, I'd go with the cheapest.

[Jamesbe]

Such a scam really but at least they don't make you buy a new one every 5 years

Sent from my SM-G955W using Tapatalk

[Joules5]

I checked mine yesterday getting all the gear together and yep, April 2019 expiry from prior re-certification, panic set in as I have a Regional race July 6/7, but then I did a little research and apparently SCCA do not require re-certification?

I will replace the tether in any case though.

[Garey Guzman]

I checked mine yesterday getting all the gear together and yep, April 2019 expiry from prior re-certification, panic set in as I have a Regional race July 6/7, but then I did a little research and apparently SCCA do not require re-certification?...

I got mine recertified after SCCA Annual Tech check told me to. Otherwise, I wouldn't have bothered.
Note, this was maybe 2 years ago.

[kea]

I checked mine yesterday getting all the gear together and yep, April 2019 expiry from prior re-certification, panic set in as I have a Regional race July 6/7, but then I did a little research and apparently SCCA do not require re-certification?

I will replace the tether in any case though.

As of my last years GCR, that has been the case, so that answers my question about the latest version.

You need to understand that many Tech workers will get an idea in their head that something must be a certain way, yet the GCR has no mention.
With the SCCA, you need to know what the rules actually read, not how one person interprets it (found that out in my first drivers school, April 1971).
Get yourself a GCR !

[Bob Wright]

If I understand it correctly, the date on the tether is not an expiration date as it is for seat belts, rather the mfg date and you have 5 years from that date. Go figure out the FIA....

[kea]

The earlier HANS did not have a date on the tethers.
Also, there is not an expiration nor re-cert. date for FIA.
Most, if not all the HANS I sold, had both SFI and FIA tags, for this very reason.
If you crash very had, have the device inspected.
Or the very least, replace the tethers.

[EYERACE]

Reasonable guess is my HANS saved my neck years ago. It eventually went to Downing Atlanta for recert. No problem.

[cjahn]

So...

if my hans shows November of 08; I dont think the tethers have dates, nor does it have an FIA tag, does that mean it needs to be recertified?

Cj

[Earley Motorsports]

So...

if my hans shows November of 08; I dont think the tethers have dates, nor does it have an FIA tag, does that mean it needs to be recertified?

Cj

Sounds like it. Mine was 5 years past it's expiration date and was bought to my attention at Indy with SVRA. I had it recertified and the tether replaced by someone there but don't remember their name (business) for $140. Not sure if that was about what it costs everywhere but that is what it cost me there.

[Steve Davis]

GCR Section 9 Cars and Equipment
9.3.19.C.2

....The use of a head and neck restraint system that has been certified in accordance with SFI 38.1 or FIA 8858-2002 or 8858-
2010 is required; an SFI 38.1 or FIA 8858-2002 or 8858-2010 label must be properly affixed to
the device.

There is NO MENTION of required re-certification.

Steve, FV80

[Ralph Z.]

SVRA requuires re-certification. I learned about it at Mid Ohio. I was directed to a supplier set up next to tech inspection but I can't recall their name. They said my HANS could not be recertified and my only option was to buy a new one, which they had available, for $550. I'm sure they figured that I had no options. So, I borrowed a friends for the weekend and had mine re-certified somewhere else for $60 after the weekend.

[Garey Guzman]

.... and had mine re-certified somewhere else for $60 after the weekend.

By whom?

[Ralph Z.]

By whom?

This guy...

https://www.krjraceproducts.com/services/default.aspx

Great serivce, too. I highly recommend.

[EricP]

SVRA:

[COLOR=rgb(13.300000%, 13.300000%, 13.300000%)]All drivers except for pre-war must use a head and neck restraint system. The head and neck restraint system must be certified by either SFI certification 38.1 or FIA certification 8858-2002
.
Head and Neck Restraint Systems shall be recertified every five years after the date of original certification. Product inspection, maintenance, and/or replacement procedure is per individual manufacturer. Inspection must be done by an authorized recertification center. When a unit is determined by the manufacturer to be acceptable for continued service and in compliance with the current version of the specification, the original manufacturer shall place on the product a new SFI 38.1 conformance label marked with the inspection date along with new correctly dated tethers, the FIA devices will need a new dated tether every 5 years. [/COLOR]
[COLOR=rgb(13.300000%, 13.300000%, 13.300000%)]Devices that do not actually carry an SFI or FIA certification sticker are not approved. [/COLOR]
[COLOR=rgb(13.300000%, 13.300000%, 13.300000%)]For HANS Device users, harness shoulder belt webbing must be in direct contact with the yoke of the HANS; there shall not be any padding between the shoulder harness webbing and the yoke of the HANS. [/COLOR]

