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Thread: H&N Support Devices

  1. #1

    H&N Support Devices

    I've been seeing a lot of discussions on other forums lately, regarding various Head and Neck supports. Since's there's an increasing number of SPDA guys starting up in rally, and road racing, and such, I figured I'd start a topic here.

    With all the great technology going into modern helmets, and rollcages, and other safety devices. The number one critical racing injuries are neck injuries. Which is why these devices are becoming more important, and becoming required in just about every major motorsport.

    Rally America has announced that starting in 2008, H&N Devices will be mandatory. The word on the street is that CARS will follow suit (actually, it's been speculated that CARS could still mandate them for '07 if they wanted). So, I've done a lot of research on this topic in the past week. Before I started I had no idea that there was anything else available besides the HANS device. When I found out the HANS has a $1200 price tag, that's when I started researching alternatives. :-o

    The HANS device is definately the most well known, and the most popular, www.hansdevice.com. It is required for F1, WRC, and NASCAR. It seems to provide the best protection in a frontal impact. However, it is somewhat poor in a side impact. And also, apparently it is notorious for the shoulder belts slipping off the sides of it, rendering it completely ineffective. Since it's rallying that I do, I'd prefer a device with better lateral protection (refer to my Defi crash).

    On the CASC-OR board, there is some discussoin about the ISAAC Device. This one seems to have the best performance numbers of any of the available devices. However, due to it's design, it is not capable of passing SFI certification. Since Rally America has said that only H&N devices with SFI cert. will be allowed, and I can only assume CARS will rule the same way. That effectively makes the ISAAC useless, no matter how safe it is. So it's not an option unfortunately.

    There are 3 different devices all made by the same company: The Hutchens, Hutchens Hybrid, and the R3, www.hutchensdevice.com. These ones get nothing but rave reviews. Unlike the HANS, and the ISAAC, these ones do not rely on the shoulder belts to work. Instead, they have a solid piece that runs down your back, along your spine, and have muliple straps that go around your chest and waist and shoulders. These are definately very good, very safe products. However, they are the most complicated and time consuming to put on and off. They also seem to be the most restrictive. Which is all bad for rallying. Since you are often getting in and out of the car, sometimes with the clock still ticking. If I were running any other motorsport, my first choice would either be an R3, or a Hutchens Hybrid.

    The newest device available is the Leatt Brace, www.leatt-brace.com. It is a completely different design than all the others. Every other device either uses the shoulder straps, or your own body to brace itself, then attaches to your helmet via a set of tethers. The Leatt Brace however, does not. It is more like a very technically advanced neck collar. It was originally designed for motocross riders, and they have just recently released a new model for automobiles. This is the one that I am most inclined to choose. It has many advantages, particularly for rallying. It allows more freedom of movement than any other design. It has MUCH better lateral protection than the HANS. It is also the cheapest by a large margin. This would be a no-brainer choice for me, except for one thing: Out of all the SFI certified devices, this one scored the worst for Neck Tension. It is still well within the safety margin to pass certification and prevent injury, however all the other devices scored twice as good in that one category. And that seems to be the most important category also... :-(


    Has anyone else done any looking into any of these devices? Have any thoughts or opinions?
    2006 OPRC Novice Champion
    2006 OPRC Production 2 Champion

    Right now, someone somewhere is practicing, and when you face him, he will beat you.

  2. #2

    Re: H&N Support Devices

    Thanks for the research, Matt!

    I'm thinking more and more about safety and planning for a wreck. ;-) Being that I'm stuck at the moment with a street car, anything that requres shoulder belts,

    It sounds like the Hutchens Hybrid, R3 or Leatt-brace.

    Another key safety factor recommended to me is a race seat with wrap-around head protection to limit lateral movement in an accident. You'll notice that most drivers are using them now, and it's only a small price increase over normal race seats.


    Stephen - I drive Blue Subarus of the rally and track varietals.

  3. #3

    Re: H&N Support Devices

    STeveD wrote:
    Another key safety factor recommended to me is a race seat with wrap-around head protection to limit lateral movement in an accident. You'll notice that most drivers are using them now, and it's only a small price increase over normal race seats.
    I think if you're wearing any of these devices, lateral movement should be limited enough already. Probably the largest benefit of a wrap-around seat is that it helps prevent any foreign objects fromt hitting you in the head.
    2006 OPRC Novice Champion
    2006 OPRC Production 2 Champion

    Right now, someone somewhere is practicing, and when you face him, he will beat you.

