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Friday 26 April 2013

Type Approval – N1 Enhancements Scheme (...in plain English)

The European Parliament have recently updated a framework for the approval of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.  Type Approval is a European Community (EC) directive, and in the UK is managed by the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA).

What does Category ‘N1’ mean?
Category ‘N’ vehicles are designed and constructed for use on the road, with or without bodywork having at least 4 wheels and a maximum design speed exceeding 25km/h.


Why does it affect our industry?
With a view to improving road safety, it is considered imperative and necessary that the cabs of motor vehicles of category ‘N’ do not exhibit sharp external projections to reduce the risk or the severity of injuries sustained by a person coming into contact with the external surface of the vehicle in the event of an accident. It also ensures that vehicle lights and number plates are clearly visible


What’s changing?
The Enhancements Scheme Process Document has been revised and new Type Approval processes come into effect from Monday 29th April 2013. 


How long do I have to ensure I comply?

There’s a transitional period until 1 January 2014


Who will Type Approval affect?
It will only affect those that install products to un-registered vehicles with the DVLA on vehicles less than 2m high. All registered vehicles are currently un-effected.

Are Rhino Products affected?

Rhino Products including; Aluminium Rack, Modular Rack, Delta Bars, SafeStow, Pipe Tube and the SafeClamp have passed stringent TÜV testing which is the highest accolade in Europe and complies with all EC regs that Type Approval refers to already.  Therefore fitting these products to vehicles should not hinder the Type Approval of the vehicle(s) in question.  However, we are currently seeking extra advice and guidance to get specific answers on Type Approval for our customer base, as there is a lot of information published on this subject, but none that specifically concentrates on our industry. 

For example, we have recently stopped producing the OCE (Over Cab Extension) systems as these would not comply with these standards. However, we will publish extra guidance as soon as it becomes available.   See the next page for some information on ‘General Provisions and exclusions’ that requires further clarification.  

UPDATE 29/04/13: Not only roof bars, but all types of roof racks are also exempt from the new Type Approval regulations on vehicles less than 2m high.

The following is lifted from the official VCA N1 Enhancements Scheme Document that requires further clarification on specifically what does and does not need controls.
Dated: 18th February 2013


“What are the General Provisions and Exclusions?
Many common modifications (particularly within the load space) which are of a semi-permanent or temporary in nature (such as ply lining, racking / shelving systems, etc.) can generally be treated as part of the vehicle payload. Hence it is not necessary to obtain any specific approval to cover these kinds of modifications. Similarly certain temporary modifications on the exterior of the vehicle may be treated in the same way; e.g. access steps, roof racks / bars, etc, such modifications are unlikely to affect the validity of the type approval of the vehicle concerned.


However, in some cases the modifications carried out by a converter will mean the type approval of the vehicle is no longer valid and so an additional approval is required for the vehicle.”
Download a pdf of this document here

Keep checking back here regularly for further information on the new Type Approval regulations.

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