Matt93SE wrote:
SFI started putting expiration dates on their belts almost immediately after SCCA updated the GCR to allow 5yrs from date of manufacture on SFI belts.
Now tell me they aren't grabbing for money.
SFI states that belts deteriorate and lose over 50% of their strength in that time, yet I've seen test data of 10 and even 20yr old FIA belts still holding strong. Not to mention the number of standard automotive seatbelts that are Ok in a street car for decades.. So it sounds to me like SFI is either lying to protect their pocketbooks, or they mandate belts to be made from an inferior material.
It's definitely about grubbing for money, but what they are doing is selectively using test data that show webbing strength deterioration after a few years of exposure to direct sun. This may be relevant in aircraft parked outside with plastic bubble canopies but I've yet to meet anyone who stores their open race car outside so it's irrelevant to race cars.
Twisting the truth is so much more effective (but not much more ethical) than lying!
I suspect that if you store your FIA belts by hanging them on a fence post is South Texas that they would in fact be in bad shape after 5 years!