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Roll cage certification

Roll cage certification


Roll cage certification has gradually evolved over the years until recently when there was a fundamental change.

Pre January 1, 2002
FOR INTERNATIONAL MOTORSPORT EVENTS, the regulations stated that as long as the cage was made to the recommended specification laid down in article 253 section 8.2 of the FIA, then no certification or homologation was required.

However if an accepted reputable roll cage manufacturer were to build a cage to its own design it is a requirement that the cage be tested at the main hoop and withstand loads of 7.5w daN vertically, 5.5w daN longitudinally and 1.5w daN laterally, where w = vehicle weight + 75kg. The test and certification could be done by the manufacturer and the certificate issued by the M.S.A. Safety Devices Ltd. always chose to use an outside 3rd party stress analysis engineer.

Post January 1, 2003
The regulations changed regarding homologation of cages for international events. The main changes were:

  • The front cage had to withstand a load of 3.5w daN (w = vehicle weight + 150kg) applied to the top of the windscreen at an angle of 25 deg x 5 deg (+/- 1 deg). (Reference drawing No. 253 - 38B)
  • The complete roll cage must withstand a vertical load of 7.5w daN (w = weight of the car + 150 kg) applied on the top of the main roll hoop. (Reference drawing No. 253 - 38B)
  • The door aperture had to have a vertical member if the distance between initial downwards bend and the final mounting exceeds 200mm. (Reference drawing No. 253 - 4)
  • The 'B' post hoop required two diagonal members in it, as well as being gusseted in the centre.(Reference drawing No. 253 - 4)
  • The roof above the driver/ co-driver had to have two cross members in it. For competitions without co-drivers, only one diagonal member had to be fitted but its front connection had to be on the driver's side. (Reference drawing No. 253 - 9)
  • The actual certification had to be carried out by an institutionalised test house independent to the manufacturer.

A full and detailed list of the changes can be found on the FAI website. Please click here (hyperlink) to view.

Important Information on Homologation

  • No certification can be cancelled - cages certified before 1st January 2002 will continue to be homologated.
  • If the car involved is not homologated itself by the F.I.A. it cannot be used for international events and therefore a certificate cannot be issued for a roll cage for that car.
  • There are however deviations to this in that some National events take place overseas as part of an International event but are run by the M.S.A. National A regulations, which do not require roll cage certification.