I'm thinking about getting a HANS device but am wondering if it's really necessary in a car equipped w/ airbags. I'm sure it can't hurt anything to have one. Also, do HANS devices help support the neck in a side impact?

 

Okay, after doing some research, I found this:

From:
http://www.trackpedia.com/wiki/Head_and_Neck_Restraints

 

Per FIA and SFI standards, a HANS device can only be used with a fixed-back racing seat and proper harnesses. That means you also need roll protection of some sort (obviously). If you're using proper seats, harnesses, and a cage along with the HANS device (as you're supposed to), then there is no advantage to the airbag whatsoever. You can disable it or remove it completely.

Emre

 

I echo what Kayaalp said, but if you are concerned about side protection, get a seat with head bolsters and a right side net. There are neck supports out there that protect side to side, but aren't FIA, if I recall correctly.

 

I ended up just ordering the Pyrotect foam neck support. It says it's FIA approved. So hopefully that along w/ my airbag is sufficient.

 

If you are running a stock car without a rollbar/cage and harnesses, the neck support is your best bet, probably. To be honest an airbag isn't the best safety idea for the road course.

Please don't understand, FIA doesn't measure safety, persay, I just figured since you were going all out with the HANS that you may be doing SCCA, NASA, etc. where they may require FIA approved devices.

 

Well, I have a roll-bar and Schroth 4-pt harness. But I'm still using the stock seat.

 

In that case, you can't use a HANS device anyway.

Emre

 

curious on the reason behind that statement.

submarining worries?

 

I've had long talks with Joe Marko of HMS Motorsport about this. He's the chief safety steward for the BMW CCA Club Race program, a safety advisor for NASCAR, and a major distributor of both HANS devices and Schroth racing harnesses.

The HANS device requires special seats (not every race seat works with it) and it requires special harnesses (that narrow slightly over the shoulders). Not all 3" racing harnesses will work and not all race seats will work.

If you look at how the HANS device works, it's clear that there's NO WAY it will work with stock seats and 4-point "tuner belts."

Emre

 

i understand about the tuner belts, those are a joke.

the schroth's are a decent unit though.

The reason i question, is im running the simpson 5 pt's, and intend on using a HANs. I don't know of a reason why i cannot with my setup. If you have some further input, i'd appreciate it (either in this thread, or PM )

 

I always thought that as long as you have shoulder straps that hold the HANS in place, it would work. My buddies who race in Honda challenge don't have special harnesses that narrow down at the shoulder area and they use their HANS devices.

Kayaalp,
Stock seat belts are 2". I don't see how the Schroth 4-pt harnesses could be any worse than them. They have a anti-submarining mechanism that elongates at a faster rate to prevent submarining. Do you have any solid evidence to backup your claims that they are not safe?

 

i could see the schroth's with the tether that lets go (for anti-submarining) , causing some kinda issue with the hans, as it'd be tight, then loose, allowing the hans to be held, then let loose, then held again.

But for a normal belt, I don't know of anything else.

 

don't get me wrong, i'm pinned to this, as anything with safety, I want all the input i can get.

After hanging around the scca guys at 2 events about a month ago, I'd always thought about a HANs, but I dunno, it just became a little more of a "ya know, i think thats a good idea".

Esp running TT and being in all the open passing stuff, i mean stuff can and does happen. I'd never cheap out on safety stuff. I'll run long pants and sleeves, but you can't comfortably run a real drivers suit and stuff down in florida year round, and I think my risk of a frontal crash are 500% more likely than an in-car fire.

 

That's odd, I spoke with Joe also and he told me the narrower belts were for comfort along with the seat. Are you sure about this? It even says otherwise on the HANS site:

I can't find the blurb about the seat, but it was my understanding that the HANS specific seats had the shoulder straps further apart so that the belts wouldn't rub against your neck... to be honest, I heard most of these things were rumors about the HANS.

Warmpepsi: From my understanding, the only belts you can't use with a HANS are ASM-type belts (the ones that expand upon impact and are 4 point). If it matters, I run the HANS with Schroth Profi II belts and a Bride Zeta III seat, I have been in a crash and the HANS did its job. I think as long as you have some decent 5 or 6 point belts and a bucket seat (which is required for the belts anyway) you will be good to go.

I also agree, the Schroth 4 point ASM belts are perfectly ok and work against submarining. I would imagine at a higher speed impact the 6 point belt might be more effective, but the 4 point ASM has always worked as described, from what I hear. The problem is combined with the HANS, it can expand and the HANS device can slip, and well, you can figure out the rest. It even says on the ASM belt that it is "NOT HANS COMPATIBLE!"

As far as a regular 4 point tuner belt, you would be ok with a HANS, but you then risk submarining.