At its meeting held 29 May, members of the FIA Institute’s Industry Liaison Group (ILG) discussed the latest aspects of the Head Restraint programme.

It was decided that from now on, devices such as HANS would be referred to as ‘frontal head restraints’ because they specifically protect the head in the frontal direction. Additional systems, such as seats, are needed to restrain the head in side and rear impacts.

ILG members then discussed the new draft FIA 8858 standard that is being revised with two important changes. Once approved, it will ensure that all helmets are fitted with standardised attachment points for frontal head restraints, and it will provide an approval process for new frontal head restraint systems that provide similar protection to the HANS device.

The FIA Institute hopes that by creating a mechanism for receiving FIA approval, the market will be more open to encouraging alternative frontal head restraints and enhanced designs. Currently, the HANS device is the only frontal head restraint approved by the FIA for use by drivers but other devices are becoming available which offer the same level of protection.

One alternative head restraint system – the Hutchens Hybrid by Safety Solutions – has so far undergone dynamic sled testing through 2008 and 2009 to find out if it can become FIA approved by providing equivalent protection to the HANS device.

Andy Mellor, FIA Institute head of technical affairs, said: “We’ve done additional sled testing of the Hutchens Hybrid and the results of this research will be presented to the research group and ILG in the coming months.”