  4. #4

    Re: H&N Support Devices

    Oh, and one other thing I forgot to mention.

    Because most of these devices are tethered to your helmet. They require your helmet to be modified in order to be installed. This is pretty questionable, some people raise concerns that drilling a hole in your helmet invalidates any safety certification it may have. Many helmets are now available with HANS posts from the factory. I have not seen any helmets with factory attachments for any other H&N device.
    This is another advantage for the Leatt, since it does not attach to your helmet in this way, it requires no helmet modification.
    2006 OPRC Novice Champion
    2006 OPRC Production 2 Champion

    Right now, someone somewhere is practicing, and when you face him, he will beat you.

  5. #5

    Re: H&N Support Devices

    Matt, I did alot of reading earlier this year about the same subject. My conclusion at that time was that each system had is benifits and disadvantages. I have been waiting for something better then the hans and although the Leatt Brace may not score as high, it seems like a better all around product. I will be doing more research on this soon. Great topic by the way.
    Ivano D.

    SPDA TREASURER

  6. #6

    Re: H&N Support Devices

    Here's an eye opening video to watch. This was the Silver STI driven by Robert Jekoz at Tall Pines this year: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNeamTQywV4

    Watch it right to the end. You can hear he's in agony while still in the car, and see him holding his lower back after he gets out. That's clearly a compression injury. He's okay now, for anyone that's concerned. But something like that could have been prevented, or at least improved.
    From the performance graphs I've seen, the Leatt-Brace is the best at preventing compression injuries just like that. That sort of compression force is rare in other motorsports. But with all the jumps in rallying, even if you do land on the road, it can still sometimes be hard enough to cause something like that.
    Yup, the more I think about it, the more I'm leaning towards the Leatt...
    2006 OPRC Novice Champion
    2006 OPRC Production 2 Champion

    Right now, someone somewhere is practicing, and when you face him, he will beat you.

  7. #7
    Guest

    Re: H&N Support Devices

    Matt - How long was he injured for? That video is a real eye opener! Seems as though he clipped a high spot on the left side of the road and that flipped him due to his high speed! Dangerous spot IMO.

  8. #8

    Re: H&N Support Devices

    He went to the hospital after they DNF'ed the rally, but he'd been walking around for quite a while before that. I don't think any kind of H&N device would have helped him there. He hit that rock almost directly under his seat, the entire weight of his upper body compacted straight down his spine. Not much you can do there.

    As for that spot, it is a very dangerous corner. Thus why it's a double caution in the routebook, has caution arrows on the crest, etc. In past years that rock took out multiple cars. The co-driver was clearly behind in the notes (he's calling right deceptive as they're in the air) and the driver was clearly over-driving the car and didn't slow down when the codriver got off book and didn't slow down when he saw the caution arrows, which are only present at double or triple cautions.

  9. #9

    Re: H&N Support Devices

    WRX_STI wrote:
    Matt - How long was he injured for? That video is a real eye opener! Seems as though he clipped a high spot on the left side of the road and that flipped him due to his high speed! Dangerous spot IMO.
    I don't know how long it took for him to recover. But his codriver reported in, that they are both fine, and the car suffer mostly just cosmetic damage.

    That jump/turn became infamous in 2004. It took a lot of cars out of the race that year. This crew wasn't aware of that however...
    In a fast car, that's a pretty big jump. But then the road turns slightly while you are airborn. So you become completely helpless as you watch the road turn from under you. He landed the nose/front skidplate at ~140km/h on a big rock. The result is an incredibly jarring impact. They didn't flip, they sort of bounced off the rock, and back across the road.
    2006 OPRC Novice Champion
    2006 OPRC Production 2 Champion

    Right now, someone somewhere is practicing, and when you face him, he will beat you.

  10. #10
    Guest

    Re: H&N Support Devices

    wedge wrote:
    WRX_STI wrote:
    Matt - How long was he injured for? That video is a real eye opener! Seems as though he clipped a high spot on the left side of the road and that flipped him due to his high speed! Dangerous spot IMO.
    I don't know how long it took for him to recover. But his codriver reported in, that they are both fine, and the car suffer mostly just cosmetic damage.

