Concerns regarding consumer safety and compromised automobile crashworthiness continue to center on the use of certain aftermarket structural parts. NSF International says it has launched a new Automotive Parts Certification Program, which verifies both the quality and performance of aftermarket auto parts via testing and inspections, to address these concerns.
The certification program offers independent, third-party certification of steel bumpers, step bumpers, absorbers, reinforcement bars and brackets to ensure that high-quality aftermarket safety parts are available, NSF says.
NSF says the certification program includes:
• On-site inspection and approval of the manufacturing facilities’ production and quality system.
• In-plant part quality assurance requirements.
• Parts testing to ensure the highest levels of performance.
• Comparison to original equipment (OE) parts across dimensional and material attributes.
• Ongoing monitoring of certified parts through quarterly facility audits.
• Random, in-market part testing.
• An ongoing process for monitoring and taking action regarding customer complaints.
• A traceability requirement that allows for an effective recall process.
Automotive parts that complete the requirements of this NSF certification program will bear the NSF Mark.
Reflexxion Automotive and Production Bumper Stamping, Inc. (PBSI), which manufacture Diamond Standard brand parts, are the first companies to participate in NSF International’s Automotive Parts Certification Program.
Michael O’Neal of Diamond Standard said, “The events of the last few weeks concerning crash related safety parts illustrate the glaring need for certification to assure the consumer, collision repair shop, independent distributor and insurance industry that the parts utilized for the repairs of a vehicle maintain the integrity of the original collision management system. NSF International’s 65-year history of certification, testing and inspections coupled with its extensive automotive industry experience, provides the confidence that the collision repair industry can rely on.”
More information:
• CRA and Toby Chess to Bring Parts Safety Message To California Lawmakers
• Associations Warn Repairers of Liability of Untested Structural A/M Parts
• CAPA to Establish New Certification Standard for Aftermarket Bumpers
• Keystone Automotive Temporarily Halts Sale of Certain A/M Bumper Reinforcements
• ABPA Advises Distributors to Pull All Untested Aftermarket Parts
• Taiwan Auto Body Parts Association Tells Members to Pull Untested A/M Parts
