There has been alot of confusion regarding the differences between 5-point and 6-point competition harnesses. Basically, a 5-point system has a single anti-submarine belt and a 6-point system has a dual anti-submarine belt. Both the single and dual anti-submarine belts have a single tang that clips into the bottom slot of the central camlock mechanism. The points referred to are the attachment points of the belts into the car. For example, a 6-point system has 6 attachment points into the vehicle (2 for the shoulder straps, 2 lap belt mounting points and 2 anti-submarine mounting points for a total of 6).

There has been a substantial amount of research done regarding the effectiveness of the 5-point vs. the 6-point system. It has been found that a 6-point belt system (the one with the dual anti-submarine belt) results in approximately a 50% reduction in chest injuries in most frontal type impact situations. The reason this occurs is because the dual anti-submarine belt keeps the hips and pelvis firmly planted in the bottom of the seat whereas the single anti-submarine belt allows the hips and pelvis to move up out of the bottom of the seat which causes additional loading in the chest area thus resulting in chest injuries. Additionally, several sanctioning bodies including the SCCA consider the 5-point system to be a minimum restraint system and the 6-point system is highly recommended.

The SCCA allows the mounting of either the single or dual anti-submarine belts to be bolted (metal to metal) to the floorboard structure. Usually these belts route up thru a hole in the bottom of the seat specifically designed for the anti-submarine belt to pass. Alternatively, the SCCA allows the dual anti-submarine belts to be mounted at a common mounting point where the lap belts are mounted and the belts pass under the driver and up between the drivers legs to the seat belt release mechanism. This alternative mounting for a dual anti-submarine belt works well in the case where the seat is not equipped with a belt hole in the bottom of the seat.

Several harness manufacturers are now making competition harnesses specifically designed to be used with a HANS Device (Head and Neck Support). These shoulder belts are 2 inches wide where they attach to the roll-cage and stay 2 inches wide as they go over the HANS device which sits on top of the shoulders. Then as the belt comes down the front part of the HANS it widens to 3 inches and remains at that width until it attaches to the central release mechanism. These HANS specific belts are only approved for use with a HANS device. All other shoulder harnesses are 3 inches wide and they are approved for use with or without a HANS device.

Competition harnesses that are FIA approved may have a 2 inch lap belt used with either a 2"/3" combination shoulder harness for use with a HANS device or a standard 3" shoulder harness. The standard 3" shoulder harness is also approved for use with a HANS device. Both of these systems require the use of a dual anti-submarine belts to form a 6-point system. If the harnesses are only SFI approved and not FIA approved a 3" lap belt is required. FIA approved harnesses are good for 5 years and the expiration date is labeled on each belt. SFI approved harnesses are only good for 2 years and they expire on December 31st of the 2nd year following the date of manufacure which is labeled on each belt.

Due to the economic advantage of FIA approved Competition Harnesses, Northstar Motorsports only sells FIA approved belts. Northstar is also a Factory Trained distributor of Hans Devices. Northstar only lists a very few of the competition harnesses available on our website. For information regarding the systems with the 2"/3" HANS specific shoulder belts and/or the 2" lap belts please call us at (800) 356-2080. These harnesse are available and we would be happy to discuss them with you.