The EU Council have released the draft Harmonised Individual Vehicle Approval document and it’s caused a storm.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/24592411/Draft-Harmonised-Individual-Vehicle-Approval
The document appears, as with the original SVA, to have completely ignored the fact that there are classes and types of vehicles that do not fit the ‘Global’ definitions the the EU likes to deal in.
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The new BIVA test has a class for modified production cars(group M1) which is a big step forward from SVA and enables many more to legally modify their cars outside of the DVLA 8 points system.
However there is an anomaly in the application of the rules,which needs pointing out before you rush into building a pickup from your production car.
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We had heard worrying rumours that BIVA was under threat as the number using the scheme were considerably down on the projections in the VOSA 2008/9 Business strategy, resulting in them adjusting their projections downwards from 5000 to 3500 tests carried out:-
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After the introduction of the new BIVA test at the end of April it had become obvious that issues were occurring with finished builds that didn’t comply with the new EC43 only glass specifications. Currently an amnesty, for a period of 12 months, been granted to allow current projects to be completed without the need for purchases of replacement glazing.
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The BIVA manual has been amended.
This link will take you to the latest version which replaces the one below.
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The results of the BIVA draft Consultation, first mentioned here :-
BIVA Consultation Document Article
Can be found online at the DfT site:-
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Rushing to get your build finished for the 31st March to catch the end of SVA ?
We received confirmation today of the bad news that, although the test officially finishes at the end of March, the stations are actually being closed for that month while the testers are being retrained on the still to be agreed BIVA / IVA regulations.
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Here are some details of the proposed new basic Individual Vehicle Approval (BIVA) scheme versus the existing Single Vehicle Approval (SVA) scheme.
From 29 April 2009, the SVA test will no longer be available. It will be replaced by a similar test known as Basic IVA or BIVA. The new BIVA scheme will apply to new vehicles and vehicles up to 10 years old and will permit certain alternative standards such as US and Canadian standards, as is the case with SVA.
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Due to the workings of the EU they essentially bring a piece of legislation into law and then ask if there is anything wrong with it. As part of the Whole Vehicle Approval that will come into effect in April 2009 a member State is allowed a system of BIVA (Basic Individual Vehicle Assessment) .
Because of our motoring heritage we are one of the few member States to whom this would apply and hence a draft BIVA has been put together. This is currently the SVA rewritten with only a few ‘tweaks’. Bear in mind that car modifying is virtually nonexistent, in the form that we have, across the bulk of Europe. This draft will shortly be up for consultation via the DfT before onward transmission to the EU for their agreement. Do not believe that this BIVA document is how it will definitely turn out, it is only a draft proposal, the EU may well not allow it through unchanged. Any changes would make it harder to comply but some would stop home and low volume building at a stroke.
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The latest news to worry ACE is that SVA will cease to be at the end of March 2009. As you will see from The Birth of ACE the SVA is a very necessary piece of legislation should you be modifying or scratch building a vehicle. The proposal is that it will be replaced with IVA. However there are no copies available for inspection nor is any public consultation needed as it will come into force due to the signing of the EU (non constitution) Treaty. This means it will simply enter our Statutes with no input from our own Government or, more specifically, the people it purports to represent.
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