need help with firesuit ratings

R

R2 Racing

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The rule book stats that any three layer suit or any suit with a SFI 3-2A/5 rating or higher, does not require the use of underwear. A buddy of mine is looking at buying a Simpson STD.19, two layer, one piece suit that claims a rating of "SFI 5". So can anyone tell me if that SFI 5 rating is considered a higher rating than the SFI 3-2A/5? Basically, would it be legal to use without underwear underneath? Thanks for the help!
 
Originally posted by R2 Racing@Sep 1 2005, 04:46 PM
The rule book stats that any three layer suit or any suit with a SFI 3-2A/5 rating or higher, does not require the use of underwear.  A buddy of mine is looking at buying a Simpson STD.19, two layer, one piece suit that claims a rating of "SFI 5".  So can anyone tell me if that SFI 5 rating is considered a higher rating than the SFI 3-2A/5?  Basically, would it be legal to use without underwear underneath?  Thanks for the help!
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I believe that's marketing shorthand for 3-2/A. It would be legal sans underwear.

Marcus
 
Marcus is correct. 3.2a/5--no underwear required (BUT IT IS AN EXTREMELY GOOD IDEA) The SFI 3.2a section pertains to the suit test standards. The suffixes /1, /5, /10, /15 indicate what the highest level test they are capable of passing. Simpson makes it fairly easy to determine the performance of their suits my using model numbers with what they claim that suits TPP rating is. The 19 TPP is good for about 9.5 seconds before you will sustain 2nd degree burns from heat transfer. Nine and a half seconds, not ninety five....think seriously about a set of CarbonX underwear.
 
This is the suit I wear. YES, you don't need to wear the undies and it is SFI tagged accordingly. On the otherhand-I wear COTTON undies under mine. Some will argue the merits of my choice over Nomex (which I do have and wear on ocassion).
 
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