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Diploma in Period-Correct Safety: Roll Cages, Seats and Harnesses

Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in period-correct safety for historic motorsport, structured in 8 modules covering passive safety, roll cages, competition seats, harnesses and restraint systems, fire protection, driver equipment, and scrutineering documentation, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration6–8 months
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma
Enrol now View syllabus Ask an advisor

Diploma in Period-Correct Safety: Roll Cages, Seats and Harnesses — studying from Australia

Restoration of classic vehicles and heritage machinery is a valued pursuit in Australia, supported by active car clubs, museums and a dedicated enthusiast community. Engineers and skilled restorers work on historical preservation, parts sourcing, engine rebuilding and compliance with vehicle registration requirements. The heritage and collectable vehicle market supports specialist workshops, parts suppliers and appraisal services. Employers include restoration workshops, museums, specialist importers and heritage organisations.

Fees for Australia: A$1,740 (AUD), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.

Relevant bodies in Australia

  • Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS)
  • Historic Motoring Club of Australia
  • National Museum of Australia
  • Standards Australia

Typical roles

  • Classic Vehicle Restorer
  • Restoration Engineer
  • Heritage Machinery Specialist
  • Conservation Technician

Questions from Australia

Is this training recognised by any Australian heritage or automotive restoration body?

SEIUM qualifications are private and not accredited by any Australian national body or heritage authority. Recognition is decided by employers and individual clients. Heritage listings and vehicle registration are governed by state authorities, so check their requirements separately if they affect your work.

Which Australian businesses might employ restoration specialists with this training?

Classic car restoration workshops, heritage vehicle dealers, museums, and specialist parts suppliers are examples of Australian employers and clients in this area. Hiring decisions rest with each business. A strong restoration portfolio and practical experience are typically more persuasive than a private qualification.

Can I study from Australia while keeping my current work, and can it be funded?

Yes, the programmes are fully online and taught in English, so you can study from Australia without a student visa and around your existing work. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible. Check the total hours and build a schedule you can sustain.

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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Interpret the safety requirements of historic motorsport regulations.

02

Design and install roll cages that comply with the rules and look period-correct.

03

Select and correctly install homologated seats.

04

Install harnesses with appropriate anchorages and angles.

05

Implement fire protection systems.

06

Manage the crew’s safety equipment.

07

Prepare safety documentation for scrutineering.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Competition vehicle preparers working on historic cars.
  • Technical scrutineers.
  • Roll cage fabricators.
  • Historic motorsport mechanics.
  • Team safety officers.
  • Technical advisers to drivers.
  • Engineering or science graduates looking to enter historic motorsport.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • FIA International Sporting Code Appendix K (historic competition vehicles)
  • FIA Appendix J, Article 253 (safety equipment)
  • FIA 8862-2009 (competition seats)
  • FIA 8853-2016 (safety harnesses)
  • FIA 8865-2015 (extinguishing systems)
  • FIA 8856-2018 (protective clothing)
  • FIA 8859-2015 (helmets)
  • SolidWorks
  • Bend-Tech
  • Autodesk Inventor
  • Rhinoceros
  • Excel (expiry tracking)
Syllabus

