PitStopUSA.com - Impact Racing Suits

At Impact is a company that takes what they do to heart. Impact is the faces you see at many of the events; from the heart of motorsports in Indy and Charlotte, to the Chili Bowl and Baja. Impact proudly support and advance the safety of of their men and women in the armed forces and also thousands of racers in all complements of motorsports with our innovative products made right here in the USA.

There are a handful of companies involved in motorsports safety, but what sets Impact apart is that it's run by motorsports enthusiasts. Impact is more than just a business. it is the passion and calling for everyone from the manufacturing and shipping departments to the highest levels of management. Many race competitors are personal friends and Impact has enjoyed celebrating their wins and life's milestones along the way. Impact takes pride in knowing that the products of the dedicated Impact staff play a part in returning their friends and fellow competitors home to their families after both the good and bad days at the track.

GO FAST AND BE SAFE!

The Impact Phenom DS, 2-layer auto racing suit blends European styling with Made in the USA craftsmanship to achieve a stylish, comfortable suit. Hand-crafted from lightweight sateen Nomex® the Impact Phenom DS race suit is both FIA homologated, and certified to the SFI 3.2-A/5 specification. This allows the suit to be used in more series than conventional FIA homologated, or SFI certified only suits. The Impact Phenom DS firesuit also features V-stitch quilting for exceptional thermal performance; a 180 degree belt, and inset pockets for superior comfort!

The Impact Racer Firesuit now offers updated styling while maintaining all the comfort features that made this suit so popular. Featuring accent fabrics on all two-toned suits, the Impact Racer Auto Racing Suit is the ideal option for anyone wanting a budget-friendly, two-layer SFI 3.2A/5 rated driving suit without sacrificing features or safety. Constructed from a matte-Nomex(R) material, the Impact Racer race suit offers anatomical stretch paneling along the lower back area for maximum comfort and flexibility. Additional standard features include bootcut cuffs, extra deep pockets and box quilting offering valuable additional seconds of thermal protection.

Designed with the growing racer in mind, Impact’s Quarter Midget/Junior Dragster suit is constructed from the same high-quality Nomex® material as our popular Racer suit and loaded with comfort and flexibility features such as 360° floating arm gussets and stretch knit back panel. Available in a one-piece suit or two-piece (jacket and pants), the suit also comes standard with inset pants pockets and built-in arm restraints manufacturer’s certified to the SFI 3.2A/5 (SFI 5) specification.

There are basically two types of auto racing suits: Single Layer Suits and Multi-Layer Suits. In addition, you have one or two piece auto racing suits. We recommend that drivers wear one-piece suits, and crewmen can choose from from either type depending upon their responsibities.

While racing suits are most commonly identified by their SFI or FIA ratings, the TPP rating is the best measure of a particular racing suits protection level.  TPP ratings are an indication of how long a suit will protect you before you would incur a second degree burn. The TPP rating is divided in half to determine the number of seconds until the human tissue reaches a second-degree burn. For example, if a particular fabric has a TPP rating of 35, it takes 17.5 seconds until a second-degree burn occurs in a flashover situation.

The TPP rating is calculated from a mathematical formula that relates the heat transferred through the garment material to the amount of energy that would be required to cause a second degree burn. TPP results are typically reported as a rating. The TPP rating is the time to incur a second degree burn multiplied by the heat exposure level that the material is exposed. The higher the garment TPP rating, the more time that is required before a second degree burn will occur. The chart below outlines the SFI ratings based on TPP results (shown to the right of the slash mark on the driver suit patch) with the corresponding times to a second degree burn:

SFI Rating	SFI Name	TPP Rating	Time to 2nd Degree Burn	Comments
SFI 3.2A/1	SFI-1	TPP 6	3 Seconds	Common Single Layer Suit
SFI 3.2A/5	SFI-5	TPP 20	10 Seconds	Common Multi-Layer Suit
SFI 3.2A/15	SFI-15	TPP 38	19 Seconds	Used for Drag Racing Applications
SFI 3.2A/20	SFI-20	TPP 80	40 Seconds	Used for Top Fuel Drag Racing

 

TPP rating can vary within an SFI Rating, for example SFI 3.2A/5 rated suits (commonly called SFI-5) are available with TPP ratings anywhere from 19 to 26 depending on the number of layers and the fire-retardant material used to construct the suit. The only way to increase a TPP rating is through adding multiple layers. However, as you increase layers, suits get bulkier, and bulk does not equal comfort. Your goal in selecting a firesuit should be the balance of comfort with maximum protection. The majority of racers in the US are currently using a 2 or 3-layer SFI-5 rated suit.

The easiest and best way to to increase TPP is to wear Fire Retardant Underwear under you firesuit.  These garments are typically made of Nomex, CarbonX, or other FR such as Kermel and Lenzing Materials.  It is highly recommended that any driver wear fire-retardant underwear to improve TPP and better protect against injury.