BURN WARNING - LABELS
BELL and PYROTECT are now manufacturing all suits with the labels underneath the epaulet rather than inside the suit. The size tag inside the suit and the size tag inside gloves should be removed once you re satisfied of fit and prior to wearing.  Many suits still in inventory still have inside labels and these should be removed upon customer receipt. Underwear labels should also be removed as a further precaution. Labels should be retained for future or technical reference should they be required. Tags are flammable, and could cause burns in case of fire. While a remote possibility, we have been made aware it has occurred. All Technical inspection personnel as a routine safety upgrade should pass on this warning, and should be mandatory for all brands of suits, underwear and gloves. 

HANS Device:
HANS have tested their installation hardware on BELL helmets successfully and now BELL helmets may be purchased with HANS hardware installed at additional cost. The installation of a HANS device only on PYROTECT helmets will not void the factory warrantee. However we make no claim as to how such owner installation will affect performance under impact.  We are aware of no other device that has undergone such rigorous testing and thus make no claims that other brands are acceptable for use on BELL or PYROTECT helmets, provide any safety advantage, or possibly might lead to greater injury.

D – Ring Helmet Mount:
The "D" ring on the left side of some helmets is for use with a strap that wraps around the left arm pit and tethers to the helmet, providing some relief to oval track drivers against normal cornering forces.  Under no conditions should the "D" ring be used in ANY head/helmet restraint system. "D" rings are not designed to withstand the forces involved and will pull free and fail. In addition, the drilling of a hole, or use of a rivet or screw to secure a right side "D" ring voids all BELL or PYROTECT factory warranties. 

It is absolutely imperative that our SL-5 suits be washed at least once prior to use to remove manufacturing chemicals and starch that causes the material to be "brittle" and not breathe. Failure to do so will cause the suit to be extremely hot and stick to the skin. The first 3-4 washings SL-5 suits become softer and more pliable, breathe better for coolness and actually go up slightly in TPP rating. Again, we recommend Woolite and mild temperature water only, no phosphate soaps or bleach, which will cause rapid color loss.

 

PYROTECT - BELL West Distribution does not recommend any brand of helmet restraint system. To install such an aftermarket system on any BELL or PYROTECT helmet is entirely  the owners responsibility. 

HANS has tested their installation hardware on BELL helmets successfully, and now BELL helmets may be purchased with HANS hardware installed at additional cost. The installation of a HANS device only on PYROTECT helmets will not void the factory warrantee, 
however we make no claim as to how such owner installation will affect performance under impact. 

We are aware of no other device that has undergone such rigorous testing and thus make no claims that other brands are acceptable for use on BELL or PYROTECT helmets, provide any safety advantage, or possibly might lead to greater injury.

We suggest you review the Society of Automotive Engineers paper #2002-01-3304 from the SAE Motorsports conference of December 2002 completely and draw you own, independent conclusion as to install any such a device or not. Also be aware just recently some sanctioning bodies have elected to not allow certain manufacturers devices use whatsoever. 

We use our special, extra high density elastomeric contoured collar that fits down over the shoulders, is elliptically shaped and sized the same as Snell 95 or later helmets. Impact in any direction will cause the helmet to initially compress the collar, and will do so without any instantaneous peak deceleration or neck rotation.

This design limits neck extension, until full collar compression, without "snap", and should not cause neck compression, a possible serious consequence of some head restraint devices.
NOTE: We do not recommend, nor sell, round 360 degree soft foam collars that fit tight to the neck and consider them a safety hazard, causing a fulcrum point for the neck. While in large diameters they are useful off road to help support the weight of the helmet, they perform no safety function. Polyfoam will not cause measurable impact absorption.

 

ATTENTION SCHOOL, SOLO, SHOWROOM STOCK AND RALLIEST:
November 16, 2004 - Notification from SCCA National Staff

It has been brought to the attention of SCCA Technical Services that the use of full-face or closed face helmets while driving vehicles with active airbag restraint systems may result in injuries in the event of a crash that deploys the airbag. Because of the location of the steering wheel relative to the driver's position, the airbag axis is on a level with the driver's chin. In a crash with airbag deployment, contact with the chin area of a full-face helmet can be so powerful "that fractures to the jaw cannot be ruled out".

(Hubert Gramling, FIA Institute, FT3/AF, 18.5 1999) 

Therefore it is highly recommended that full-face helmets not be used in vehicles with functioning airbag systems. Potentially more restrictive language is currently being considered for 2005, which could appear in an early 2005 issue of FasTrack. 

