skip to Main Content
Resources

EQUIPMENT

All SureSafe Licenced Auto Body Repairers are equipped with manufacturers approved equipment, certifications for all the technicians that use the equipment, we issue a signed structural tolerance report guarantee with every structural repair carried out . The structural report is subject to insurance authorisation.

STANDARDS

Objective

SureSafe Vehicle Repair Standard sets a standard for repair for vehicles and requires repairers to use suitable methods in attaining that standard. The standard applies to all repairs and to all vehicles and includes structural, mechanical and electrical repair.
The standard for repair is that the vehicle, its structure, systems, components and equipment must be restored to ‘safe tolerance’ of their state when manufactured. This includes meeting the requirements specified in the Acts, regulations and standards. The methods of repair depend on factors such as the class and make of the vehicle, the vehicle standards which apply, and the manufacturer’s specifications.
Although the standard imposes a duty on repairers to comply, it states specific mechanisms to ensure compliance. The only applicable compliance mechanism, at present, is Carbench. This provides for repair certifiers to inspect and certify repairs following corrosion or structural damage which would adversely affect a motor vehicle’s safety performance in the following situations:

  • before a vehicle can be registered;
  • if a vehicle has been deregistered and repaired, before it can be reregistered.

Extent of consultation

Work on the Suresafe Vehicle Repair Standard was initiated in early 2003 with a call for industry suggestions on what the standard should contain and achieve. A working party, comprising representatives from the insurance industry and from the vehicle repair, manufacturing, importing and in-service inspection industries, was established to discuss the proposed standard in June 2003.
In 2005 an independent technical writer was commissioned to produce the preliminary draft of the standard, although it focussed only on structural repair to light motor vehicles.
The scope of the standard was extended to cover all vehicles and all repairs. Another draft was issued for consultation in December 2005.

Part 1     Standard requirements

Section 1     Application

1.1     Title

This standard is to be Suresafe Vehicle Repair Standard.

1.2     Scope of the standard

1.2(1)     This standard applies to all motor vehicles. irrespective of the date of registration of the vehicle, or the date of manufacture of the vehicle.
1.2(2)     This standard applies to repairs that could affect the safety performance of a vehicle, its structure, systems, components or equipment.

1.3     Date when standard comes into force

This standard comes into force on 1 July 2006.

Section 2     Repair requirements

2.1     General safety requirements

2.1(1)     A repair to a vehicle, its structure, systems, components or equipment, must restore the damaged or worn vehicle, structure, system, component or equipment so that they are within safe tolerance of the state of the vehicle, structure, system, component or equipment when manufactured.
2.1(2)     If the vehicle has been certified as a modified vehicle, the repair must restore the vehicle, structure, system, component or equipment so that the vehicle is within safe tolerance of its state when certified as a modified vehicle.

2.2     Repair methods

2.2.1    In repairing a vehicle to comply with 2.1, a repairer must use a suitable repair method that takes into account the following:

  • the date of manufacture of the vehicle;
  • the class, make and other relevant characteristics of the vehicle;
  • the approved vehicle standards with which the vehicle is required to comply;
  • the existence of relevant manufacturers’ recommendations and alternative methods;
  • the material specifications used for construction of the vehicle, structure, systems, components or equipment;
  • the compatibility of the intended repair process with materials specifications.

New and used replacement systems, components and equipment
2.2.2    A repairer must use systems, components and equipment that will enable a vehicle to comply with 2.1.
2.2.3     The systems, components and equipment used to enable the vehicle to comply with 2.1 may be new or used.
2.2.4     Replacement systems, components and equipment used in a repair must comply with an approved vehicle standard applicable, as specified by the relevant standard or regulation, to the year of manufacture of the vehicle, system, component or equipment.
2.2.5     A repair to a motor vehicle affects a system that is required to meet an approved vehicle standard, the individual components or items of equipment must be such that they ensure the system complies with the approved vehicle standard.
2.2.6     Replacement systems, components and equipment used in a repair may comply with a version of an approved vehicle standard more recent than that applicable to the vehicle’s year of manufacture (or the year of manufacture of the component) if the safety performance of the vehicle is not adversely affected.
2.2.7     Replacement systems, components and equipment that are manufactured earlier than the vehicle in which they are used must comply with an approved vehicle standard which is either:

  • applicable to the year of manufacture of the vehicle; or
  • more recent than that applicable to the year of manufacture of the vehicle, as specified in 2.2.6.

2.2.8     If there is no applicable approved vehicle standard, then replacement systems, components and equipment must be fit for the purpose for which they are to be used, as determined by reference to:

  • the vehicle manufacturer’s original performance specification for the systems, components and equipment; or
  • the manufacturing specification of the original equipment supplier for the systems, components and equipment; or
  • later specifications for the same systems, components and equipment issued by the vehicle manufacturer, or the original equipment supplier approved by the vehicle manufacturer; or
  • the manufacturing and materials specifications of an approved standards institution for the systems, components and equipment.

Section 3     Responsibilities

3.1     Responsibilities of repairers

3.1.1     A repairer must repair vehicles in accordance with these standard and applicable requirements in legislation.
3.1.2     A repairer must, at all reasonable times, provide information and assistance when requested by the Director.

3.2     Functions and powers of the Director

The Director may:

  • require information and other assistance from repairers
  • investigate matters relating to repairs and repairers

Definitions

Approved standards institution
Means national or industry-based organisations, representing a cross-section of the established vehicle or component manufacturing industry that has a primary function to set and maintain product safety and quality standards.

Approved vehicle standard
Means a vehicle standard specified or manufacturer’s standard.

Class
Means a category of vehicle

Director
Means the person who is the Director of Suresafe Vehicle Repair Standard

Manufacturer’s operating limits
Means:

  • in relation to a vehicle, the allowance provided by the vehicle manufacturer in terms of performance capability and dimensions, relative to deterioration, malfunction or damage beyond which the safe performance of the vehicle, as defined by the vehicle manufacturer, is compromised; and
  • In relation to a system or component, incorporated in or attached to a vehicle, the allowance provided by the system or component manufacturer in terms of performance capability and dimensions, relative to the deterioration, malfunction or damage, beyond which the safe performance of the system or component (and consequently the vehicle) is compromised.

Modify
In relation to a vehicle, means to change the vehicle from its original state by altering, substituting, adding or removing any structure, system, component or equipment, but does not include repair; and ‘modified’ and ‘modification’ have corresponding meanings.

Motor vehicle
Means a vehicle drawn or propelled by mechanical power with rubber tyres.

Repair
in relation to a vehicle, means to restore a damaged or worn vehicle, its structure, systems, components or equipment; and includes the replacement of damaged or worn structures, systems, components and equipment with equivalent undamaged or new structures, systems, components and equipment.

Repairer
Means a person who carries out repairs to a damaged or worn vehicle, its structure, systems, components or equipment, either directly or by supervising another person

Safe tolerance
means the tolerance within which the safe performance of the vehicle, its structure, systems, components or equipment are not compromised, having regard to any manufacturer’s operating limits.

Vehicle standard
Means a technical specification with which a vehicle structure, system, component or equipment must comply, and which is adopted by:

  • Suresafe Vehicle Repair Standard; or
  • Any state, national or international organisations with functions similar to the Australian Standards.

CERTIFICATIONS

Back To Top