    That jump/turn became infamous in 2004. It took a lot of cars out of the race that year. This crew wasn't aware of that however...
    In a fast car, that's a pretty big jump. But then the road turns slightly while you are airborn. So you become completely helpless as you watch the road turn from under you. He landed the nose/front skidplate at ~140km/h on a big rock. The result is an incredibly jarring impact. They didn't flip, they sort of bounced off the rock, and back across the road.
    It looked as though he flipped onto his side after he hit the rock, and then fell back on all fours. He MUST have been 2 wheelin' it for a bit.

    Cosmetic damage? I think he must have understated the damage. The undercarriage must have taken a beating (unless the wheels and shocks took all of the impact), and he had smoke coming out of his hood.

    If there is a slight turn after the jump, my mind would tell me to take it easy at that section (hence the double caution and signs posted all over)

    All in all, I'm glad they are healthy and ready to race again!

  11. #11

    Re: H&N Support Devices

    RyanHuber wrote:
    I don't think any kind of H&N device would have helped him there.
    It's impossible to know just how much of an improvement an H&N would have had. But I think it would have helped, certainly it would be better than nothing. A conventional H&N, like a HANS would certainly have done little or nothing. Because the tethers only tighten when the head moves forward, or to the side. When the head is pushed down, the tethers do nothing.
    This is a quote from Leatt's website as something it protects against:
    Axial loading: compression of the spinal column due to the effect of force on the helmet
    In that sort of impact, the spine gets sandwitched in between your butt and your head. It's the force of your head/helmet pushing down that causes the injury. The Leatt brace spreads out the weight of your head, instead of pushing straight down onto the spine, it's spread onto a wider area.
    2006 OPRC Novice Champion
    2006 OPRC Production 2 Champion

    Right now, someone somewhere is practicing, and when you face him, he will beat you.

  12. #12

    Re: H&N Support Devices

    WRX_STI wrote:

    Cosmetic damage? I think he must have understated the damage.
    Don't quote me on that! That's what his codriver posted on specialstage :-D

    You just have to realize that there's a lot of damage rally guys consider "cosmetic", that most normal people would scrap a car due to. ;-)

    He probably wrecked the front bumper, and cracked the rad, and will need to hammer the floor straight again... my guess is that's about it.
    2006 OPRC Novice Champion
    2006 OPRC Production 2 Champion

    Right now, someone somewhere is practicing, and when you face him, he will beat you.

  13. #13

    Re: H&N Support Devices

    WRX_STI wrote:

    Cosmetic damage? I think he must have understated the damage.
    I think the steam was just water that hit the rad or engine on impact. Broken rads create a lot more steam than that.


    Stephen - I drive Blue Subarus of the rally and track varietals.

  14. #14
    Guest

    Re: H&N Support Devices

    STeveD wrote:
    WRX_STI wrote:

    Cosmetic damage? I think he must have understated the damage.
    I think the steam was just water that hit the rad or engine on impact. Broken rads create a lot more steam than that.
    You're probobly right. I don't know if you noticed or not, but he also lost his lightbar and lights when he landed! That was a very serious impact that looked like it wasn't as bad as it was.

  15. #15

    Re: H&N Support Devices

    Navigator wrote:
    Matt, I did alot of reading earlier this year about the same subject. My conclusion at that time was that each system had is benifits and disadvantages. I have been waiting for something better then the hans and although the Leatt Brace may not score as high, it seems like a better all around product. I will be doing more research on this soon. Great topic by the way.
    I just had a thought, the Leatt Brace might not be good for co-drivers. The 'front upper member' sticks out from your chest, and might get in the way of your trying to read the notes. But you'd have to try one on to know that for sure.
    2006 OPRC Novice Champion
    2006 OPRC Production 2 Champion

    Right now, someone somewhere is practicing, and when you face him, he will beat you.

  16. #16

    Re: H&N Support Devices

    FYI: HANS approached Fourstar about handling their sales in the rally world for NE US and SE Canada last week. Obviously HANS is strict about vendors "low-balling safety", so no vendor can discount prices much at all. But, there will be local support with rally experience.


    Stephen - I drive Blue Subarus of the rally and track varietals.

  17. #17

    Re: H&N Support Devices

    Just thought I'd give an update. My research has been ongoing. I've actually been in communication with the manufacturer's of these devices, and some have been extremely helpful.
    So far, I've been speaking with Trevor Ashline, inventor of the Hutchens devices, and the R3. I've also been in contact with Karl Ebel, president of the Leatt company, and his cheif engineer.
    They are all glad to be of help. I've asked some imformed questions, and received very detailed answers. I really appreciate their effort.
    The HANS company responded to my first email, with a one-liner response, refusing to answer.
    The ISAAC company so far has not responded at all.

