Roll cages, window nets and fire systems: what the rules require.

This page covers the standards and what the rules require. It does not explain what to do in a fire or after a crash, or how to use an extinguisher; that belongs to your racing school, your event's safety briefing and its officials. Building or fitting any of this equipment is work for its maker's instructions and your rulebook, and the event's scrutineers decide what passes.

Most of the detail below comes from FIA Appendix J Article 253, in its 2026 text approved by the World Motor Sport Council on 23 June 2026. National and club rules can differ, sometimes a great deal, so treat Article 253 as one rulebook among several.

Roll cages

Under Article 253 (2026):

• A safety cage is compulsory. It must be homologated or certified by a national sporting authority (ASN), or homologated by the FIA.
• A homologated cage may not be modified, and cages may not be chrome plated.
• Cage tubes may not carry fluids.
• Flame-retardant padding to FIA 8857-2001 Type A must cover the tubes shown in the article's drawing and the roof reinforcements.
• The cage must not unduly get in the way of getting in and out of the car.
• Repairs after an accident must be carried out or approved by the cage manufacturer.

In the US, the SFI Foundation's specifications page lists SFI 45.1 for roll cage padding, with no recertification period. We could not read the SCCA and NASA rules on cage tube size and material, so check your rulebook before building or buying a cage. For track days, organizers have their own roll bar and convertible rules; see track days.

Window nets

Article 253 (2026) makes safety nets mandatory for circuit competitions. The net must be fixed to the cage, made of strips at least 19 mm wide, with mesh openings between 25 x 25 mm and 60 x 60 mm, and must give coverage down to the centre of the steering wheel.

Motorsport Australia's Schedule I (updated 4 September 2025) requires window nets on caged closed cars in circuit racing. It says a net must withstand 500 N and have a one-hand quick release that works with the car upside down, and it lists FIA 8863-2013 for racing nets.

Window net dates

The SFI Foundation's specifications page (read 20 October 2026) lists SFI 27.1 window nets (spec revision dated 11 October 2006) with a two-year recertification period. A March 2024 JEGS article written for NHRA drag racing also lists SFI 27.1 nets at two years. We could not confirm whether SCCA club racing, NASA or other road racing bodies enforce that date, because their rulebooks could not be read. Check your event's rules and your net's label.

Fire extinguisher and suppression standards

The FIA publishes separate standards for fire systems, and each has a technical list of approved products, according to an FIA safety bulletin and a 2023 Motorsport Australia report of an FIA update:

The FIA's 2026 bulletin lists FIA 8876-2022 suppression as mandatory in Formula 1 (cockpit only) and in new-generation Formula Regional cars.

What the FIA says about plumbed-in systems

The FIA bulletin says a plumbed-in system is mainly there to slow a fire so the occupants have more time to get out. It sets these installation conditions:

• Nozzles must not point at the driver's head.
• The activation buttons must be reachable from inside the cockpit, and by marshals from outside.
• On pressurised systems, the gauge must read in the green zone.

The FIA and Motorsport Australia both say high-voltage cars (electric and hybrid) may use only approved non-conductive extinguishing agents, and name Novec 1230 and FX G-TEC FE36. A February 2025 NASA Speed News article reports Lifeline's claim that FK 5-1-12 will replace Novec 1230 in its systems; that is the maker's claim.

Hand-held extinguishers under Article 253

• Minimum contents: 2.4 litres for AFFF-type agents, and 2.0 kg for FX G-TEC, Viro3, Novec 1230, FK 5-1-12 and powder.
• BCF and NAF agents are banned.
• Extinguishers must be checked at intervals of no more than two years.
• Rally cars and FIA Championship cars must carry two hand-held extinguishers from 1 January 2024, and both must be compatible with high-voltage systems from 1 January 2026. They must be mounted to withstand 25 g, with quick-release metal fastenings.

US club rules and SFI 17.1

SCCA Time Trials requires every car to carry a fire bottle or system on metal quick-release brackets within the driver's reach. Its page accepts an on-board system that complies with the SCCA General Competition Rules, at least 2 lb of Halon 1301 or 1211, or at least 2 lb of dry chemical rated 10BC or 1A10BC with a charge indicator.

SFI 17.1 is the SFI specification for on-board fire suppression systems, and retailers list systems certified to it. We could not read the spec itself, and we found no confirmed service or recharge interval for SFI systems. Follow the system maker's service instructions and check your event's rules and your system's label.

Battery cut-off switches

Article 253 (2026) calls this the general circuit breaker. It requires:

• A breaker that cuts every electrical circuit (battery, alternator, lights, ignition and controls) and stops the engine.
• That it can be worked by the driver sitting belted in, and from outside the car.
• On closed cars, an external switch at the lower part of the windscreen mounting, marked with a red spark in a white-edged blue triangle with a base of at least 12 cm.
• For diesel engines without electronic injectors, a breaker that also cuts the intake.

The article makes the external switch compulsory in circuit races, rallies and hill climbs. It also requires towing eyes at the front and rear, painted yellow, red or orange.