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 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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Buried away in the DFT (Department for Transport, parent department to DVLA and VOSA) Consultation Document, re: the demise of SVA and its replacement with BIVA, are the following questions.
For example, it is obvious that a larger bore exhaust or tuned engine could be seen by many to be detrimental to the environment. This is despite the fact that most aftermarket exhaust systems are manufactured to TUV / SVA standards of noise and that many tuned engines run cleaner than the factory specifications.
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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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Changes are afoot to the MOT with the introduction of ‘one man’ test lanes to try to cut down the waiting times for MOT testing.
It has also been discussed, and is in place in some stations, that MOT testing should be done under the complete control of VOSA and not outsourced to private garages.
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