The SFI and FIA rating ensures that these harnesses have been tested and proven to be safe for use in the most demanding racing conditions.. If your sanctioning body conducts safety inspections, you must make sure your equipment is compliant. SFI-rated harnesses can be used for up to two years after their manufacturing date, while FIA harnesses can be used for up to five. 5-point harnesses are SFI approved, while 6-point harnesses are FIA approved. Regardless, before making your purchase, please make sure to check the safety requirements of your specific local sanctioning body.
In addition to the actual harnesses, you must also make sure to equip your race vehicle with the appropriate supporting hardware for your harness. For most this means either a roll bar or roll cage and fixed bucket seats. If your vehicle lacks either of these it might be a bad idea to install harnesses. Since harnesses do not allow for almost any movement, you can be seriously injured or killed during an accident.