Here is a guide to the general requirements for competition vehicles under the current FIA and Motorsport UK regulations. Some series enforce requirements specific to that championship so it is always worth thoroughly reading the technical regulations of the series that you are competing in to check compliance.
If you are competing in the UK then from 01/01/2019 all new vehicles will require an FIA Homologated and from 01/01/2022 all vehicles are required to be fitted with an FIA system.
Circuit Vehicles
The minimum requirement for a circuit vehicle is one plumbed in fire extinguisher homologated to the FIA Standard for Plumbed-in Fire Extinguisher Systems
in Competition Cars.
Example of plumbed in fire extinguisher kit homologated to the FIA Standard.
This means that as long as your cylinder is not over ten years old, has been serviced within the past two years and is fitted as per the manufactures instruction then it is eligible for circuit racing.
For Rally
As rally cars are potentially further away from marshal aid there are a few extra requirements in place for rally cars, one plumbed in and one handheld extinguisher are required. Both must meet the requirements of FIA Standard for Plumbed-in Fire Extinguisher Systems in Competition Cars.
This means that if your cylinder has over 3.0kgs of suppressant, is not over 10 years old, has been serviced within the past 2 years and is fitted as per the manufactures instruction then it is eligible.
For the Handheld to be eligible then it must have a minimum amount of suppressant for AFFF foam it is 2.4 ltrs and for Novec 1230 Gas it is 2.0kg, the same service requirements apply.
For FIA Categories WRC, R5, RGT, T1, GT3, WRX – Technical List 52 8865-2015 Standard
The FIA introduced a new standard of fire suppression that came into force for some categories of motorsport, one plumbed in fire extinguisher homologated to technical list 52 is required, again if it is competing in an FIA rally event then a handheld (2.4 ltrs of AFFF foam or 2.0kg of Novec 1230) must be carried. Check the homologation number on your bottle and check it on the list.
If the homologation number on the bottle matches one on the list then as long as it is not over 10 years old, has been serviced within the past 2 years and is fitted as per the manufactures instruction then it is eligible.
