When engineering students work directly with high-voltage accumulator systems, battery management architecture, and energised electric drivetrains, the quality of their electrical PPE is not a preference — it is a safety-critical requirement. Certified rubber insulating gloves, dielectric blankets, and leather protector gloves are not accessories. They are the last line of defence between an engineer and a potentially fatal electrical exposure.
That standard of protection is precisely what NOVAX brings to Toronto Metropolitan Formula Racing as the team develops the TM-26 electric race car for the 2026 competition season.
Formula SAE Electric is not a standard university engineering project. Teams design and integrate accumulator systems operating at voltages that demand the same respect and protection protocols applied in professional utility and industrial environments. Battery cells, high-voltage wiring harnesses, inverters, and motor controllers create genuine electrical hazard exposure during assembly, diagnostic testing, validation runs, and maintenance procedures.
Without appropriate electrical insulating equipment rated to applicable safety standards, work on energised or potentially energised systems carries serious risk. For student engineers — many of whom are handling high-voltage systems for the first time in a hands-on engineering context — the availability of certified, properly rated PPE is not optional. It shapes whether the work can proceed safely at all.
This is the environment Toronto Metropolitan Formula Racing operates in. And it is the environment NOVAX understands.
To support TMFR’s engineering operations throughout the 2026 season, NOVAX has provided a complete high-voltage electrical safety solution:
NOVAX Class 0 Rubber Insulating Gloves Designed for electrical work on systems up to 1,000V AC / 1,500V DC, Class 0 rubber insulating gloves deliver primary dielectric protection during contact with or proximity to energised components. These gloves comply with EN/IEC 60903 and ASTM D120 standards, ensuring that the protection provided meets internationally recognised testing and performance benchmarks.
NOVAX Leather Protector Gloves LPG-10 Worn over rubber insulating gloves, leather protector gloves shield the dielectric layer against mechanical damage — cuts, abrasions, punctures — that can compromise insulating integrity. In an active fabrication and testing environment like a Formula SAE team workshop, mechanical protection is as important as electrical protection.
NOVAX Cotton Glove Liners Cotton liners worn beneath rubber insulating gloves absorb perspiration and reduce interior friction, maintaining tactile sensitivity and comfort during extended work sessions — a practical consideration that supports compliance with PPE protocols over long shifts.
NOVAX Rubber Insulating Blanket Class 4 Solid Rated for systems up to 36,000V AC / 54,000V DC, Class 4 rubber insulating blankets provide secondary zone isolation around energised work areas. In EV testing environments, blankets are used to cover exposed busbars, accumulator terminals, and adjacent live surfaces, reducing the risk of incidental contact during diagnostic and validation procedures.
NOVAX Glove Storage Bag Maintaining the condition of rubber insulating gloves between uses directly affects their dielectric performance. Proper storage prevents ozone degradation, surface contamination, and mechanical damage — each of which can reduce the rated insulating properties of the glove. The NOVAX storage bag is designed to preserve both the form and certification integrity of the rubber insulating glove set.
This combination — rubber insulating gloves, leather protectors, cotton liners, insulating blanket, and purpose-built storage — represents a complete, standards-aligned electrical safety system for high-voltage work.
Not all electrical gloves provide the same protection, and the difference is measurable. Rubber insulating gloves are classified by voltage rating under EN/IEC 60903 and ASTM D120, with each class tested to defined proof voltage, maximum use voltage, and ozone resistance criteria. Class 0 gloves are appropriate for systems operating at low-to-medium voltages common in Formula SAE Electric applications. Class 4 insulating blankets extend that protection to high-voltage isolation in work zone management.
Using uncertified or incorrectly rated PPE in a high-voltage environment does not simply reduce protection — it can create a false sense of safety that is more dangerous than acknowledged exposure. Certified equipment removes that uncertainty.
NOVAX rubber insulating gloves and insulating blankets are manufactured to comply with internationally recognised electrical safety standards, providing Toronto Metropolitan Formula Racing engineers with equipment whose performance characteristics have been independently verified through standardised testing protocols.
The TM-26 represents Toronto Metropolitan Formula Racing continued progression in Formula SAE Electric engineering. As the team moves through vehicle integration, system validation, and competition preparation in 2026, reliable electrical PPE forms part of the safety infrastructure that makes high-voltage work possible.
The engineering disciplines students engage with during TM-26 development — electric drivetrain integration, accumulator design, BMS architecture, high-voltage wiring, and safety interlock systems — are the same disciplines shaping the professional electric vehicle industry. Developing the habit of working with certified, standards-compliant electrical safety equipment from the earliest stages of an engineering career is a professional formation as significant as any technical skill.
NOVAX’s support of Toronto Metropolitan Formula Racing reflects a commitment that extends beyond product provision. It is an investment in the engineering culture being built around the next generation of EV and motorsport professionals.
The official reveal of the TM-26 will mark a significant milestone in TMFR’s 2026 programme, showcasing the engineering innovations developed throughout the build season and introducing the car to the wider motorsport and academic community.
Formula SAE Electric is one of the most technically rigorous student engineering competitions globally. Teams are evaluated across static disciplines — design judging, cost analysis, and business case presentation — as well as dynamic events including acceleration, autocross, endurance, and efficiency runs. Safety compliance, including PPE standards, is embedded in the competition’s technical inspection process.
The Ontario Honda Dealers Indy moves to a new street circuit in Markham, Ontario for 2026, with projected attendance exceeding 140,000 visitors across the race weekend. For Toronto Metropolitan Formula Racing, participation in one of Canada’s premier motorsport events provides significant public visibility and an important platform for the electric racing engineering community.
NOVAX’s involvement across these events reflects a consistent position: that professional-grade electrical safety equipment and high-performance engineering are not in tension. They are complementary requirements.
NOVAX designs and supplies certified electrical safety products for utility professionals, electrical contractors, industrial maintenance teams, and specialist applications including electric vehicle development. The same rubber insulating gloves, dielectric blankets, and protector systems trusted by utility workers operating on energised high-voltage infrastructure are the products now supporting Toronto Metropolitan Formula Racing engineering programme.
The standards do not change because the environment is a student workshop rather than a transmission substation. Electricity behaves the same way in both settings. The PPE requirements reflect that reality.