Impact Racing Safety Equipment Decertification Conclusion

23/04/10…Pam Franz – courtesy of  www.nasr.com.au

Impact Racing has withdrawn its appeal of the decertification of its products bearing SFI 3.2A, 3.3, 16.1, and 16.5 specifications manufactured in the years 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008. The decertification of these products is now permanent.

On Friday, March 26 2010, The SFI Foundation issued a decertification notice applying to all Impact Racing Products in response to Impact’s alleged counterfeiting of SFI conformance labels and patches.

As a result of legal proceedings, SFI has issued the following statements:

1. Impact Racing has withdrawn its appeal of the decertification of its products bearing SFI 3.2A, 3.3, 16.1, and 16.5 specifications manufactured in the years 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008. The decertification of these products is now permanent.

2. The decertifications are based upon a number of the affected products being non-compliant with SFI specifications concerning labeling and construction. In addition to the presence of non-compliant SFI tags and the absence of DOMs on products, 3.2A/5 suits made prior to 2009 have been constructed with non-compliant materials that, in SFI’s judgment, pose a safety risk to users of these suits.

3. Impact Racing is permitted to maintain the certification for products bearing SFI 3.2A, 3.3, 16.1, and 16.5 specifications manufactured in 2009 and 2010. SFI’s investigation of the labeling and construction of these products is ongoing. Impact’s participation in the SFI specification programs ends June 22, 2010.

4. Any Impact product with SFI specifications 3.2A, 3.3, 16.1, and 16.5 without a date of manufacture (DOM) is deemed to be a decertified product unless the manufacturer has provided the product user with proof that it was manufactured in 2009 or 2010. This proof must be presented to track officials upon request. Impact believes that its products made in 2009 and 2010 have the DOMs affixed to products to the extent mandated by SFI specifications.

What this means to competitors:

If you own any Impact Racing Products bearing the SFI specifications 3.2A, 3.3, 16.1 or 16.5 manufactured between 2005 and 2008 (inclusive), you may no longer use this equipment. Furthermore, any product not marked with a date of manufacture is considered decertified and may not be used.

These products are non compliant with SFI specifications and may pose a safety risk.
SFI Products manufactured in 2009 and 2010 are acceptable for use.

NASR urges all competitors to check their Impact Racing Products for a date of manufacture and SFI specifications and assess their compliancy.

Should you have further questions, please contact the SFI Foundation or Impact Race Products directly.

Please Note: Impact helmets (without built-in balaclavas) are not affected by this decertification.