[Steve Davis]

I believe you'll find that SVRA is using an OLDER copy of the SCCA GCR. SCCA required HANS(TM) recert a few years after the requirement to use them was placed in the GRC. Then after the introduction of several alternate HEAD AND NECK systems in later years, recert requirement was removed. Don't know which GCR years we're talking, but SVRA website might show which year they are using as a base. I don't have time to go hunt it down right now. I also can't recall what year SCCA added the REQUIRMENT. The 'RECOMMENDATION' was there for several years before that. Also can't remember which year the HANS(TM) was replaced by the generic 'HEAD AND NECK SYSTEM'.

Steve, FV80

[EricP]

I believe you'll find that SVRA is using an OLDER copy of the SCCA GCR. SCCA required HANS(TM) recert a few years after the requirement to use them was placed in the GRC. Then after the introduction of several alternate HEAD AND NECK systems in later years, recert requirement was removed. Don't know which GCR years we're talking, but SVRA website might show which year they are using as a base. I don't have time to go hunt it down right now. I also can't recall what year SCCA added the REQUIRMENT. The 'RECOMMENDATION' was there for several years before that. Also can't remember which year the HANS(TM) was replaced by the generic 'HEAD AND NECK SYSTEM'.

Steve, FV80

The date SVRA wrote the requirement was 1/2018. Don't know what version of the GCR they used but obviously it would have beeen before that date.

[TrackBrat]

This guy...

https://www.krjraceproducts.com/services/default.aspx

Great serivce, too. I highly recommend.

I had krj recertify my Hans last year and it was cheap. Also had him replace the rear headrest pad with a newer style. He can do any service for your Hans. I even was able to drop it off while I was in the area and save on shipping.

[openwheeler37]

To me this all too much of a gray area in the rules. So I just sent mine into Simpson to have it re-certified to play it safe.

The updated GCR for Midwestern Council states all head and neck restraints must be SFI or FIA certified. According to Simpson the SFI certification is only good for 5 years

https://www.simpsonraceproducts.com/...certifications

So technically if the HANS device is older than 5 years (mine was manufactured in 06) the SFI certification is invalid.

[DanW]

To me this all too much of a gray area in the rules. So I just sent mine into Simpson to have it re-certified to play it safe.

The updated GCR for Midwestern Council states all head and neck restraints must be SFI or FIA certified. According to Simpson the SFI certification is only good for 5 years

https://www.simpsonraceproducts.com/...certifications

So technically if the HANS device is older than 5 years (mine was manufactured in 06) the SFI certification is invalid.

You are correct. However, if your device has FIA certification too, the certification does not expire.

[openwheeler37]

You are correct. However, if your device has FIA certification too, the certification does not expire.

It does have an FIA certified sticker. Thank you.

Sent from my SM-G975U1 using Tapatalk

[shyattmedic]

There is that it meets SFI 38.1 which states-

Effective January 1, 2012, Head and Neck Restraint Systems shall be inspected for recertification every five years after the date of original certification. Product inspection, maintenance, and/or replacement procedure is per individual manufacturer. Inspection must be done by the original manufacturer only, and not their authorized resellers or dealers. When a unit is determined by the manufacturer to be acceptable for continued service and in compliance with the current version of the specification, the original manufacturer shall place on the product a new SFI 38.1 conformance label marked with the inspection date.

so without a current SFI 38.1 sticker the device does not meet the standard as required.

[scorp997]

SVRA does not allow the FIA sticker to over rule the SFI. I asked that question specifically prior to going to Indy and ended up getting the work done. Mine also had year old tethers, but that didn't matter.

