New RTA rules for vehicle modifications

[river]

Hi,

as I see it, NCOP is still just a guideline

Hehehe, sort of like the Pirate's Code, eh?

seeyuzz
river

[oldcorollas]

umm, not really.
relevant bits of the preface of NCOP

INTENT AND PURPOSE
VSB 14 has been prepared to provide guidance for those who intend to manufacture an Individually Constructed Vehicle (ICV) or to carry out light vehicle modifications. Its ultimate aim is to ensure that each completed vehicle is safe for use on the road and that the level of safety afforded by a vehicle to its passengers and other road users is not compromised by any modifications.
One of the principal aims of the VSB 14 project is to provide a nationally acceptable set of
technical specifications that ensure that the manufacture of ICVs and the modification of
production vehicles comply with the applicable requirements of the Australian Design Rules (ADRs) and the AVSR.
Compliance with VSB 14 requirements will help ensure that work undertaken satisfies the regulatory requirements of jurisdictions.

RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LAWS OF AUSTRALIAN JURISDICTIONS
Subject to Federal laws and the laws of the States and Territories of Australia, VSB 14 defines standards of practice for the design and manufacture of ICVs and the modification of production vehicles. Other procedures may be acceptable subject to adequate technical justification.
Nothing in VSB 14 is to be regarded as in any way limiting the powers and duties of the
Minister, Chief Executive Officer or Road Transport Authority of the jurisdiction in question, or any agent or employee of that Officer, under the appropriate legislation of that jurisdiction.
Where any ADR, any Rule of the AVSR or any Australian Standard is referred to in VSB 14, the appropriate ADR, Rule or Australian Standard should be read in full to avoid misinterpretation. Each jurisdiction may have a different title for its adopted version of the AVSR and there may also be differences in rule or clause numbers.
Vehicle owners, registered operators, modifiers or builders must seek advice from the
appropriate jurisdiction if in doubt about any of the above issues.

ADMINISTRATION
VSB 14 provides a set of uniform technical specifications for the construction of ICVs and the modification of production vehicles that can be used consistently across Australia. Individual jurisdictions have their own administrative procedures and requirements for the registration of new vehicles and for the approval of modifications. Owners and registered operators must familiarise themselves with the provisions of the jurisdiction in which the vehicle is to be registered and garaged.
Most Registration Authorities operate schemes whereby suitably qualified and experienced
persons, usually called signatories, are accredited to, or registered with them for the purposes of inspecting and certifying modified vehicles. Signatories can also provide guidance on registration and their advice should be sought on more complex modifications or when developing an ICV.

[petergoudie]

The RTA has advised that the new VSCCS scheme will start at the end of next month. This replaces the current scheme for engineering approval. The new scheme adds quite a lot of extra cost. Depending on the number of certificates the engineer normally submits the costs will vary but the engineers are suggesting an extra $175 to $500 per report. This includes a new $30 fee for the engineer to log the report on the RTA computer. Anyone needing an engineering report should do it soon.

[oldcorollas]

bugger ...

[o_man_ra23]

Is that a NSW only thing, or is it Aus wide?

[thechuckster]

Specific to NSW, doesn't mean that other states wont follow with similar fee changes.

[o_man_ra23]

The latter part of your statement is what concerns me directly Chuck, however the other concern I have is that the added fees will discourage people from performing the brake modifications that they should (but don't necessarily have to) do. The fees as is can amount to a significant quantity when doing conversions, but if somebody with an older vehicle changes the engine out for a far more powerful unit that isn't heavier, and thus they don't need to change out their brakes to comply with ADRs, and the fees suddenly rise by $500 or more, somebody on a less than open budget will consider very closely the option of canning the brakes and just doing the motor. That puts more dangerous vehicles legally on the road, and thus is an unsafe increase in fees.

[thechuckster]

Owen, it depends how you go about organising your mob/blue plate in Qld. Making and certifying changes one step at a time means multiple plates and inspections (and thus fees). Have a whole swag of codes on one mod plate and you get the standard fee for the plate/certificate and whatever the engineer wants to charge for looking at and inspecting the vehicle.

Unless you're going down the ICV route where the engineer has to become involved at multiple stages (and bill you accordingly), Qld doesn't have the submitting, investigating, reporting and certification headaches that other states have (yet). They use a standard DoT-issued form, scribe the mod plate and that's it. Anything else is a matter between you and the engineer.

fwiw: I think the brake upgrade concerns are somewhat exaggerated. If you know what materials are used for any adaptors, what kinds of bolts are used and can inspect and roughly measure the size of things when on the hoist, the only test is the braking effort test which any Safety Certificate shop should have the meter (a glorified gtech with printer) for anyway. That's an hours work at best (unless you pull stuff off and apart) and if it's inspected at the same time other mods are looked at, the cost would be minimal.

[o_man_ra23]

The engineer I have been consulting charges per mod code, as there is a form which needs to be filled out per code.

The brake issue is one which is a concern when somebody doesn't want to shell out the extra coin for the certification. Peter's price increase is per report, and although I am unsure about the NSW system, the QLD system has one report per code.

[dnegative]

If the vehicle was allowed to be driven from their premise on a public road following the mods, it would be deemed professional negligence, and would then construe an illegal act.

First thing I was told when I did heavy vehicle brakes at tafe was that if I fucked up or allowed a dodgy vehicle to leave a workshop without making the owner sign a disclaimer outlining the unroadworthyness along with advising RTA then I would most certainty be held liable if it had a big smash and killed someone. Luckily the RTA doesn't do shit unless someone gets killed so most workshops don't give two shits about fitting intercoolers, boost controllers and all the other harmless bolt on shit. Most will refuse to modify your brakes or steering for good reason.

[Youngy]

NSW just keeps getting more depressing!

[alexlegault]

i hate rules espically this one that you have to make 100 posts before you can start a new thread.

[TheStitt]

Any way.... So are there any engineers still engineering cars?

I hit the RTA website up to get a current list on engineers however I couldn't find anything and am still waiting for a reply email

[The Witzl]

There are a handful.... Consulmotive is one.

[oldcorollas]

Any way.... So are there any engineers still engineering cars?

I hit the RTA website up to get a current list on engineers however I couldn't find anything and am still waiting for a reply email

gotta follow the yellow brick road a bit..

http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registrati...ulletin_01.pdf