Racewear standards explained
What SFI 3.2A, SFI 3.3, FIA 8856-2018 and FIA 8877-2022 cover, how products are tested and marked, and what to check before you buy.
A standard is not a product claim
These pages explain the standards motorsport buyers ask about. The figures come from the official documents, which are linked on each page. They describe the standards only. They do not state that any Cuircon product is certified or homologated.
Each standard has its own rules. SFI programmes are certified by the manufacturer under licence. FIA standards require each product to be homologated, with an FIA label and hologram.
How Cuircon states certification
- A product page shows a standard only when it is recorded for that product.
- Documentation applies to the specific construction ordered and is confirmed per order.
- We separate what we can manufacture to a standard from what is currently certified.
- We do not use SFI or FIA marks on this website.
Four standards, three kinds of protection
| Standard | Issued by | Products | Protects against | Approval |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFI 3.2A | SFI Foundation, Inc. (USA) | One-piece suits, and jackets and pants worn together | Heat and flame (graded by TPP) | The manufacturer, under a licence agreement with SFI. SFI does not certify or approve products. |
| SFI 3.3 | SFI Foundation, Inc. (USA) | Gloves, underclothing, hoods (balaclavas), socks, shoes and boots, helmet supports and skirts, harness pads, arm restraints, sports bras | Heat and flame (graded by TPP) | The manufacturer, under a licence agreement with SFI |
| FIA 8856-2018 | Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile | Overalls (outer garments), undergarments including cooling undergarments, socks, shoes, balaclavas, gloves and rainproof overgarments | Direct flame, and second-degree burns for a limited time | Homologation of each product by the FIA; homologated products are published in an FIA technical list |
| FIA 8877-2022 | Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile | Karting overalls, karting gloves and karting shoes | Abrasion, contact heat and tearing (not flame) | Homologation of each product by the FIA |
SFI 3.2A
Driver suits rated /1 to /30 by thermal protective performance (TPP).
Read the guideSFI 3.3
Gloves, underwear, hoods, socks and shoes worn with a driver suit.
Read the guideFIA 8856-2018
Flame and heat protection for drivers in FIA-regulated car racing.
Read the guideFIA 8877-2022
Abrasion protection for karting overalls, gloves and shoes. It is not a fire-resistance standard.
Read the guide