If you have questions please contact SCCA at (800) 770-2055

 

BELL & PYROTECT have noted with some concern the recent marked increase in the number of small children participating in motor sports competition of various descriptions.

At issue is the use by off brand helmet manufacturer of small adult size shells marked XS and XXS and the problem of "stripping" the helmet with the chin strap in place and adjusted. This is tested by pulling or rotating the helmet forward with the chin strap adjusted. We take this very seriously as in a collision, the helmet could easily fly (rotate) off. If the helmet can be stripped from the child with the strap properly adjusted, we strongly suggest they not be allowed to compete until growth allows the helmet to fit properly. (Or purchase a proper fitting 6-3/8 to 6-5/8 helmet size)

Please refer to the owners manual in BELL or PYROTECT helmet box for information on correct fit and testing for stripping. If you have a helmet without a manual, you may obtain one at no charge by calling 800-669 - 2355.

Most helmet manufacturers use 2 outer shell sizes for all helmet sizes. Companies offering helmets in sizes XS and XXS using only two shells for their entire range of sizes (XXS to XL) means that they must use different sizes of soft padded inserts to size the helmet down. This practice results in a helmet with a lining which can compress under load and allow the helmet to be stripped off the head. BELL manufactures a total of 5 different shell sizes. The "D" shell, which is capable of being correctly sized to 6-3/4 or XXS,is the smallest safe size available for adults. The "G" shell is used for the M3 Xtra and is for sizes up to 8-1/2. A new "C" shell now allows BELL to make the first Kids helmet sizes from 6-3/8 to 6-5/8 without using excess soft pad, which allows stripping.  This also allows a professional shell construction utilizing a correctly sized liner, resulting in a helmet of reduced weight, correct fit and highly resistant to stripping.

PYROTECT BELL West Distribution considers this to be a major safety problem, one which must be addressed by parents and technical inspectors alike. We have actually observed helmets with T shirts or socks placed under the fit pad to keep the helmet on a Childs head. NO additional soft padding is safe. Also the use of padding does not center the Childs eyes within the eyeport for proper vision. We do not recommend the use of adult XS, XXS or non professional (polycarbonate) helmets for any young race driver due to the stripping problem, vision impairment and increased weight of the larger shell. 

Furthermore we will accept no liability for an improperly sized Childs helmet whatsoever.  We recommend in the strongest possible terms that all sanctioning bodies and technical inspectors perform a strip test on all young competitors and if in doubt inform the parents and sanctioning body of any failure.

 

THE SFI FOUNDATION NO LONGER APPROVES "Y" TYPE HARNESSES.
RESPONSIBLE SANCTIONING BODIES ALSO NOW REQUIRE SEPERATE SHOULDER HARNESS STRAPS.

WHILE MANUFACTURERS, INCLUDING PYROTECT, WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE "Y" HARNESSES FOR ENTERTAINMENT RIDES AND NON-RACE APPLICATIONS, "Y" TYPE HARNESS SYSTEMS PROVIDE A MINIMUM OF PROTECTION AT BEST - ALLOWING UP TO FOUR TIMES THE FORWARD MOVEMENT UNDER IMPACT OVER CONVENTIONAL INDIVIDUAL HARNESSES. THEY ARE PRONE TO CAUSING SPINAL INJURYS CAUSED BY "PENDULIUM" - "SIDE TO SIDE" - EFFECT AND MORE LIKELY TO SHEAR. STRETCH IS MORE THAN DOUBLE AND MAY ALLOW THE CHEST TO STRIKE THE STEERING COLUMN ON HARD IMPACT.    WE DO NOT RECOMMEND THE USE OF A "Y" SYSTEM FOR ANY AUTO RACE APPLICATION UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE. PYROTECT INDIVIDUAL HARNESS SYSTEMS EXCEED S.F.I. TESTING CRITERIA. (IFYOU CHOOSE TO IGNORE THIS WARNING WE SUGGEST THE MOUNTING POINT SHOULD BE DIRECTLY BEHIND THE DRIVER TO ELIMINATE LENGTH OF SINGLE WIDTH WEBBING AND ALL PROPER MOUNTING INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING ATTACHMENT ANGLES AND PROPER ALIGNMENT BE FOLLWED TO THE LETTER)