carbon fibre bulkhead?

[motorsportbeng]

I have cut a service hatch in the floor of my tin top racer to allow me to work on/remove the standard in tank fuel pump without having to drop the whole fuel tank. I was going to bolt down an ali panel over the top to create the MSA proof bulkhead inbetween the fuel system and driver compartmant but I've seen someone make a similar panel out of carbon fibre on a track car and I wondered where the MSA stands on using Carbon as firewall/bulkhead, are there minimum thickness' etc.?

[anonymous-user]

I have a Dallara F305 that my son races. The panel between the fuel cell and the cockpit is only a couple of mm thick CF, and it is FIA approved so I don't see why there should be an issue for you.

[Weslake-Monza]

The regulation for the bulkhead between the engine and driver compartment is not the same as the regulation for the bulkhead between a fuel cell/tank and driver compartment.

The engine/driver compartment bulkhead must be non-flammable (page 144). The fuel tank/driver compartment bulkhead must be sufficent to prevent etc (page 271).

[tapkaJohnD]

Perhaops you should take a leaf from Colin Chapman's book, and paint the cover silver.

Allegedly, ACBC entered a car with a fibreboard firewall (just add lightness!)
When challenged that it should be metal, he pointed out that it was painted with aluminium paint, "And aluminium's a metal, isn't it?"

John