4-P / 6-P harness - Information

Introduction

4-point harness and 6-point harness are more or less standard in racing and sports cars. But why not just use the original belt? And should you have a four- or six-point seat belt? These are some common questions, and clearly justified questions when you want to sit safely if you are going to use your car on racing track!

1. Should I choose a 4 or 6 point belt?
2. Installation of multi-point harness
3. Can I use a 4 or 6 point belt in my street car?
4. Choose the right harness for HANS system
5. Information on FIA approval

Should I choose a 4 or 6 point belt?

Should you replace the belt with a racing/motorsport ditto, there are several variants to choose from. 4, 5 or 6 point.

6pt
A 6-point belt should be chosen as far as possible. This keeps you safe without any compromises. There are then variations of this harness which we go through below. With 6 points, you get the force in the event of an accident distributed over a larger area of the body. The lower part also holds down the waist belt so you always get the power around the hip and no soft parts.

5pt
A 5-point belt is like a 6-point belt with the difference that you only have one strap on the lower part of the belt.

4pt
A 4-point belt is like a six-point belt without the lower part. Sometimes it is possible to dismantle the lower part of six-point belts and use them as four-point belts. 4-point harness are only used if the seat does not have outlets for the lower part in a 6-point harness, otherwise you always use belts with 6 mounting points - It is safer that way.

Installation of multi-point harness

The assembly of the belts is most easily divided into several parts. Lower part, Waist part, Shoulder part and mounting points. All parts start from the belt buckle in the middle of the waist. Be sure to always follow any regulations in the first place. This should only be seen as supplementary information if regulations are missing.

Bottom

The two struts under the buckle are mounted in a hole through the chair. Then they are mounted behind the extended line of the upper body in the floor. The slope should then be about 20 degrees backwards. The fastening eyes are mounted in plates in the floor.

Waist part

The waist belt is mounted as close to the hip as possible / as narrow as possible. Angle backwards must be 45 - max 60 degrees. The fastening eyes are mounted in roll cages, plates or in seat consoles.

Shoulder part

The shoulder straps can be fitted with fastening loops and hooks or wrapped around roll cage tubes. Preferably do not fit the belts more than about 20cm behind the chair, as the belts are stretched in the event of an accident and a longer belt allows for longer stretching. Attachment of shoulder straps behind the chair must be at shoulder height and no more than a 20 degree angle downwards as the forces in a collision would compress the body downwards.

Harness mounting points

The assembly of belt loops can be done in several ways. Only one way is correct. The force must come in the right direction so that the belt loop does not break off in the event of an accident. See picture

The belt loops usually have a hook on them and then allow installation in attachment loops that can be mounted in the car. In this way, you can easily remove the belts from the car. In the same way as the picture above illustrates, the fastening loop should not be loaded laterally, but only pulling forces should be able to affect the thread in the event of an accident.

Can I use a 4 or 6 point belt in my street car?

If you also use your race car / track car on the street, you can have the 4 or 6-point belt fitted as long as the original 3-point belt is still in place. It is therefore the three-point seat belt you must use when driving on the street. An important thing to keep in mind is that a roll cage should be installed when using the 4/6 point seat belt. An original 3-point belt is optimal in a chassis without a protective roll cage.

Choose the right harness for HANS system

If a HANS protection is to be used, it is important that the correct harness are used. The belts that are approved for HANS protection are narrower around the neck to accommodate the HANS protection. Now it is the HANS collar that lies against the body and distributes the pressure, therefore the belt can be narrower around this area.

Information on FIA approval

The date stamp
This is there so you don't have to use old belts. Fabric ages and security deteriorates. When you are going to compete and want the highest safety, the FIA marking is only valid for a certain time. Usually 3 years. Therefore, it is important to check that the date mark applies to the time you intend to use your harness.

FIA approval
There are different types of FIA "approvals". The standard used for this type of belt is called FIA standard 8853-2016. Then there is the manufacturer's FIA homologation number. This looks, for example, like this for the QSP 3" 6-point belt: SH.016.17-T-6. Each manufacturer has its own number.

Damage
Regardless of FIA approvals or not, there cannot be damage to the belts. If there is damage to the belt, the FIA approval does not apply and you are at risk using them.