Mine has both stickers, but the SFI was 'out of date' and needed to be recertified. I also specifically asked the vendor doing the recert to make sure and leave the FIA sticker in place - I have heard some of the vendors were pulling it off during inspection.

[Terry Hanushek]

Mine has both stickers, but the SFI was 'out of date' and needed to be recertified.

Would have it been easier to remove the SFI sticker and leave the the FIA sticker?

[TimH]

Would have it been easier to remove the SFI sticker and leave the the FIA sticker?

I did that. Nobody questioned it.

[openwheeler37]

To me this all too much of a gray area in the rules. So I just sent mine into Simpson to have it re-certified to play it safe.

The updated GCR for Midwestern Council states all head and neck restraints must be SFI or FIA certified. According to Simpson the SFI certification is only good for 5 years

https://www.simpsonraceproducts.com/...certifications

So technically if the HANS device is older than 5 years (mine was manufactured in 06) the SFI certification is invalid.

Update;

I just received my HANS back from Simpson for re-certification. $80 and about 2.5 weeks total turn around time. They replaced the shoulder pads, tether, and helmet pad.

[TimH]

[QUOTE=openwheeler37;594162]Update;

I just received my HANS back from Simpson for re-certification. $80 and about 2.5 weeks total turn around time. They replaced the shoulder pads, tether, and helmet pad.
/QUOTE]

..and, most importantly, it looks like they left the FIA sticker.

[EricP]

I’d like to bring this back up…

My Simpson Hybrid is over 5 years old but in very good shape. I can’t find in the 2022 GCR that recertification is required. I will send it in to be recertified this winter but no way I can get it done by next weekend for an event.

Can anyone verify whether recert IS or IS NOT required?

Thx

[rockbeau25]

I just had mine done. Highly recommend Ken at KJR Race Products in Indy. I sent it down with some of my coworkers to an event they were working at the Speedway and he had it turned around right away so they could pick it up on the way back.

Not sure if it's required or not, but it's cheap insurance and I'd rather not find out the hard way it's not up to date at tech.

[DaveW]

I’d like to bring this back up…

My Simpson Hybrid is over 5 years old but in very good shape. I can’t find in the 2022 GCR that recertification is required. I will send it in to be recertified this winter but no way I can get it done by next weekend for an event.

Can anyone verify whether recert IS or IS NOT required?

Thx

IIRC, if it has an FIA sticker, it does not expire. The tethers may, however, only be good for 5 years.

[lance3556]

I had my Hans Device re-certified with the tethers replaced by Simpson in Texas. I was able to save shipping 1 way by picking up when I went to Texas In Feb. Pretty quick turn around, think $70.00. The shop is about 2 hours away from Austin. They have a show room and you can try on new suites, I ended up buying one when I was there. My device was +10 years old.

[EricP]

I’m definitely getting it recertified but now way that’ll happen in 7 days.
I’m just hoping I don’t get turned away at tech. I don’t see a GCR rule that would indicate that.

[rockbeau25]

I’m definitely getting it recertified but now way that’ll happen in 7 days.
I’m just hoping I don’t get turned away at tech. I don’t see a GCR rule that would indicate that.

I'd check with KJR. I don't want to make promises on behalf of someone else's business, but seeing as you're only a few hours away from them and they turned mine around very quickly, I wouldn't rule out it getting done in time.

[Steve Davis]

There is NO REQUIREMENT in the SCCA GCR to have Hans .. or HANS recertified .. ever. It is YOUR responsibility to keep those tethers in decent condition and to make sure it's acceptable for YOUR use.

Anyone is welcome to prove me wrong...
Steve, FV80

[FVRacer21]

Some organizations and some STATES (like NJ) might require recertification, so check the supps, I know they did something with helmets the last time they rolled over.

I had mine done at Stable Energies Motorsports in NJ. I figured after 10 years it could not hurt.

I believe you can buy the tether and change it yourself if that is your concern.

ChrisZ

[Rich Spritz]

This is such a strange thread. I race all over North America and Europe. I have never once heard any suggestion that HANS or tethers require "recertification". Not by any sanctioning body, not by the FIA. Except for this thread. If you actually know something specific, please share with us us the sanctioning body, their governing jurisdiction, and please cite the corresponding rule. Explicitly.