8 modules

  1. 1.1The evolution of safety in motorsport
  2. 1.2Period-correct criteria and their interpretation
  3. 1.3Appendix K and safety equipment
  4. 1.4Differences between classes and periods
  5. 1.5Injury risks in impacts and rollovers
  6. 1.6Basic occupant biomechanics
  7. 1.7Balancing authenticity and protection
  8. 1.8Safety scrutineering
  9. 1.9The preparer’s responsibility
  10. 1.10Case study: safety audit of a historic rally
  1. 2.1Cage geometries according to Appendices J and K
  2. 2.2Materials: carbon steel and chromoly
  3. 2.3Minimum diameters and wall thicknesses
  4. 2.4Reinforcement plates and mounting to the shell
  5. 2.5Door bars and stays
  6. 2.6Tube bending and ovality control
  7. 2.7Welding of nodes and removable joints
  8. 2.8Homologated padding
  9. 2.9Period cages versus modern cages
  10. 2.10Workshop: measurements and templates for a six-point cage
  1. 3.1FIA 8855 and 8862 homologations
  2. 3.2Period seats and their condition
  3. 3.3Mountings, anchorages and driver position
  4. 3.4Homologation expiry
  5. 3.5Ergonomics and visibility
  6. 3.6Installation according to the manufacturer’s manual
  7. 3.7Co-driver seats in historic rallies
  8. 3.8Inspecting shell damage
  9. 3.9Compatibility with restraint systems
  10. 3.10Practical: installing a seat with side mountings
  1. 4.1FIA 8853 homologation and expiry dates
  2. 4.2Anchorage points and correct angles
  3. 4.3Lap and crotch straps
  4. 4.4Period and modern buckles
  5. 4.5Installation with HANS and FHR devices
  6. 4.6Fitting the harness to the occupant
  7. 4.7Damage from UV, moisture and abrasion
  8. 4.8Harnesses in vehicles without a cage
  9. 4.9Period-correct appearance in modern harnesses
  10. 4.10Workshop: checking harness anchorages and angles
  1. 5.1Manual and automatic extinguishing systems
  2. 5.2FIA 8865 homologation
  3. 5.3Positioning of nozzles and cylinder
  4. 5.4Safety fuel tanks and foams
  5. 5.5Fuel lines and fittings
  6. 5.6Firewall bulkheads between engine and cockpit
  7. 5.7Internal and external circuit breakers
  8. 5.8Fire-resistant clothing and personal equipment
  9. 5.9Inspection and refilling of extinguishers
  10. 5.10Practical: installing an extinguishing system
  1. 6.1FIA 8859 and Snell homologated helmets
  2. 6.2Frontal head restraint devices
  3. 6.3FIA 8856 overalls, underwear, gloves and boots
  4. 6.4Expiry dates and labelling
  5. 6.5Period appearance in equipment
  6. 6.6Helmet intercoms for rallies
  7. 6.7Maintenance and storage
  8. 6.8Correct size and fit
  9. 6.9Inspection at scrutineering
  10. 6.10Case study: full equipment for a period rally
  1. 7.1Roll cage homologation forms
  2. 7.2Manufacturers’ certificates
  3. 7.3Recording equipment expiry dates
  4. 7.4Historic Technical Passport and safety
  5. 7.5Pre-event inspection
  6. 7.6Managing non-conformities
  7. 7.7Photographic record of installations
  8. 7.8Communication with technical scrutineers
  9. 7.9Maintenance between events
  10. 7.10Workshop: safety dossier for scrutineering
  1. 8.1Selecting the vehicle and period
  2. 8.2Regulatory analysis by period and class
  3. 8.3Cage and anchorage design
  4. 8.4Selecting seats and harnesses
  5. 8.5Fire protection plan
  6. 8.6Crew equipment
  7. 8.7Scrutineering dossier
  8. 8.8Budget and schedule
  9. 8.9Report and presentation
  10. 8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

A 100% online programme on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so it fits around your job.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is SolidWorks, Bend-Tech, Autodesk Inventor, Rhinoceros and an Excel expiry-tracking workbook, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: roll cage installation in historic vehicles, checking seat and harness anchorages, and preparing dossiers for technical scrutineering. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.

Standards covered: FIA International Sporting Code Appendix K, Appendix J (Article 253), FIA 8862-2009, FIA 8853-2016, FIA 8865-2015, FIA 8856-2018, FIA 8859-2015.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of FIA Appendix K, Appendix J (Article 253) and FIA 8862-2009 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:SolidWorks, Bend-Tech, Autodesk Inventor, Rhinoceros and Excel, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Final project:A complete period-correct safety package for a historic competition vehicle, with scrutineering dossier, reviewed by your tutor.
Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Regulatory analysis
Identify the safety rules applicable to the vehicle’s period and class.
Roll cage design
Measure and template a six-point cage with its anchorages.
Seat and harness installation
Specify and check seat mountings and harness anchorage angles.
Fire protection plan
Lay out an extinguishing system, firewall and circuit breakers.
Final project
A complete period-correct safety package and scrutineering dossier, reviewed by your tutor.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Competition vehicle preparerTechnical scrutineerRoll cage fabricatorHistoric motorsport mechanicTeam safety officerTechnical adviser to drivers
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
  • An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
  • English sufficient to read technical standards.

Ready to start?

Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.

Apply now Scholarships
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme totals 800 hours over 6–8 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.

You work with SolidWorks, Bend-Tech, Autodesk Inventor, Rhinoceros and Excel, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.

A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.

Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.

Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector; no university degree is required.

Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.

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