Every build starts with a vision of greatness, but it only goes as far as the scrutineer’s clipboard.

To participate in any sanctioned motorsport event, your vehicle's rollover protection system (ROPS) must strictly comply with the technical regulations established by your local ASN (National Sporting Authority) or the global governing body, the FIA.

Understanding how this strict operational hierarchy works—and navigating the exact steps required to get your official paperwork—is the difference between sitting on the grid or being sent packing from the paddock.

Here is exactly how motorsport governance operates, why an FIA-certificated cage is a massive competitive advantage, and a breakdown of our mandatory 3-step system to secure your certification.

The Governing Hierarchy: FIA vs. Local ASNs

In motorsport, the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile) sits at the top as the global governing body. They manage world championships like Formula One and the WRC, establishing the International Sporting Code (ISC) and global safety standards.

However, the FIA delegates its sporting authority in each country to a local ASN (Autorité Sportive Nationale).

• The FIA: Sets global safety standards, ISC regulations, and international racing licenses.

• Your Local ASN: Acts as the sole national governing body recognized by the FIA in your country. They adapt FIA rules for local and national championships, train local marshals, and issue national competitive racing licenses.

Regardless of where you race, all roll cage designs must adhere to the exact specifications outlined by either your local ASN or the overarching FIA Technical Regulations. While it remains the competitor’s primary responsibility to ensure their safety cell complies with their specific discipline, choosing an FIA Certificated design means in most cases your cage is globally recognised and accepted across sanctioned events without question.

The Ultimate Upgrade: Why Choose an FIA Certificated Design?

Many builders look at regional minimum safety requirements ("regional minima") to get by, but opting for a fully optimized, FIA Certificated roll cage offers two massive structural and competitive benefits:

• Significant Weight Reduction: During the optimization, development, and certification stage, our engineers dial in the material efficiency. Installing a fully Certificated Design can actually offer a massive weight saving in excess of 30 kg over a generic, basic regional design depending on the specific vehicle model.

• Independently FEA Tested: Every certificated cage design is independently subjected to Finite Element Analysis (FEA) testing for structural integrity. This ensures your chassis achieves optimum fit and maximum weight savings without compromising an inch on driver safety.

Custom Cages’ Mandatory 3-Step Certification Process

We pride ourselves on manufacturing the highest quality roll cages in the industry. To maintain this standard and ensure you receive the correct, legally binding paperwork for your logbook, we utilize a mandatory 3-step system during installation.

⚠️ CRITICAL NOTE: Custom Cages will not issue any MSUK / FIA Certification until this process is completed in full. We reserve the right to refuse paperwork if any step is skipped, if a weld sample fails testing, or if the layout is incorrect.

Step 1: The Weld Test Sample & Declaration Form

Upon delivery of your roll cage kit, you will find a Weld Test Kit containing three small tube pieces and a declaration form. DO NOT DISCARD THIS KIT.

1. The Weld: The person installing your roll cage must weld these three test pieces together exactly as shown in the provided diagram layout.

2. The Declaration: Fill out and sign the included Declaration Form from your information pack, ensuring your unique Roll Cage Kit Number is clearly marked on the sample and packaging.

3. The Return: Send the completed sample and form directly to our facility:

Custom Cages Ltd
FAO Certification – WTS
Units 1-2 South March
Long March Industrial Estate, Daventry
NN11 4PH

What happens next? Your test piece is logged, inspected, and mechanically load-tested by our team. Once approved, the welder's sample is valid for a twelve-month period and can be referenced against any roll cage that specific welder installs during those 12 months.

(Pro-Tip: Most fabricators will use this time to tack the roll cage into the chassis in preparation for Step 2).

Step 2: Fitment Approval & Progressive Videos

To ensure the installed cage perfectly matches the approved design and official certificate, we require two separate videos for review by a Director or our Certification Team.

🟥 Why? If the final installed cage deviates from the official certificate diagram, an event scrutineer can legally bar your vehicle from entering the track until it is entirely rectified.

Video 1: The Tack-In Approval

Once your installer is authorized via the passed weld test, they may position the cage within the chassis.

• Action: Tack-weld the roll cage into position within the chassis. DO NOT FULLY WELD.

• Submission: Email a video to certification@customcages.co.uk (use a data transfer service like WeTransfer for large files).

• Requirement: The video must clearly show that all tubes and gussets are correctly positioned as per the design schematic. The Custom Cages ID Tag, Kit Number, and the vehicle’s Chassis Number must be completely legible in the footage.

Final structural welding must not commence until Video 1 has been formally approved in writing.

Video 2: The Fully Welded Review

Following your fitment approval from Video 1, you can proceed to complete the metalwork.

• Action: Fully weld the roll cage, ensuring flawless 360° structural welds on every single tube joint.

• Submission: Submit a second, continuous video of the completed installation BEFORE PAINT for final sign-off.

• Requirement: Send to certification@customcages.co.uk via WeTransfer. The unique K-number stamped on your identification tag must be fully visible and legible throughout the footage.

Step 3: Approval & Issue of Paperwork

Once all video components and weld test samples are approved, your official motorsport paperwork will be compiled and issued based on the exact cage specification purchased. Certificates are issued exclusively upon successful completion of this workflow.

Certificate Pricing Structure (Exclusive of International Postage):

• Custom Cages ROPSD Certificate: £40.00 +VAT

• MSUK & FIA Certificates (Pre-2023 Designs): £80.00 +VAT

• MSUK & FIA Certificates with Holograms: From £250.00 +VAT

• Lost or Replacement Certificates:* From £250.00 +VAT

*Note: Replacement certificates are subject to all required information and original validation processes having been strictly followed during the initial install.

Not Sure Which Regulations Your Build Falls Under?

Don't guess when it comes to material choice, weight savings, or MSA/FIA rule compliance. We’ve made figuring out your optimal chassis setup effortless.

Run your project through our 60-Second Interactive Cage Selector, choose your discipline, and our sales team will match your chassis to the exact compliant cage kit your build demands.