    One very interesting thing that I've picked up on, is the criteria, and testing procedure behind FIA-approved H&N Restraints. I knew that HANS was the only device with FIA approval, but I've only recently learned why. In fact, it has nothing to do with the safety provided to the user. The reason, is that the FIA has designed several testing apparatus, which the device must fit into to be tested. These apparatus were designed specifically to test the HANS. Unfortunately, no other device is the same shape as the HANS, so no other device is even capable of being tested for FIA approval. Until their rules change (if their rules change), there can never be any device with FIA approval, except for the HANS.

    SFI testing procedures however, are much more universal. They measure the forces applied to the wearer's neck during a 70g impact (that is a huge impact!). To put it in very simple terms, the measured results must be below the level where injury can occur. This is a very strict testing procedure, there are only 5 devices that have passed, and many more that have failed.
    2006 OPRC Novice Champion
    2006 OPRC Production 2 Champion

    Right now, someone somewhere is practicing, and when you face him, he will beat you.

  18. #18

    Re: H&N Support Devices

    You can contact Gregg Baker of ISAAC on Rennlist.com . There's a ton of good (and bad) safety info in the threads there as well. Note that much of it may not be applicable to Subies (or most rally cars).

    The best source of research is, well, reading the (peer-reviewed) research. Most of the manufacturers have published papers in SAE journals, or made presentations at conferences.

    As for SFI, I have little faith in them. They do absolutely zero compliance testing, so as far as I'm concerned, an SFI sticker stands for squat just for that reason. It also seems like if they don't want to pass a manufacturer's H & N restraint - particularly if the manufacturer isn't a member of SFI - then the SFI standard is seemingly revised just enough to exclude that product. Coincidence? ...

    As for HANS pricing, everybody has to advertise the same price. Actually paying that price is an entirely different matter ... :-D

  19. #19

    Re: H&N Support Devices

    They do absolutely zero compliance testing
    I'm not sure what you mean by that...

    It also seems like if they don't want to pass a manufacturer's H & N restraint - particularly if the manufacturer isn't a member of SFI - then the SFI standard is seemingly revised just enough to exclude that product. Coincidence? ...
    SFI standard 38.1 for head and neck restraints has never been revised since its creation. I've seen that there's a lot of people who feel there is a conspiracy behind that standard. For example, the fact that the G-Force SRS failed by just 10N. But that truely is a coincidence. When Neck Tension is >4000N, that is the point where injury can occur. That number is an international safety standard, it was not determined by the SFI. G-Force scored 4010N, therefore it simply doesn't provide effective protection. No conspiracy there, just facts.
    Some people feel the Isaac is unfairly excluded also. It meets all the safety standards, but fails because it does not have a single point of release. That particular rule might be questionable, but personally I agree with it.
    This standard certainly isn't perfect, mainly because the technology is new and everyone is still learning. In any case, between the current FIA and SFI standards for head and neck restraints. I still think SFI does a better job.
    Since no sanctioning body has the ability to allow or disallow products on a case-by-case basis. They must rely on one of the existing standards.
    2006 OPRC Novice Champion
    2006 OPRC Production 2 Champion

    Right now, someone somewhere is practicing, and when you face him, he will beat you.

  20. #20

    Re: H&N Support Devices

    wedge wrote:
    They do absolutely zero compliance testing
    I'm not sure what you mean by that...
    ",,, to randomly select test samples from the marketplace and test them to the minimum performance requirements of the applicable standard..."
    http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/testing/comply/Mission/1_ovsc_1.html

    FIA does it.
    Snell does it.

    No compliance testing means that the design passed the standard. Compliance testing makes it possible to calculate the odds that what I actually buy will meet the standard.

    Although Snell doesn't publicize failures (AFAIK, last time I looked), the FIA does - and models from respected manufacturers have had their certification lifted. No compliance testing means that would never happen.

    Please note that I am not saying the manufacturers in question deliberately did this. However, I do find it very comforting that someone is watching. I don't get that feeling with SFI.

    As for gForce and ISAAC - you are right, the facts that you state are indisputable. The differences are in the timeline of events and in analysis.

    Good luck with your search, I am very interested in what restraint you end up with!

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