SAFETY UPDATE: WINDOW NETS

Motorsport Australia is providing further information regarding the 2023 changes to window net requirements for closed vehicles in a circuit race event. The primary function of a window net is to protect the driver from having any body part protrude through the window opening during an incident. The requirements are in place to ensure that all closed vehicles competing in a circuit race event have a window net installed capable of performing its primary function. The changes will apply across the circuit race discipline and many vehicles that had previously not required a window net will now be required to fit one. For circuit racing, the fitment of the window net to the door frame of a production vehicle is no longer permitted and the window net must now be fitted to the safety cage structure.

TECHNICAL APPENDIX SCHEDULE I

REGULATION UPDATES

Window nets must only be securely fixed to the safety cage structure. Window nets mounted to the driver’s door frame or other vehicle components are not permitted. The load requirement of 500N now includes the method of fixing to the safety cage structure. The window net when installed in the vehicle must be able to withstand this load when applied at any point. The area of the driver’s window opening required to be covered by a window net has now been defined relative to the driver’s seat position, steering wheel position and safety cage structure.

A window net must cover the area within the following:

Forward from a vertical line drawn from the rear most point of the driver’s door window opening (i.e. original door frame) OR where the seat back is visible through the driver’s door window opening (i.e. the seat back can be seen through the window when the door is closed), this vertical line is to be drawn from the rear most point of the seat back

Rearward of a vertical line drawn through the centre of the steering wheel rim

Below a straight line drawn between the intersections of the two vertical lines, being the rearward line and the steering wheel line as described above, with the upper most longitudinal or lateral half roll bar members of the safety cage structure

A Window Net is installed to cover the window opening, designed to protect the driver from having any body part protrude through the window opening in an incident. It must be mounted to the safety cage structure and be capable of withstanding a load of 500N at any point.

In most vehicles a triangular racing net will not provide the required driver’s window coverage to comply with the requirements of a window net, and in that case, the use of only a racing net is not permitted and a window net must be fitted.

Racing Net, often referred to as a seat or triangle net is installed in contact with the seat to provide additional lateral support to a driver during an impact. Racing nets will meet FIA Standard 8863-2013 Where permitted, racing nets must be installed in compliance with FIA Installation Specifications. 

A racing net is only permitted for use on the driver’s side door window under the following circumstances:

When permitted by category or classification standing regulations

When competing in a vehicle which is compliant with Schedule I, Article 4.b

Where the racing net provides the required window opening coverage as detailed in Schedule I, Article 4.a.i and will provide the same function as a window net

A racing net is permitted to be installed on the passenger’s side of the driver’s seat in compliance with FIA regulations (refer Article 6.).

CREDIT: https://motorsport.org.au/media/news/detail/2023/02/16/safety-update-window-nets

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